Hi, I was hoping someone may be able to help me with the first baby jersey I am trying to knit. I have made it to the front shoulders and cannot work out the way forward. I have included the instructions below, but have so many questions - Do I start with taking the first 4 edge stitches or do I knit a row first (as it says every 2 rows)? Do I knit the stitches first before putting them on a holder? If I don’t knit the stitches first my wool is pulled back from ball - does this mean I have to start another ball of wool? I’m sorry for all of the questions and hope someone can help 
Shoulders
When work measures 96 rows total, leave the outside edge sts on hold every 2 rows as follows:
4 sts once, 5 sts twice
For each shoulder pick up 14 sts left on hold, k1 row then cast off all stitches.
It sounds like they want you to work short row shaping. Does that feature in your pattern? Presumably as you are working the front, there is neck shaping and the shoulders are worked separately?
I think it means that you work the pattern to the outer edge but stop 4 stitches short of the end. Then you turn and work back across that half. That is two rows. Next row, you work across and stop 5 stitches before where you last stopped, ie 9 before end of the row. Turn and work back across. That’s another two rows. Repeat the same manoeuvre and you have completed the instructions, with the neck edge of the shoulder six rows higher than the armhole edge. When you then work the whole row, you have a lovely gentle slope (rather than the usual stepped shoulder shape that you get with sequential casting off at the edge. However, this method as written will give you a small hole at each turning point which is easy address but probably best to look at one of the many YouTube videos. Look up German short rows as these are probably the easiest! Good luck!
Try this link. You may have to copy it into your browser cos it doesn’t look like a link to me 
Hi Mel61, thanks so much for your reply. It definitely makes a little more sense to me now. I’m planning to watch the link and finish the front tomorrow morning (after a strong coffee)
I am using the same pattern I believe (by Bergere de France - Sonora). It’s striped. I had problems with this bit too even though I am not a beginner. In my view, the classification “Easy” is not quite right.
Thanks so much for this link. Roxanne Richardson is such a no nonsense knitter and producer of beautifully clear videos. This tip has made it possible for me to finish these shoulders. The next trouble spots with this pattern will be grafting the shoulders, following instructions for putting in the sleeves and making buttonholes without actually knitting the hole. But all that comes later. On with the sleeves first.
Once again, thanks for rescuing my latest knitting project.
This is a brilliant article on grafting! I’ve never had to look it up again!!