Help understanding this pattern

I am doing a gnome pattern, I’m getting so far and then I get to row 20 and it reads, Pearl 12 then knit and cast off eight stitches, knit wise, then pearl 11, and then it has 12 _ 12 stitches each needle, this is where I’m confused has anybody ever seen this before?

This is similar to the way many patterns begin the shoulders and neck shaping. What is the name of your pattern and designer? What part of the pattern is this, arms, neck, head?

It’s for a gnome and actually it’s just the chew and leg and sock area.

Does that make sense for the part you’re making?
The chew?