Stitches

Help deciphering knitting instructions? ("At the same time" confusion)?

Hi, I've just started knitting and I'm having trouble figuring out what some of the instructions in my book mean. I'm making a cabled cowl, and after the initial cable set up, it says... "Work cable repeat once more. AT SAME TIME, when piece measures 4", decrease 9 stitches evenly. Work cable repeat twice more, working 4 instead of 5 rounds before cable round. Work cable repeat to end, working 3 rounds even instead of 4 between cable rounds. AT SAME TIME, decrease 9 stitches evenly every 2". Continue in pattern until cowl measures 17.5" long." That's a bit of a paraphrase, but the part I'm confused about is when it says "decrease 9 stiches every 2"." Does that mean every two inches right after the piece measures 4"? (So the decreases would be at 6", 8", etc) or after you decrease the even rounds to 3? Thanks for any help!

Public Comments

1. It means decrease at 4",6",8" etc. If you started decreasing again after making the even rows 3 it would not say AT THE SAME TIME.
2. It means you will be doing two things at the same time: while you are working cables, you will be decreasing at the specified intervals.
3. Can you check my avatar and email me with the information about how many stitches you had when you did the first decrease or if you don't have that info let me know how many you started out with and if there were any increases. Something does not sound right and that is why I am asking you for that information. As soon as I get your mail I will get back to you and let you know what was worrying me. BTW you can continue with the 9 stitch decreases but hopefully I can let you know what to do then.