understanding pattern

Hi, I’ve never knitted a garment before and I’m relatively new. I don’t understand what to do. Can someone please explain my pattern? Thank you so much in advance!

With RS facing, using larger needles, pick up and knit 30 (30, 31, 32, 33, 33, 34, 35, 36, 36) sts along short edge of first Body Panel, PM, pick up and knit 30 (30, 31, 32, 33, 33, 34, 35, 36, 36) sts along short edge of second Body Panel. 60 (60, 62, 64, 66, 66, 68, 70, 72, 72) sts Row1(WS):Pto4(5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13)sts before marker, pfb in each st to marker, remove marker, pfb in each of next 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) sts, p to end. 68 (70, 74, 78, 82, 84, 88, 92, 96, 98) sts
Row 2 (RS): Knit.
Row 3 (WS): Purl.
Work flat in St st until piece measures 6.5 (8.5, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19.5, 21.5, 23.5)cm / 21⁄2 (31⁄4, 4, 43⁄4, 51⁄2, 61⁄4, 7, 73⁄4, 81⁄2, 91⁄4)" from start of
Side Body, ending with a RS row. Do not turn
at end of last row. Join to work in the round,
PM for beg of round. Place locking stitch marker in space between first and last st at beg of round to mark underarm.

Pinklilies,
We will be able to help more effectively if you are more specific about your question. If you already know how to cast on, do a knit stitch and a purl stitch, you have a good start. As far as starting a garment for the first time, it would be helpful to have someone sit with you and walk you through the first steps of the pattern.

What is the name of your pattern and what size are you knitting?

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Thank you for replying. I can knit, purl, etc… I’ve made scarves and can read easier patterns. I’m currently struggling to understand the Cloudbow pattern. I’ve never constructed a sweater, or any garment and cannot visualize what the instructions are telling me.

This is where I’m lost:

With RS facing, using larger needles, pick up and knit 30 (30, 31, 32, 33, 33, 34, 35, 36, 36) sts along short edge of first Body Panel, PM, pick up and knit 30 (30, 31, 32, 33, 33, 34, 35, 36, 36) sts along short edge of second Body Panel. 60 (60, 62, 64, 66, 66, 68, 70, 72, 72) sts Row1(WS):Pto4(5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13)sts before marker, pfb in each st to marker, remove marker, pfb in each of next 4 (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) sts, p to end. 68 (70, 74, 78, 82, 84, 88, 92, 96, 98) sts
Row 2 (RS): Knit.
Row 3 (WS): Purl.
Work flat in St st until piece measures 6.5 (8.5, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19.5, 21.5, 23.5)cm / 21⁄2 (31⁄4, 4, 43⁄4, 51⁄2, 61⁄4, 7, 73⁄4, 81⁄2, 91⁄4)" from start of
Side Body, ending with a RS row. Do not turn
at end of last row. Join to work in the round,
PM for beg of round. Place locking stitch marker in space between first and last st at beg of round to mark underarm.

Sorry, knitting the smallest size. Thank you again for advice.

Welcome to KH. This is a pretty pattern.

Could you please share a picture of your work so we can see where you are and what you need to do next? I’m sure you’ll get the help you need.

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Hello
These notes published on ravelry should help you uderstand which part if the garment you are working on and how the piece is constructed. (Thanks for the link @GrumpyGramma)

Notes: Cloudbow is a ruffled, puff-sleeve pullover or dress, worked modularly starting with the front and back body panels. Two rectangles of equal size are made first, then stitches are picked up along the short edges of each panel for sleeves. Increases at the shoulders add volume, and decreases gather the cuff. Stitches are picked up evenly around the lower edge of the body for the peplum (Pullover version) or skirt (Dress version). Increases in the first round add volume, and the peplum or skirt is worked in the round to the hem. Note that the peplum increases are more voluminous than the skirt increases; if you’d prefer a slimmer peplum, work Inc row as given for the skirt instead, and vice versa for a more voluminous skirt. The dress can be finished with an optional ruffled hem. Folded edgings finish the sleeve cuffs and neckline.

It sounds to me like you have made the front and back panel, 2 rectangles - is this correct?
And you are now picking up stitches to join these 2 pieces together and make a sleeve.

Working on the shorter edge of the rectangle and with the right side (outside of the garment) facing you pick up 30 stitches. For instance the left sleeve would begin with the bottom of the front panel, picking up stitches working up towards the shoulder, where a marker is placed on your needle then you continue from the top of the back panel and down towards the underarm.
(Note - to follow the instruction for the right sleeve you would be starting with the back panel, working up to the shoulder and then down the front panel towards the underarm. Left and right sleeves indicate the sleeve as you would wear the item not as you look at it)

Turn and work ‘row 1’ and continue working flat for these rows.
When the work measures the correct length from the pick up edge you finish with a right side row and then join in the round. A marker is placed at the join to mark beginning of round and also the underarm.

This roughly describes the construction. If you are stuck on a particular aspect of how to work the pattern or a certain stitch please do say which part exactly you do not understand. The instructions cover lots of different techniques, each requiring specific help and/or tutorial video link to help but as we do not know your skill level or exactly which part you need help with we could pitch the answer incorrectly.

I hope this does help and please feel welcome to ask for more help.

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Hi and welcome to KH!
You’ve gotten good advice above. Here’s a photo from the Ravelry discussion that may help with where to pick up the stitches.
https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/pom-pom/4208432/1-25

See the yellow dashed line in the 3rd post down the page photo.

Here’s also a video for picking up and knitting stitches in case you need it.

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