I am a relatively novice knitter, and am working on a vintage lady's cardigan sweater (Lee Target #5942). I just started the right front, which requires that you "slip the first 14 stitches onto a thread". Since these are the first stitches in this row, I end up with a narrow tube at the start of this row. Is this correct?

The next section says to "Con. in patt. inc. once at the end of the next and every foll. 8th row (keeping extra sts. in patt.) until there are 49 sts. on the needle, ending on the wrong side".

I'm not sure if the increases involve the 14 stitches on the thread, or if they are new increases. If anyone has some advice, I would appreciate it.

Sounds like you slip the 14 sts to scrap yarn or a holder to be worked later. First, knit across them, then put them on the holder so your yarn is in the right place to continue the row. I think these sts may be the front band, so you would ignore them for now and do the incs on the rest of the sts.

Thanks very much. I'll give it a try. :)