Hi everyone,
I'm having some problems understanding the following pattern for a blouse.
This is part of the pattern..

Cable pattern is worked over 14 sts and 12 rows
Row 1: K all sts
Row 2: P all sts
Row 3: (K 6, sl 2 wyib, K 6) to end
Row 4: (P 6, sl 2 wyif, P 6) to end
Row 5: (K 4, C3R, C3L, K4) to end
Row 6: P all sts
Row 7-8: Rpt rows 1-2
Row 9: (sl 1 wyib, K 12, sl 1 wyib) to end
Row 10: (sl 1 wyif, P 12, sl 1 wyif) to end
Row 11: (C3L, K8, C3R,) to end
Row 12: P all sts


Instructions
Back
Using smaller needles, cast on 93
[97: 103: 109: 115] sts.
Row 1: K 1, (K 1, P 1) to last 2 sts,
K 2.
Row 2: P 2, (K 1, P 1) to last st, P 1.
Cont in single rib as set with
selvedge st at each edge until piece
meas 4 cm (1.5 inches), ending with
a RS row. (WS): Work 46 [48: 51: 54:
57] sts. Work into front and back of
next st (1 st inc’d). Work in pattern
to end of row. 94 [98: 104: 110:
116] sts.
Change to larger needles and work
rows 1 and 2 of cable stitch pattern.
Foundation row (row 3 of cable
pattern): K 4 [6: 2: 5: 1], (sl 2, K 12)
to last 6 [8: 4: 7: 3] sts, sl 2, K 4 [6:
2: 5: 1].
Cont from row 4 of cable stitch
pattern as set for 3 more rows.

My problem starts with the portion highlighted in red.
1. What does foundation row means? It says row 3 of cable pattern..but when i refer to the cable pattern, it is different. I'm knitting the smallest size, so i do understand that i need to knit 4 stitches (as opposed to those in the parentheses).
2. If i knit according to the foundation row, K4 (sl2, K12) to last 6 sts, sl 2, K4... then what about for Row 4? Do i knit according to the pattern in the cable stitch pattern or do i have to do a P4(sl2, P12) ...etc?

I hope my questions are not confusing all of you..
thank you!

The foundation row is sort of like a set-up row, getting ready to begin the cable pattern. I don't think that this foundation row is necessarily supposed to be identical to row 3 of the cable pattern, but instead it's indicating where you're going to begin the cable pattern. To clarify (hopefully), since you're starting the cable pattern at row 4, the foundation row is like doing a row 3, even though you're just doing the foundation row. Does that make sense?

I think that in order to do what they're asking, you should knit the foundation row the way they specify and then start the cable pattern with row 4.

Thanks redheadrachel for your advice. I'll try working on a pc of scrap yarn to see how it turns out. by the way, another question is, what does it mean when it says "cont.. ... as set"? What does 'as set' means? my understanding is to follow exactly what the cable pattern indicates..is that correct?
Thank yoU!

I believe the set is referring to the whole set of cable pattern directions, as in Rows 1-12 of the cable pattern is the set.

That's correct - to `cont... as set' is to keep working in the any pattern that has been established - it uses that term after the first 2 rib rows too.