Desperately need help with Retro Throw pattern...

[chele]

I've decided to start on a larger project than usual (hopefully it will keep me busy for a while). I love the Retro Throw pattern from the Knit Picks website. However, (and maybe I'm overthinking here) the pattern isn't looking right to me. I feel as though the pattern should be as follows:

For the cast on, shouldn't the marker be placed BEFORE joining? If I follow the pattern, I end up trying to SSK with the marker in between the two stitches on the left needle.

And...

I feel like Row 2 should be:
*SSK, Knit to 2 sts before marker, K2tog, slip marker, K2, slip marker. Rep from *.

Am I insane, overthinking, or could I possibly be right?

Ugh!

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Ingrid]

It looks like you're right. You need a marker at each side of the 2 stitches, and you need to decrease at each end of the 40, from what I see, and so you need to start with a dec on the first 40. Good catch!

[chele]

Thanks, Ingrid! Granted, I haven't been doing this long but the pattern as written just didn't seem like it was going to work out properly. I'll let you know how it goes!