As someone who is new to knitting, I thought it wise to look over some web sites as to the different sitiches, techniques and so forth. I also decided to look at a pattern book that does a pretty good job of explaining knitting shorthand (ie st, beg.....) For one pattern the instruction for tension reads 26.5 sts to 10 cm in width over stocking stitch. What is meant by this? Am I doing a combined stitch? Mark

No it just means to work your gauge swatch in stockinette. And you should probably cast on about 30-35 sts so you can measure it over the center sts; the edge sts curl under and aren't the same size as the ones in the midle.