Pattern help?

[Snoopy_slc]

Greetings!

I'm working on this pattern that I found on this site:

http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patt...decoponcho.htm

I'm having trouble understanding some of the instructions. This seems like it should be obvious, but to me it's not. When it says to "work in pattern stitch 17 rows," does that mean 17 rows of pattern (the pattern is 4 rows, so 17 patterns would be 68 total rows) or does it mean 17 actual rows for 4.25 patterns? 17 pattern-rows seems kinda big, but then again, maybe it's supposed to be big?

Thanks for any help!

Cheers!

~Krista~