Crochet newbie pattern help

[hobnob57]

I'm embarking on a hat, crocheting for the first time since childhood, and struggling with reading the pattern. If I copy it here, would one of you wise ones be able to help?

R1 magic loop, 6sc in loop, join (6)
R2 beginning with 1st sc, puff in each sc, join (6)
R3 sl st to space between puffs, work 2 puffs in each space, join (12)

OK, I can manage the fact that this is US terminology and sc is UK dc. I can do a 'puff' (yarn over, pull through loop 2 chains high, rpt x 3, pull through all 7 loops, ch1). But I am assuming the bracketed numbers are the stitch count. When I finish row 3 I get 24 stitches. What am I doing wrong?

You've described your "puff" as (yarn over, pull through loop 2 chains high, rpt x 3, pull through all 7 loops, ch1). The pattern makes no mention of a ch1, could this be the problem?

I mean you might be counting the puff and the chain as two separate stitches, but if the chain is part of the puff, you should just count it as one stitch.

Yes, I think the ch1 is the problem as it adds an extra stitch each puff. Your puffs should each have 1 stitch at the top, meaning that 2 puffs per space gives 12 stitches.

You must be ending up with 12 stitches at the end of round 2 if you are putting a CH1 at the end of each pufff though?

Or the 12 means 12 stitches and 12 ch1 spaces. Chain spaces aren't counted as stitches are they?

Bloody inconsiderate of Pidj to have had a baby if you ask me. She'd know the answer. :)

I'm pretty sure I had 6 stitches at the end of round 2 which is why I'm scratching my head at this. I ripped it out and did it again to check (in the early hours this morning). But I have newborn baby brain so any constructive thought on the matter is pretty stunted. Hence turning to MN for a simple counting problem

When you do R1, you'll get 6 sc stitches
When you do R2 you'll get 6 puff stitches
When you do round 3 you'll do 2 puff stitches in the chain spaces of the previous row and end up with 12 puff stitches. (You'll count 12 if you count the chains separately because the stitch count is refering to complete stitches of the type in the round i.e. in round 3, 12 complete puff stitches)

p.s. not all puff stitch instructions include the chain at the end - it's mainly for securing the stitch but isn't strictly necessary

Aha, so I'm not going mad then. I was counting the 'v's. Thanks! I can continue now... been dying to get going again.