Pattern from Yummy Häkeln that I don’t understand—please help

Hi everyone!

I recently started crocheting and am really enjoying it. So far, I’ve been crocheting amigurumi from YouTube videos, and now I’d like to tackle a new project.

My new project is a cupcake hat from the book “Yummy Häkeln”
http://r.duckduckgo.com/l/?kh=-1&uddg=http%3A%2F%2Fanjizilla.de%2Fwp%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F09%2Fgroaaar_cupcake_02.jpg

I don’t have much experience with written crochet patterns and would like to ask for an explanation here. I’m currently working on the upper light blue section.

Instructions:
“Chain 40 with a size 5.5 crochet hook.
Row 1: Skip the first 2 ch (2 hdc), hdc in the next 21 ch, hdc2tog, (24 sts)
Row 2: Chain 2, turn. Insert the hook into both loops of the first and last sts of the row; otherwise, insert only into the front loop. Hdc2tog, 21 hdc, (2 hdc). (24 sts)
Row 3: Chain 2, turn. Insert the hook into both loops of the first and last sts of the row; otherwise, insert only into the front loop. (2 hdc), 21 hdc, hdc2tog (24 sts)"

Here’s where I’m confused: I start with 40 chain stitches, fine. Then the first 2 are skipped (as with the half double crochet) and half double crochets are worked into the following 21 ch. What does the "(2 hdc)" in parentheses mean? And how do I decrease half double crochets together on chain stitches? My understanding of the second row is that I crochet 24 half double crochets, but mostly only into the front loop.

Could you please tell me if I’m on the right track here? I’m really confused :D

Thank you so much!

crochetnewbie

Hi... I’ll try to explain it.

40 chain stitches

Skip the 40th and 39th chain stitches, and work 2 half double crochets into the 38th chain stitch.
Then work 1 hdc into each of the next 21 chain stitches. The following two chain stitches should now be crocheted together. You do this by starting a half double crochet; when you have 3 loops on your hook, you would normally pull the yarn through these 3 loops to make a half double crochet, but in this case, after the 3 loops, you start another half double crochet in the next chain stitch and then have 6 loops on your hook. Only then do you pull the yarn through all 6 loops. 

Now row 2:

2 turning chains
Turn. Crochet the first two together; do this as explained earlier. However, for the 1st stitch, insert the hook into both loops, and for the 2nd stitch, insert the hook only into the front loop.
Work 1 hdc in each of the next 21 stitches, inserting the hook only into the front loops. The next stitch should then be increased: work the 1st hdc into the front loop and the 2nd hdc into both loops
 

Row 3 is basically like Row 2, except that this time the increase is at the beginning of the row and the decrease is at the end of the row

Thank you, thank you, thank you! :) I’ll try that right away!

I hope I was able to explain this clearly 

Hi.... did it work out? 

Hey! I had a very unpleasant encounter with a bread knife yesterday, so I have to take a few days off from crocheting. But I’ll let you know when I can continue :) Have a great weekend!

Oh dear.... get well soon and have a nice weekend