QUESTION HOW TO

[Barbit]

I have 8 rows established patt with 2-stitch garter selvedge on both edges and 8 sts decreased per repeat. When decreasing with patt sts, keep 3rd st from both ends in St st.

I am confused when reading this instruction, can someone help me?

[suzeeq]

Okay, begin all rows with k2, then the next st will be k on RS/p on ws, work in the pattern to the last 3 stitches then k on RS/p on WS and k2.

[Barbit]

The established pattern row 1 begins, (RS) Sl1 wyif, k1, skp, knit to M, slm, p2, k5, p2, (k1, p1) 6x, p2, k5, p2, slm, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog,K-2- 2 sts dec'd.
Row 2 (WS) Sl1 wyif, k1, purl to m, k2, p5, k2, (k1, p1, 6X, k2, p5, k2, purl to last 2 sts, k2
Row 3 Sl1, wyif, k1, skp, knit to m, k2, p5, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, skp, p2, k12, p2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, skp, p2, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2-2 sts dec'd
Row 4, Sl1 wyif, k1, skp, purl to m, k2, p5, k2, p12, k2, p5, k2, purl to last 2 sts, k2
Row 5 Sl1 wyif, k1, skp, knit to m, p2, k5, p2, (p1 K1) 6x, p2, k5, p2, knit to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2 -- 2 sts dec'd.

Row 6: Sl1, wyif, k1, purl to m, k2, p5, k2, (p1, kn1) 6x, k2, p5, k2, purl to last 2 sts, k2
Rows 7 & 8: Same as Rows 3 & 4.
These 8 rows establish patt with 2-stitch garter selvedge on both edges and 8 sts decreased per repeat. When decreasing with patt sts, keep 3rd st from both ends in St st. Continue in patt until 6 sts rem, ending on a WS row.

Sorry, my server locked up and I only typed part of my comment. So, do I still use your former answer? Thank you so much.

[salmonmac]

Yes, knit the rows as Sue suggested. The pattern is actually doing this and keeping you in stockinette stitch on the 3rd stitch from the end. On the odd/RS rows the 3rd sts , the decreases are knits and on the even/WS rows, the stitches are purls with the exception of row 4:
Row 4, Sl1 wyif, k1, skp, purl to m, k2, p5, k2, p12, k2, p5, k2, purl to last 2 sts, k2
Maybe that's a typo? (It adds in a 9th decrease.)

[Barbit]

Yes, knit the rows as Sue suggested. The pattern is actually doing this and keeping you in stockinette stitch on the 3rd stitch from the end. On the odd/RS rows the 3rd sts , the decreases are knits and on the even/WS rows, the stitches are purls with the exception of row 4:
Row 4, Sl1 wyif, k1, skp, purl to m, k2, p5, k2, p12, k2, p5, k2, purl to last 2 sts, k2
Maybe that's a typo? (It adds in a 9th decrease.)

Yes, sorry, it was a typo it should have read:
Row 4, Sl1 wyif, k1, purl to m, k2, p5, k2, p12, k2, p5, k2, purl to last 2 sts, k2

Thanks so much for all your help. I am new to the forum and didn't expect an answer so soon