Step 4 – this is the step where you are creating the arm hole. You do this by moving from the “hdc in the first two stitches of the hdc-inc of the previous row” and directly moving onto and hdc into the middle stitch in the next hdc-inc from the previous row. In other words, if the hdc-inc are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 as you move along the row in this step you connect hdc-inc 1 and hdc directly into the hdc-inc 2 (skipping all the stitches in between. these are left unworked until later in the pattern). then you hdc along the row until you reach hdc-inc 3. here you “hdc in the first two stitches of the hdc-inc of the previous row” and then again skip all the stitches in between and immediately hdc into hdc-inc 4. then you finish up the row as normal.

Did that help? If not, let me know and I can sketch out a little diagram

Your sweater turned out beautifully! I, too, came across this pattern and I was so excited because it looks so simple.

I’m trying to make it myself, and I’m stuck at step 4. I get all the way up to “hdc in the first two stitches of the hdc-inc of the previous row,” and I have no idea what I’m supposed to do after that. I can’t figure it out from the photos either. I’m not clear on what exactly “Skip the next length of hdc’s and hdc directly into the middle hdc of the hdc-inc of the previous row” means – what length am I supposed to be skipping? Would appreciate any help you can offer! Thanks