Hello Beth and thank you for writing
I just checked this, and I can definitely see how the counting can be taken different ways. I am going to break this down step by step. Often times what is to be repeated can be confusing, especially with different authors and different styles
. There also could be a difference in the versions being used. What version are you working from? Below, I am copying what I have from the latest version for baby which is Version 6N.
Ok, here is the Rnd as written:
9-12 mos: Sl st in first ch-1 sp, ch 1, sc in same sp, ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc, inc in next ch-1 sp, sk next sc, *[(sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc) 3 times, inc in next ch-1 sp, sk next sc] 4 times*, [sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc] 2 times, inc in next ch-1 sp, sk next sc, rep from * to * once; join with sl st to first sc––48 sc, 48 ch-1 sps
Let's just count the ch-1 sps being used. Since the last rnd at first part of the waist ends with 38 sts, we should use 38 sts in this instruction.
I am going to break this down step by step.
Step 1 (before first asterisk):
Sl st in first ch-1 sp, ch 1, sc in same sp, ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc, inc in next ch-1 sp, sk next sc,
This will end up using 3 ch-1 sps
Step 2 (From first asterisk to last asterisk):
*[(sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc) 3 times, inc in next ch-1 sp, sk next sc] 4 times*
For right now, we are going to ignore the asterisk, as they do not do anything, and are just place markers for where to work again later in the instruction. Now, working from the outside in, we know that we have brackets [ ] which we have to work whatever is inside 4 times.
Inside the brackets:
(sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc) 3 times, inc in next ch-1 sp, sk next sc : This will end up using 4 ch-1 sps. 3 are used within the parentheses and 1 is used when you make the increase, which totals 4.
Now we know because of the brackets we have to work this instruction 4 times. Since inside the brackets uses 4 ch-1 sps each time, 4 times would end up using 16 ch-1 sps.
Step 3 (after asterisk and before repeat):
[sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc] 2 times, inc in next ch-1 sp, sk next sc,
This uses 3 ch-1 sps, total - 2 from inside the brackets, and one from the repeat.
Step 4 (the repeat):
rep from * to * once;
This will be a repeat of Step 2, which used 16 ch-1 sps.
______________________________
Step 1: 3 ch-1 sps
Step 2: 16 ch-1 sps
Step 4: 3 ch-1 sps
Step 4: 16 ch-1 sps
= 38 ch-1 sps uses total
Please let me know if this helps
And also let me know if you have any other questions at all
Lisa!