Knitting pattern abbreviations

How-to Questions
1

I am still new to knitting, and I am having trouble deciphering pattern abbreviations for the hat I’m making. What does this mean? (I understand the ssk - just not what to do with the parantheses and brackets):
ssk, p1 [k2, p2] 1 (2, 4)x, k2, k2tog. repeat around

I cast on 64 stitches, and I believe I’m supposed to end up with 56 after this round?

thanks!

2

Whatever is in brackets will be repeated as many times indicated in the parentheses for your size.

So you will k2,p2 either 1, 2 or 4 times depending on whether you’re making small, med or lg.