Help with interpreting a knitting pattern

Why do they make patterns so hard to understand? I'm a new knitter, tackling my first ever baby jacket, and am stumped on the following instructions for the sleeves:

(Note: I do understand that all the numbers in the brackets are for different sizes. I am currently making the smallest one - 0 months)

Using 4mm needles, cast on 25 (29-33-33-33-33) sts. Check

Knit 13 (13-15-15-17-17) rows garter st, 1st row is wrong side, inc 3 (4-5-5-5-5) sts evenly across last row... 28 (33-38-38-38-38) sts. Check

Begin rib patt - 1st row - Knit. 2nd row - P3, *K2, P3, rep from * to end. Last two rows form rib patt. Check.

Cont in rib patt and working extra sts into patt, inc one st at each end of next row, then in every foll - every (every-alt-alt-every-alt) row until there are 54 (47-58-60-44-76) sts, sizes 3, 6, 9,12 and 18 months only - then in every foll (alt-4th-4th-alt-4th) row/s until there are (59-62-66-74-78) sts.

That's where I'm stuck. Do I increase one stitch at EACH end of EVERY row, or every second row? The bit that says "then in every foll - every row until there are 54 sts" is what's got me. And then because I'm doing size 0 months, am I supposed to stop at 54 sts?

All sizes, work 9 (9-9-9-11-9) rows more without shaping. Check

If anyone could help me, I'd be most grateful.. thanks

every foll - every (every-alt-alt-every-alt) row until there are 54 (47-58-60-44-76) sts means for your size 0, you're increasing in every row until there are 54 sts. The dash then every (every-alt etc. is for those sizes as bracketed and yours is the first every.

I hope that makes sense.

And yes, then you stop at 54 stitches.

Thank YOU!! I have done it right then.. I thought that the arm looked a bit short though. Ah well, I'll see when I've finished it

Babies arms are short. If you hold a new born and raise his wee arms up their hans barely go past the top of their head - unlike an adult whos elbow is at the top of their head leave *hope that makes sence).

I hope we will see a picture when the jacket is finished.

It got eaten by her dog, apparently.

In the Netherlands, kids are judged ready to go to school when they can reach over the top of their heads and touch their ear! That's about 6 years but they have a good kindy system before that. So that would indicate that babies arms are short (dog or no dog) and it takes six years to catch up with their head size!!

If at first you don't succeed - try try again. I was ready to sit on the floor and cry when I saw the mess the Terror had made, but it's such a neat little jacket pattern that I have picked up my needles once again. I might have something worth showing by tomorrow night.