How do I pick up these stitches?

[phisch]

I'm working on Knitscene spring 2006 Molly Ringwald (smallest size). I've got the front done and the back almost done, so almost time to seam and add the sleeves. I am wondering how to pick up stitches though. Instructions say this for the straps that you attach the sleeves to:

Right strap
Row 1 (WS) P2, k2.
Row 2 (RS) K4.
Rep rows 1 and 2 for a total of 70 (74, 78,...) rows. Place 4 sts on holder.

(left strap work as for right)

Then, you attach the straps to the back with Kitchener stitch. The left sleeve:

With RS facing, join yarn at left front beg of strap; pickup and knit 44 (46, 48,...) evenly along armhole edge of strap.

I'm wondering...if I have 70 rows worth of strap, how do I pick up 44 stitches? Doing every other one will give me only 35, right? Here's a photo of the finished top: http://www.knitscene.com/photos/2006/project18.asp to get an idea of the sleeve area.

I think I'm just not "getting" part of the instructions.

[five_six]

Doing 2/3rds of the stitches will give you 46, which is very close to 44 and you could fudge it a bit... just pick up 2 then skip 1 (you will have to skip 2 twice to compensate for the 2 extra stitches somewhere along the edge though).

This should work

[phisch]

Thanks! That should do it.