Cast off rem sts, but then slip next??

I am working the back of a sweater and am very confused by my pattern.

First, it says:

Shape left neck: Next row: (RS).
K33 (37-40-44-49-55). K2tog
(neck edge). Turn. Leave rem
sts unworked. 47 (51-56-60-67-
73) sts.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: Knit to last 2 sts. K2tog.
Next row: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows until there are
30 (34-36-40-44-50) sts, ending
on a purl row.

I take this to mean that I knit 33 stitches, knit two together, turn my work, then purl the 33 stitches, which ends up with all the stitches on the right needle, as usual. Then knit to last 2, k2tog, purl, etc. on all the stitches, until I have 30 total left. All good.

The pattern then has me start casting off a few stitches at a time until, finally, I “cast off rem 7 sts.” All the math works great and I should be out of stitches at that point, as implied by “rem” :

Shape shoulder: Next row: (RS).
Cast off 8 (9-10-11-12-14) sts. Knit
to end of row.
Next row: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows once more.
Next row: Cast off 7 (7-8-8-9-
10) sts. Knit to end of row.
Next row: Purl.
Cast off rem 7 (7-8-8-9-10) sts.

HOWEVER, the next instruction is:

With RS facing, slip next 12 (12-
14-14-16-16) sts onto st holder for
front neck.
Join yarn to rem sts.

But there won’t be a “next 12”! Right? What’s going on? Did I screw up at the top with the 47?

Thanks for any and all help!

Welcome to KH. The next 12 stitches slipped to a holder will be the first 12 of the stitches you left unworked. You’ve bound off the all the stitches you were working with and now move on to the ones that have been patiently waiting.
https://www.yarnspirations.com/patons-easy-knit-sweater/PAK0129-030035M.html

Thank you so much for the quick reply! I love it here already :heart_decoration:

So does this mean that in the first part, I should have only been purling and knitting 33 stitches, and turning my work each time I finished with the 33? In other words, when the below says “Next row: Knit to last 2 sts. K2tog”, does it mean only for 33 of all the stitches (even though all of them are together on the needle at this point)? Why doesn’t it say to knit 33, knit 2tog, TURN, purl, etc?

Shape left neck: Next row: (RS).
K33 (37-40-44-49-55). K2tog
(neck edge). Turn. Leave rem
sts unworked. 47 (51-56-60-67-
73) sts.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: Knit to last 2 sts. K2tog.
Next row: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows until there are
30 (34-36-40-44-50) sts, ending
on a purl row.

Yes. This is what will shape the shoulder. The next stitches moved to a holder will be for the neck, then the remaining stitches will be for the other shoulder. Have you been knitting and purling all the stitches? If so you’ll need to undo those rows and work on the shoulder stitches only. Why patterns are written as they are is often a mystery. Sometimes it’s assumed that something is self-explanatory I suppose; in this case the instruction to leave stitches unworked is the indicator.

Thank you for the clarification. Yes, I’ve been knitting and purling all the stitches and will have to take them out. But this is my first sweater, so I was bound to make a mistake soon! Glad I read ahead in the pattern and got the feeling something was wrong. You live and learn! Thanks again!

This stuff happens. You’re now a more experienced knitter and have learned something new. I’m glad I could help.