Start knit or purl in stockingette

Hello.
I’m knitting a pattern for fingerless gloves. My instructions said to knit the first row (k19, m1, k3, m1, k15), and then says “work 3 rows in st st”. I was doing st st, then did the first row to shape thumb, and now my work is on the wrong side (that doesn’t have the v shape in it). Normally when I’m on this side I do a purl row, but I thought st st always started with a knit row.

So my question is, are my next 3 rows knit purl knit, or purl knit purl.
Thank you!

I assume then that you’re knitting them flat? Do whatever works to get the pattern to work out. Personally I’d start with a knit row and just do one extra row if necessary. I find purling the first row can make the edge loose, but maybe that’s just me. One extra row won’t make any difference. Just do the same thing on both gloves.

You did the first row in knit, so the next 3 rows in stockinette would be purl, knit, purl.

The ‘first’ row was actually the one you just did with the increases.