Knitting help!

[sheraleegillespie]

Pattern says to decrease 1 sts at each end of next row and 2 following 8th rows
i start with 55 sts and should end with 49 sts
what does this mean please ?

row 1 - decrease at each end by knit 2 together . (nice way- do it 1 st in from each edge to sew up neater). - 53 sts

do 7 more rows without decreasing (rows 2-8)

Row 9 dec each end as row 1 - 51 sts

do 7 more rows (10-16)

row 17 dec each end as row 1 - 49 sts

there you go

You are decreasing 1 stitch at each end of the row three times, 6 stitches total. If for example you are on row ten before you start decreasing you decrease both ends on the next row ( row 11), both ends of the following 8th row ( row 19) and the following 8th row (row 27). I always put a row counter on one of my needles and put notes on my pattern so that I get it right.