k1 Edge Stitch

[Linster]

I'm working on a scarf pattern as shown below:

Cable pattern: Row 1 (WS): k1 edge st, *k2, p12*, cont rep from * to *, end with k2, k1 edge st

Rows 2-15 Work sts as they face you

Row 16 p1 edge st, *p2, cross 12 sts towards right (put 6 sts onto 1 st holder held behind work, k the foll 6 sts, then k the sts on st holder) *, cont rep from * to *, end with p2, p1 edge st.

Cont. rep Rows 1-16.

I have these questions before I begin.

1. Is "edge stitch" just a slip stitch (knit or purl)? And if so, would I be alternating "p1 edge st" and "k1 edge st" according to right and wrong sides? The pattern doesn't indicate which edge stitch to begin or end with for Rows 2-15.

2. "Work sts as they face you" -- knit a knit st and purl a purl st?

[Abbily]

"work stitches as they face you means knit the knits and purl the purls. So yes, you would purl 1 at beginning and end on the WS rows. For a nice edge, you can slip the 1st stitch of every row, and then knit or purl the last one.