Hello
What a lucky dad having a sweater made.
What is the pattern name/number you are making?
The numbers just before and inside the brackets are for the different sizes. Highlight or circle the number for the size you are making throught the pattern and ignore all the other numbers. For instance the smallest size is rib 2, the next size up reads rib 11, the third size reads rib 10.
Rib 2 means to work 2 stitches is whatever rib pattern you have been given for the pattern AND to keep them in line with previous rows. Look at how the stitch presents on the left needle, if it is a V it is a knit stitch and to “rib” this stitch means to knit it. If the stitch presents as a bump it is a purl and to “rib” this stitch means to purl it
Rib keeps columns of knits in line and columns of purls in line. The pattern might begin by saying to k2 p2 as you begin the row with knit knit purl purl, but after this initial instruction it will say to “rib” and this is because the number of stitches may change with increases or decreases and the row might not always begin with knit knit but needs to be worked in a way that maintains those columns. You can tell which stitch is needed by reading your fabric.
With instruction K2 this means knit 2 stitches so, knit knit.
P2 is purl 2 stitches, so purl purl.
A K2/P2 rib is the description of the type of rib pattern. It is established knit knit purl purl and repeated for however many stutches needed. After establishing the first row read the fabric to know whether to knit it or purl it to maintain the pattern correctly.
Patt or pattern means to work the given number of stutches using a given pattern. Again highlighting the size you are making will help.
Patt 65 means work the next 65 stitches in the established pattern, in this case a cable pattern. You may not be at row 1 when you read this. The pattern will begin with either row 1 or a set up row or will tell you which row to begin the Patt on, but after that you are expected to keep track of the row numbers yourself. If for instance the Patt is 14 rows and you are told to work in patt throughout then you continue the patt even past row 14.
row 15 is patt row 1
row 16 is patt row 2 and so on
The instruction the Patt means use the correct row number and the correct stitches to work the next series of stitches. As with the rib the stitch number may change due to increases or decreases or you might be mid row (as with the neck shape) and you need to keep the Patt in line with the rest of the fabric.
Stutch markers and counting can help a great deal with keeping patterns in line.
This is quite tricky stuff if you aren’t used to it but the only way to learn is to have a go and ask for help when you get stuck. A cable sweater involves lots of different skills, which you won’t learn by making lots of straight scarves. There is lots of support here for getting through the tricky bits.
I hope this helps