New knitter needing help with a pattern

[lakatsylvstr]

Hello all!
I'm a fairly new knitter who has tackled a BabyDrops 17-5 pattern to make a baby poncho. In the pattern it asks me to..."dec 1 st on the left side of the pearl section by k2tog" I guess my question is how do I know what side is left ? Essentially it asks me to follow a chart which they label as "M.1." then ask me to p26 sts, then follow another chart they call " M.2.", then p another 26 sts. I get that the p section is those 26 perks, but do I do my decrease (k2tog) at the beginning of the group of 26 sts or at the end? Which is the left? Can you please help a new knitter who's determined to conquer this patter even if I go crazy trying

[salmonmac]

It's a very cute pattern so no wonder you want to do it.
The poncho is knit in the round so as you're