Help with Drops Pattern Hint of Spring

[Tara Ashley Mcneeley]

I'm having a bit of trouble understanding part of this pattern

http://www.garnstudio.com/pattern.php?id=5063&cid=17

 

the part I'm having trouble understanding is in bold 

 

YOKE:
READ CROCHET TIP!
Now work the parts tog as follows - start from RS:
Work 1 dc in each of the 40-45-49-55-61-68 dc on right front piece, work 1 dc in each of the 60-64-68-72-76-82 dc from one sleeve, work 1 dc in each of the 77-85-95-105-119-131 dc from back piece, work 1 dc in each of the 60-64-68-72-76-82 dc from the other sleeve and work 1 dc in each of the 40-45-49-55-61-68 dc from left front piece = 277-303-329-359-393-431 dc on row.
Insert a marker after 12-14-15-17-21-12 dc, then insert 21-23-23-25-25-29 markers with 12-12-13-13-14-14 dc between each, i.e. 13-13-15-17-22-13 dc remain after last marker.
Now work dc back and forth on yoke while AT THE SAME TIME on 1st row dec 1 dc - READ DECREASE TIP 1 - before every marker = 255-279-305-333-367-401 dc. Repeat dec alternately before and after markers (seen from RS) every 3rd row a total of 9-9-10-10-11-11 times. 
AT THE SAME TIME when piece measures 47-49-51-52-54-56 cm / 18½"-19 1/4"-20"-20½"-21 1/4"-22" (measured straight down along mid front), dec for neck in each side towards mid front on every row as follows – READ DECREASE TIP 2:
7 dc 1 time, 3 dc 3 times. Continue to dec 1 dc towards mid front on every row until all dec on yoke are done.

 

can anyone help me with this? I'm almost done with this cardigan (been working on it since August 2016) and I'm about ready to give up!

Thanks!

[Granny Square]

I believe it is telling you to do all the stuff after where it says 'yoke', and somewhere in the middle of doing that, when you have reached 47-49-51-52-54-56 cm / 18½"-19 1/4"-20"-20½"-21 1/4"-22" (measured straight down along mid front) depending on the size you are making, you make the decreases for the neck at the same time; meaning, you are following 2 sets of instructions at once.

 

The first set of instructions are telling you to make decreases along the 4 raglan 'seams' (where you placed the markers), decreasing on either side of each seam so it gets narrower from the body to the neck.  When you have gotten to the midfront measurement, in addition to decreasing along each side of the sleeve, you will be decreasing away from the center front to form the scoop neckline.  For the first row of neckline shaping, you'll reduce 7 stitches on each side, for the second, third and fourth row decrease 3 on each side, then 1 decrease each row until you are finished with the yoke decreases.

 

"decrease tip 2" tells you how to do the neck decreases, you slip stitch over the decreased number of stitches at the beginning of a row, and stop short the decrease # at the end of the row, leaving the decreased sts unworked.  

[Tara Ashley Mcneeley]

Oh now that makes total sense!! Thank you Granny Square! 

I had no one else to ask for help (I'm the only one in my family and circle of friends that crochets!).

[Avon Lady]

Oh now that makes total sense!! Thank you Granny Square! 

I had no one else to ask for help (I'm the only one in my family and circle of friends that crochets!).

You're going to have to teach all your family and friends how to crochet!!  Then you can "share"!!  

[Granny Square]

I'm glad that was clear, I was a little worried.  The first time you do a raglan can be little ?huh? until you figure out where it's taking you, but after that they're great - no seams, or mostly so.