Confused by pattern

[GodsLilKitten]

I'm trying to knit baby booties. My pattern says:

Cast on 38 stitches (done)
Row 1: knit accross (so I knitted another row 38 stitches long)

Row 2: K 18, place marker, increase twice, place marker, knitt accross: 40 stitches
- so I knitted 18 stitches, tied a bow to mark my place, then I knitted 1 stitch as I was learning how to increase, then I did the two increasing stitches, then I tied another bow, but now I'm stuck -

how do I knit 40 stitches when there are only 20 cast-ons left? did I make an error? I can see that 38 cast on plus 2 increased makes 40, but it already asked me knit 18, right?

[GrumpyGramma]

Hi. I think your problem is the exact same one I've had.

Row 2: K 18, place marker, increase twice, place marker, knitt accross: 40 stitches
- so I knitted 18 stitches, tied a bow to mark my place, then I knitted 1 stitch as I was learning how to increase, then I did the two increasing stitches, then I tied another bow, but now I'm stuck -

After you do your increases you finish knitting the 20 stitches on the needle for a total of 40 stitches.

Your problem is all to familiar to me, both in knitting and crochet. I hope what I wrote makes sense.

[salmonmac]

Yes, GG is right. The "40sts" is just telling you how many sts you now should have on the needles. It's a nice reminder that there should be 40sts total before you go on to the next row.

[GodsLilKitten]

Oh good!! That's what I was hoping! Thank you so much!