Problems with the crochet pattern

Hi!
I just started crocheting to make something for my friend’s little brother. I wanted to crochet a frog using a pattern. Right now, I’m stuck on this part:
“2 sc, 2 sc in the next sc, 2 sc.” I’m crocheting in the round—that much I’ve figured out. I interpreted “2 sc in the next sc” to mean that I should alternate between making 2 sc and 1 sc for an entire round, then finish with a sl st. But I’m really unsure, and the circle is also slightly curved.
Thank you so much for your help.

Hi,
I think you’ve made too many increases, which is why the circle is wavy.

You work one single crochet in each of the next two stitches, just as usual.
That makes 2 single crochets.

Then you work 2 single crochets in ONE stitch (increase)

And then again, one single crochet in each of the next two stitches.

So you alternate between 2 sc as usual and one increase (2 sc in 1 stitch).

At least, that’s how I’d understand it. Give it a try.

Best regards, Monika

Thank you so much for the quick reply. That clears things up right away and makes sense. Could you also tell me what “2 sc in every 2nd sc” might mean?

You normally work 1 sc into each stitch. In this case, you simply insert the hook there again and then work 2 sc into one stitch.

It’s best to Google some videos that show you these basic steps. We all had to start somewhere before we got good at it. You can do it, too. :)

Best wishes, Monika

Of course, I mean crocheting at the beginning of my first sentence... sorry.

This means: Crochet 1 sc in the 1st st, then 2 sc in the next st, then 1 sc in the following st, then 2 sc in the next st, and so on.

Ruthk, is your answer to my original question, or to the question of what “2 fM in every 2nd fM” means?
Because I’m a bit confused now by the two different answers.

The answer belongs to your second question. (2 sc in every 2nd stitch)

Exactly!

Okay, perfect—I understand everything now. Thank you so much!

I’ve done it exactly that way now. It’s going pretty well so far, but I have the feeling that the frog’s round body is currently turning out pretty narrow and more cylinder-shaped. Do you know what might be causing that? I read somewhere that you can pin the finished piece at the end to get it into the desired shape. Is there any truth to that, or am I doing something wrong? Thanks again for your help. I’m thrilled at how helpful everyone here is.

The next step says “42 sc” — I doubt I’m working 42 rounds. I must still be misunderstanding something.

Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with the pattern, but I suspect you have too few stitches in a round. Does the pattern say how many
stitches you should have in each round?

As a counting aid, you can place a colored thread at the beginning of a round. When you get back there, you'll have
completed one round.

42 sc means that you should crochet 42 single crochets. So you should have (at least) 42 stitches in your round.

But mowi19 said:
“You work one single crochet in each stitch for two stitches in a row, just as usual. That makes 2 single crochets.”

Correct.
If it just says: "2 sc", then that means: crochet 1 sc 2 times, each into 1 stitch. (as mowi says)
But if it says: "2 sc into the next stitch", then that means that you crochet 2 stitches into the following stitch, so you insert your hook 2 times into one stitch (=increase).
Take a look here:
https://www.crazypatterns.net/de/in-der-schnecke-haekeln
Maybe that will help you.