Help with a pattern please

[Katie Louise]

Please can I have some help with this pattern instruction:

R20-24:  ch 2 (counts and 1st st), *front post hdc in next st, back post hdc in next st* repeat * to * around. Join with sl st to top of 1st st.(72 st).

What does (counts and first st) mean?

thanks 

[Granny Square]

Sounds like a typo, I think it should say 'counts AS first stitch'. 

HDC is a strange stitch, the turning chain for doesn't always 'count' as a stitch, and patterns will tell you if it does or doesn't. 

So that means you treat the chain like you would for DC (where the turning chain is always assumed to count as a stitch).  In other words, in DC you normally chain 3, skip the first stitch in the row, DC to the last dc and put the very last dc into the topmost chain of the prior row's turning chain; for your HDC project, the process is the same except the # of chains.

[magiccrochetfan]

What it should say is counts AS 1st st.  Telling you that the chain2 turning chain is counted as your first stitch of the row.  

[magiccrochetfan]

Hi Granny Square!  

[Granny Square]

Hi, I didn't see you there    (KatieLouise, Magiccrochetfan and I often post at the same time here, except she usually hits the post button first)

[Katie Louise]

Thank you both. That makes sense now! 😊