Cable cast on, on both sides of work

hi i am in need of some help! i am almost at the end of making a sweater for my daughter and i don’t understand the pattern…

i am using a circular needle but the rounds are not joined (its worked flat).

i am working on the hood and this is what the pattern says:
work in pat across 15 back neck sts for 38 rows (did that)
using cable cast-on, cast on 24 sts on each side. (63 sts) (this is where i am stuck)
i went online and learned how to cable cast on and thats fine but when i finished the 38th row and added on my first 24 sts i have no idea how to get to the other side of my work to add on the other 24 sts that belong on the other side!!
unless i am not understanding this properly…from what i take from this i should have 24 sts, the 15 sts that i worked for 38 rows, then the other 24 sts on the other side.
i am thinking the only option i have is to just do a plain knit back across the 24 sts i have added, the 15 that are already there then add on the next 24 sts?? what do you think??
R

I think your solution should work just fine. Can you link to your pattern?

I would do it your way, too.