Baby's First Sweater Help

Do I start to sl sts off at the neck or end at neck? The pattern reads

“Sl sts off holder onto needle with the point of the needle at neck edge. Join yarn and work across 39 sts.” Thanks in advance.

“Sl sts off holder onto needle with the point of the needle at neck edge. Join yarn and work across 39 sts.”

Start at whatever end will allow you to begin working the first row on the right side of the work. That will probably mean you want the needle tip at the right front (as worn) of the sweater, so you would begin putting the needle through from the other side.