Baby sweater... shaping the neck...help!

[dalisn28]

Hi all. I'm finally to the point on my first baby sweater where I shape the neck. It's supposed to be an easy pattern...not for me.
This is the left front of the sweater.
I've just done the part that left me with 25 sts ending in a purl row. Now Pattern says:

(RS) K17. Turn. Leave rem sts on a st holder.
Purl 1 row.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 3 rows, then on every following alt row 3 times more. 11 sts.

I hope someone can tell me what the heck this means. How do you K17, leave the rest on a st holder AND purl after that? I have no idea what the whole section of the pattern I wrote means, but that particular part is really confusing.

Thanks to anyone who can clarify!!

[Ingrid]

You will knit across 17 stitches and then slip the rest onto a holder. I'm guessing that this is the front button band.

Then you turn your work because you're done with that row and purl back.

Then you'll do your decreases at the beginning of the knit rows for the neck; on the next 3 rows and then every other row 3 more times.

[dalisn28]

Then you'll do your decreases at the beginning of the knit rows for the neck; on the next 3 rows and then every other row 3 more times.

So I only decrease on a knit row which means I'll decrease on the knit row six times?

Or do I decrease on 3 consecutive rows and then on every other row 3 times?

Thanks again!!

[The.Knitter]

Or do I decrease on 3 consecutive rows and then on every other row 3 times?

Thanks again!!

This is what you do. You decrease on 3 consecutive rows and then on every other row three more times.

Good luck!