I am looking at this pattern here and I dont understand what it means for row 1 & 2 where it says “-5 sts after row 2”. I am new to knitting and have tried to find the answer but can’t figure it out. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!
It’s just telling you how many stitches you will have after row 2. Since you start by casting on 3 sts, and you increase 1 st on row 1, and then increase 1 st on row 2, that equals 5 sts at the end of row 2. 
thanks! one more quick question… on row 3 it says k to last st then yo and k1. That means knit to the next to last stitch and yo before the last st? right? TIA!
You got it! K all of the sts in the row until you get to the last one. Do a YO and then k that last one, too!
ok thanks…
sigh… can I trouble you for one more quick question? I can’t promise it will be the last though.
It says inc in first stitch (on row 1). does that mean I am basically adding a stitch first thing? starting with the yarn in front and doing the first knit stitch. I feel like a knitting idiot, thanks so much for your help!
It says inc in first stitch (on row 1). does that mean I am basically adding a stitch first thing?
Yes. You might try doing the KFB as that’s very easily worked in the first st position. (Vs the ‘YO’ of starting with yarn in front.) Sometimes it’s a matter of personal preference.
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Generally, when a pattern says to increase [B]in[/B] a stitch, it means to kfb. The other increases are between stitches.