My question is this: I have started my first sweater in stockingette stitch, and have finished 15 inches up from the bottom. Now the instructions to begin the armhole shaping reads (there are 96 stitches on the needle) to bind off 6 stitches at the beginning of the next two rows, stitch 84, which leave six stitches at the end still on the left needle. What do I do with these last six stitches? I can’t bind off at the end of the row but have to finish off these last six loops on the left needle somehow so that I can go back for the next row with bind off six for row two of the armhole shaping. What do I do here with these last six loops on my left needle?
You are misinterpreting the directions.
starting stitch count 96
BO 6, knit to end.
Turn work
BO 6, purl to end.
ending stitch count 84
You are taking 6 stitches off each end, and leaving the 84 in the middle.
When you BO on the next 2 rows, you BO 6 sts then work the row, turn and BO 6 at the beg of the next row. That leaves 84 sts. That way you BO at both edges.