Please help me de-code this ambiguous pattern instruction!

[Hazel4077]

Hi everyone,

I'm about 6 months into knitting and trying my first complex-ish garment from a pattern. It's a cable v-neck sleeveless vest. I'm nearly done with the back panel, but I've reached the shoulder shaping and really do not understand the instruction... Any interpretation would be really helpful at this point! My mum was no help at all!

(If it helps at all, the pattern is Aotea, from New Zealand circa 1970)

Here goes:

"Cast off 8 sts firmly beg next 4 rows, then cast off 7 sts beg next 2 rows. (I get that bit)

Cast off remaining 42 sts for back neck, dec 13 sts evenly across cast off row by working k 2 tog on left hand pin before casting off 13 times across row."


Um, what? Do I cast off those 42 sts as if to finish, then pick up and knit together 13 times, then cast those off? Confused!

Thanks in advance for any help!

- Hazel