Help with Crochet Pattern

Dear Forum,

I’m trying my hand at amigurumi for the first time. I’ve come across a pattern that’s giving me a headache. It uses the following notation:

*1 sc, 1 inc; rep* x 5 (18)

I just don’t understand how you end up with 18 stitches. 1 sc + 1 inc—okay, that would give me 3 stitches; then I decrease 1 stitch, making 4 stitches; so x5 should give me 20, right? Maybe I’m just making a mistake in my thinking?

Could someone please be so kind as to break this down for me again? Google hasn’t helped so far...

Thank you so much!

Best regards
Angelina

Dear Angelina,

the “ab*” means that starting at the *, you should repeat the pattern 5 times—so “1 sc, 1 inc,” and then do the same thing 5 more times.

I hope that helps!

Best regards, Sonja

Dear Sonja,

thank you so much for your help—it makes sense now that you mention it! That’s how I get to 18 stitches, too.

Great—have a wonderful evening!

Best regards,
Angelina