Need help with pattern please!

[Knitter78]

Hiya everyone!

I am about to start knitting one of those speed stix throws. The pattern is off the LB website, which is knitted in the basic stockinette stitch. The original pattern calls for 34 stitches to be worked until it reaches 54 inches in length. To avoid the ridges on the side, that the purl stitches create, I was wondering if I could do a couple knit stitches at the beginning and end. However, do I include them in the 34 stitches or would they be in addition to them? I was going to do this pattern, please let me know if this would work.

CO 39 stitches
First Row: Knit
Second Row: Knit 3, Purl, and then knit the very last 3.

Repeat all until throw reaches 54 inches in length.

Would this pattern work? Or should I do it differently? Please, any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Mary