Help with Beginner Pattern

[Ashy251]

I am currently working on my very first crochet pattern, aimed at begginners for a small pink cat.

I am on round 17 with 36 stitches my trouble is with line 18 which reads:

Rnd 18: (dc2tog, 4dc) to end, 30sts

I tried follow it and dc2tog and then 4 dc in the next 4 stitches but still have 36 stitches

Is 4dc mean 1dc in the next 4 stitches or something else?

Please help!

[redrosesdz]

Welcome to Crochetville! 

When you dc2tog you're turning 2 stitches into 1 stitch. You're going to do 6 dc2tog. That subtracts 6 stitches (36 - 6 = 30.) Make sure you're counting the tops of the stitches for your stitch count. 

Here's the round spelled out...

dc2tog, dc, dc, dc, dc,

dc2tog, dc, dc, dc, dc,

dc2tog, dc, dc, dc, dc,

dc2tog, dc, dc, dc, dc,

dc2tog, dc, dc, dc, dc,

dc2tog, dc, dc, dc, dc

By the way, you're most likely doing a UK pattern. There's a difference between UK crochet terms and US crochet terms. A UK dc is the same as a US sc. Both mean insert hook, yarn over, draw through, yarn over, pull through 2 loops on the hook.

Here's more information on the difference...

https://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/10/british-vs-american-crochet-terms/

I hope this answers your question! Let us know.

ETA: I just realized that I didn't include instructions for a UK dc2tog. Insert hook, yarn over, draw through,  insert hook in the next stitch, yarn over, draw through,  yarn over and pull through 3 loops on the hook. 

[Ashy251]

Thank you so much for your help

It alll makes a lot more sense to me now  

I am doing a UK pattern, still learning my way around the UK and US differences. 

[redrosesdz]

You're welcome. I'm glad it makes sense.