Stitches

I need knitting help, im missing stitches with a pattern, can anyone tell me what im doing wrong!!!!!!?

I have to knit this pattern in the round with only three needles. Two needles have 31 stitches one each one and I knit with the third one. The 1st round and all odd rounds are in purl but i have trouble with the 2nd round and the rest of the even number of rounds. the pattern looks like this.... Round 1 and all odd rounds: Purl Round 2: K25, k2tog, k8, SSK, k25 Round 4: K24, k2tog, k8, SSK, k24 Round 6: K23, k2tog, k8, SSK, k23 Round 8: K22, k2tog, k8, SSK, k22 Round 10: K21, [k2tog] 3 times, [SSK] 3 times, k21 Round 12: K18, [k2tog] 3 times, [SSK] 3 times, k18 Round 14: K15, [k2tog] 3 times, [SSK] 3 times, k15 Round 15: Purl On round 2 when I follow the instructions I end up having to pick up two extra stitches from one of the purl rounds to complete the 25 knit stitches from the previous round. and then it happens on round number 4 and so on. What am I doing wrong or is the pattern just written wrong. PLEASE HELP ITS DRIVING ME NUTS NO FIGURING IT OUT!!!!!! By the way i meant each of the two needles have 31 stitches and i use the third one to knit and purl. Also this is the 2nd part of a baby slipper.

Public Comments

1. If you look at the pattern you are going to be reducing your stitches on each of the even numbers rows. You don't have to pick up any stitches to make the same amount as you started with. I looked up the SSK for you and it looks like it's the same as knitting two stitches together but to do it right here is the explanation: ssk slip slip knit slip the first and second stitches knitwise, one at a time, then insert the tip of left-hand needle into the fronts of these two stitches from the left, and knit them together from this position I hope this helps and if not e-mail me and I'll see what if I can find what I missed or I'll make a small copy .
2. When you read your instructions for the even rounds you see the numbers go down, you are supposed to get fewer stitches, 4 to a round, up to round 10, from there on you will loose more stitches. If you feel using 3 needles is awkward, you can use 4 needles too, giving you a bit more space between the needles at the first and the last stitches on each needle. Edit, I changed 2 into 4, as I think you loose 4 stitches up to round 10, I did miscalculate at first.
3. The K2tog and SSK are decreasing 2 stitches on rows 2, 4, 6, 8 - one of the left and one on the right of the 8 stitch "stripe". The K2tog causes a slope in one direction, the SSK causes a slope in the opposite direction. SSK = Slip first stitch as if to knit, slip next stitch as if to knit, K these two stitches together through the fronts of the stitches
4. sound right to me and the stitches are reducing so yu cont need to pick up your ok, keep going.