5th rnd: 1st needle: (K4. P4) 3 times. Slip last st onto next needle. 2nd
needle: (K4. P4) 2 (3) times. Slip last st onto next needle. 3rd needle: (K4. P4)
twice.
This is for socks being knit in the round obviously on dpn…what I don’t understand is how if I am going around the three needles this works, am I supposed to be working each needle individually here instead of going all the way around? I am probably missing something obvious.
I may not be understanding your question. You’re going to be working around from needle one to needle two to needle three. To do that, you’re using a working needle and each one of your needles with sts in turn. So in a sense, you work each needle individually one after the other.
when you see the section of pattern above though how do you translate it, in the pattern it has 16sts on needle one 16sts on needle two and 24sts on needle 3, when I read that section above it saying ‘k4 p4 3 times slip last stitch onto next needle’ am I to adjust the number of sts on the needle or am I missing something else here?
Here is the full pattern:
Cast on 56 (64) sts loosely. Divide into 24 sts on 1st needle, 16 (24) sts on 2nd
needle and 16 sts on 3rd needle. Join in rnd. Place marker on first st. Work in
(K4. P4) ribbing for 3 (3½) ins [7.5 (9) cm].
Proceed as follows:
1st to 3rd rnds: *K4. P4. Rep from * around.
4th rnd: *K4. P4. Rep from * to last 8 sts. K4. P3. Slip last st onto next needle.
5th rnd: 1st needle: (K4. P4) 3 times. Slip last st onto next needle. 2nd
needle: (K4. P4) 2 (3) times. Slip last st onto next needle. 3rd needle: (K4. P4)
twice.
Rep last 5 rnds until work from beg measures 16 (17) ins [40.5 (43) cm].
“when you see the section of pattern above though how do you translate it, in the pattern it has[I] 16sts on needle one 16sts on needle two and 24sts on needle 3[/I], when I read that section above it saying ‘k4 p4 3 times slip last stitch onto next needle’ am I to adjust the number of sts on the needle or am I missing something else here?”
“Cast on 56 (64) sts loosely. Divide into [I]24 sts on 1st needle, 16 (24) sts on 2nd needle and 16 sts on 3rd needle. [/I]”
I think you may have knit past the beginning of the round. Keep to the numbering of needles as given in the pattern:
needle 1 24sts
needle 2 16sts
needle 3 16sts
If you don’t have a marker (you can use a loop of contrasting yarn or safety pin or even a plastic stitch marker), put one in to mark the first st of the round. If you have gone too far on the last round, just take the 24sts out one by one on the last needle so that you have the 24-16-16 arrangement. Then the nunbers should work.
(Also, could you edit out the rest of the pattern in your post so that only the beginning of it shows. Copyright issues at work here.)
lol see, I told you I was over thinking it…I even have all the stitches on the right needles…thanks for bearing with me while I stop over thinking! 
Glad it all makes sense. Good luck with the pattern!