Can someone help me understand this?

[Quiltlady]

I want to cast on for the Eliza Shawl. I recently purchased the pattern from here...
http://www.patternfish.com/patterns/9761
It says cast on 3 sts. can use provisional cast on and knitting back and forth, work 4 rows in STOCKING stitch, starting with a purl row. What is a stocking stitch? Do they mean stockinette?
What does it mean "starting with a purl row"? How is it a purl row if I'm knitting it? This is knit in the round using a steek too.
Thank you for any help you can give me.

[salmonmac]

Pretty shawl! Stocking stitch is stockinette stitch, just a different name. The directions start by knitting back and forth so that you would alternate knit and purl rows here, starting with a purl row, then knit row etc.

"It says cast on 3 sts. can use provisional cast on and knitting back and forth, work 4 rows in STOCKING stitch, starting with a purl row. "

[Quiltlady]

Pretty shawl! Stocking stitch is stockinette stitch, just a different name. The directions start by knitting back and forth so that you would alternate knit and purl rows here, starting with a purl row, then knit row etc.

"It says cast on 3 sts. can use provisional cast on and knitting back and forth, work 4 rows in STOCKING stitch, starting with a purl row. "

Thank you. I admit I haven't knit a thing in about a year..so my brain has been on quilting not knitting. But this is what I wanted to knit next. Thanks again. I'll let you know how I do.