Grace Gown by Katherine Vaughan Neck Shape help!

[shendrickson07]

I am stuck on the shaping of the neck on this gown...Here is what the pattern reads:

Next Rw: K8, and sl st to a stitch holder for neck; k8, knit 8 and slip to a stitch holder for neck, k8- 8 sts each side.
Next Rw: P5, p2tog, pl across first side and slip to a st holder for shoulder; p1, p2tog, p5 across second side and slip to a st holder for sholder-7 sts each side.

The parts that are bold are confusing me. I thought I got it but then I start the underlined part...Am I suppose to p5 from the stitch holder and put it back on the stitch holder? And when I'm done with the back does it all go on the stitch holder? And the part that is just bolded, is that back slit suppose to stay separate or join it at this point????

[salmonmac]

I think the pattern makes sense as:

Next Rw: k8, knit 8 and slip to a stitch holder for neck, k8- 8 sts each side.
Next Rw: P5, p2tog, pl across first side and slip to a st holder for shoulder; p1, p2tog, p5 across second side and slip to a st holder for sholder-7 sts each side.
Is that correct?

This is the beginning of the neck and shoulder shaping. You'll have 8sts for each shoulder, separated by 8sts which are on a stitch holder. Leave tho