Help with Greenwich Rowan pattern

Hello there

I have just completed the back of this sweater and am now starting on the front. I am doing the large size so second one in brackets. As I have looked further on, I cannot work out what to do on the shaping of the neck:

FRONT
Work as given for back to **.
Cont in rib patt until front meas 7 cm, ending with RS facing for
next row. (Note: Front is 15 cm shorter than back below markers.)
Now work as given for back from *** until 51 [51: 61: 61: 67] sts
rem in raglan armhole shaping.
Work 1 [1: 3: 3: 5] rows, ending with RS facing for next row.

I understand up to this point and should therefore (when I get there) have 61 sts on my needle. This next part is where I am getting confused:

The instructions say do this 0 times??? And 16 and 17 don’t add to 61??

Shape front neck
Next row (RS): Sl 1, (K3, sl 1, K2tog, psso) 0 [0: 0: 0: 1] times,
K11 [11: 16: 16: 13] and turn, leaving rem sts on a holder.
12 [12: 17: 17: 18] sts.

The next set of instructions have me totally flummoxed :worried:

Work each side of neck separately.
Dec 1 st at neck edge of next 5 [5: 6: 6: 6] rows, then on foll 0 [0: 2: 2: 3]
alt rows and at same time dec – [-: 2: 2: 2] sts at raglan armhole
edge on – [-: 2nd: 2nd: 6th] and – [-: 1: 1: 1] foll 6th row.
7 [7: 5: 5: 5] sts.

It then goes on to say: :confounded:

Sizes L, XL and XXL only
Work – [-: 3: 3: 5] rows, dec 1 st at neck edge of – [-: 2nd: 2nd: 4th]
of these rows. 4 sts.
Next row (RS): Sl 1, sl 1, K2tog, psso. 2 sts.
All sizes
Work 1 row, ending with RS facing for next row.
Next row (RS): K2tog and fasten off.
With RS facing, slip centre 27 sts onto a holder, rejoin yarn and K
to last 0 [0: 0: 0: 7] sts, (K3tog, K4) 0 [0: 0: 0: 1] times.
Complete to match first side, reversing shapings.

Any help would be warmly welcomed. Otherwise, I might have to take the back apart and do something else. :sob:

Welcome to the forum!
When a pattern says to work something 0 times (or has a dash or x) for your size, skip over that direction and go directly to the next direction. The row in question becomes:
Next row (RS): Sl 1, K16 and turn, leaving rem sts on a holder. (17sts)
After you slip one and k16, turn as you would at the end of a row. Leave the sts remaining on the left needle and either ignore them or move them to a holder or scrap yarn. You’ll get to them later. You’re going to work one shoulder by itself for now.

Call the next row, row 1. Decrease one stitch at the neck edge on rows 1,2,3,4,5 and 6. Then dec one stitch on rows 8 and 10. Decrease 2 sts at the raglan armhole edge on rows 2 and 8. That’ll take you to 5sts.

For the next 3 rows dec at the neck edge on row 2. Follow the decrease on the next couple of rows as written, place the center sts onto a holder and knit across the rest of the row ignoring the next directions which have a 0 for your size.

Thank you for your reply, salmonmac. I appreciate such a quick and comprehensive response.

However, I’ve got 61 stitches on my needle, so if I sl 1, k16, I will have 44 left, not 17. Are the spare ones for the centre? Do I just leave them on a separate holder as well?

Thank you.

When you slip one then k16 there will be 17sts on the right hand needle and 44 on the left hand needle. The 44sts can be placed on a holder if you wish.
Later the center 27sts out of these 44 will be used for the center of the front and the remaining 17sts for the second shoulder.

Of course :woman_facepalming:
Thank you so much.