Pattern Turn? Need a bit of help

[beebosmum]

I am a beginning knitter and am working on my first "adult" project, other than washcloths! It is from the Better Homes and Gardens and is called Knitting for Babies and Kids.

I am up to the arm hole and I think I am about to start the straps that will make the neck as well. I have 45 sts on the needle and it is telling me to knit 15 then turn, leaving the remaining sts on a spare needle. Then I am to dec 1 st at the neck edge of the next 4 rows -11 sts.

I am a bit confused as to what they mean by "turn". Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! I am sure it is something easy, but until you have done it, it sounds weird...

Thanks so much!

[knitqueen]

By "turn", it just means that you are going to act as though you are at the end of a row, even though there are still stitches left unworked. You will turn your work around like you were starting a new row, and work only on that half of your stitches for now. The remaining stitches will later be worked as the other side of the neckline.

[suzeeq]

Turn your work around as if you were at the end of a row. It leaves stitches on both needles, but you'll get back to them later.

[beebosmum]

Figured it would be something as simple as that! So I will have 15 sts that I am pretending are a whole new row because I am pretty much shaping the neck and arms, if I understand it correctly. I thought maybe I was going to twist or something... almost glad that it is that simple!

One more thing, After I knit the 15 sts and turn, I am going to dec 1 st on the next row which is a purl row. Is there a nice way to dec on a purl row? I have only dec on knit rows up to this point.

Thanks!

[suzeeq]

P2tog is the usually purlside dec and it looks fine on the RS.