Work pattern as established or continue pattern as established is used when knitting patterns don’t have the space to write out all of the line by line instructions for a section of knitting, so it will say something along the lines of “work pattern as established” or “continue pattern as established”. These may be abbreviated to “patt as estab” or “cont patt as estab”.
What the pattern is depends upon what immediately preceded the “work pattern as established” instruction. So when working stockinette, and instructed to pattern as established, continue to work rows of knit and purl or rounds of knit. When working a stitch pattern, but with a stockinette edge stitch, continue to work each row as you had previously established, so that the edge remains in stockinette and the pattern is repeated.
Pattern as Established in Charts
Charts make it easy to continue to work pattern. Continue to follow the stitches across rows or rounds to the pattern sequence already established. If there is no shaping, simply continue to work the charted pattern rows or rounds.
“Work Established Pattern” or “Work Pattern as Established”
Work subsequent rows or rounds following the pattern as previously given. Rows or rounds of pattern are worked until each sequence is completed, and the length of knitting is completed.
Work pattern while increasing (or decreasing)
Work subsequent rows or rounds following the pattern as given. As stitches are increased or decreased the pattern should be maintained across the original stitches. New stitches should be incorporated as instructed and stitches removed will need to be deducted from existing pattern. Rows of pattern are worked again as each repetition of the entire sequence is finished.
If working from charted patterns and shaping charts aren’t given, you will need to take stitches out as stitches are added or excluded, while continuing to maintain the pattern over original stitches.
Also take a look at “knitting repeat language” – language that instructs you to repeat a section of the pattern.