Hi, im only new to knitting and I don’t understand what the pattern is saying
1st row - cast off 5 sts k to last 2 Sts k2tog
2nd row - purl
3rd row - k1 sl1 k1 psso knit to last 2sts k2tog
4th row - purl
** continue to Dec at armhole edge on every alt row as before at the same time k2tog at front edge on every following alt row until 18 St’s remain, then on every following 4th row until 6 Sts remain? ?
Please help
Is it the decreases themselves or the frequency of the decreases that’s causing the problem?
You’re going to do the dec at the armhole edge every other row and k2tog at the front edge on the alternate rows. So if you dec for the armhole on odd number rows, you’ll dec for the front edge on even number rows. If all your decreases are supposed to be k1 sl1 k1 psso or k2tog as in row 3, then just do both decreases on the odd number rows. Do these decs until 18sts are left the then dec on the front edge every 4 rows until 6sts are left.
Can you give us a link to the pattern or a pattern name?
Hi, thanks, i got the side finished but it’s now longer than the back.
The back is telling me to continue working in St.st until back measures 6.5 inches from commencement. Does that include the rib or from when u change to the bigger needles? The pattern is a childs v neck cardigan T144 by Peter pan. 
It includes the rib. You should measure from the cast on, the very beginning of the knitting. Does the pattern have a bind off for the armholes? If so, you can see if the extra length on the front is before of after the armhole bind off.
Yeah its longer from the start of the armhole onwards, I think I need to rip it back and try again, I know it’s the decreasing that’s going wrong. Thanks for all your help
Try to match the decreases on the armhole edge to the decreases at the back. You might bind off an extra stitch at the front armhole and you may have to put in a decrease every row a time or two but that’ll be ok. In other words, fudge some of the decreases.