V neck - where did I go wrong?

[Boyzo]

Hello everyone

I'm knitting a simple ribbed V-neck

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80024AD.html

and I'm sure I've gone wrong in the shaping :

Shape Right Front
Row 1 (WS): Work in Rib across 51 (57, 63, 69, 75) sts only, slip rem 42 (48, 54, 60, 66) sts onto a stitch holder.
Row 2 (neck dec row – RS): K3, p3, k3, p2tog, work in Rib to end.
Rep last row (neck dec) every 4 rows 17 more times, AT THE SAME TIME, when piece measures 12 (13, 14, 15, 16) in. (30.5 (33, 35.5, 38, 40.5) cm) from beg, end with a RS row and shape armhole as follows:

I read the pattern to mean I should begin shaping the V by repeating [WS RS WS dec] 17 times before starting to shape the armhole. From the photo, I could see the V began below the armhole so this made sense. However, after 10 blocks of 4 rows I can see the V is WAY too deep. How should I have read the pattern please?

Sandra (learning by her mistakes!)

[Mirl56]

Shape Right Front
Row 1 (WS): Work in Rib across 51 (57, 63, 69, 75) sts only, slip rem 42 (48, 54, 60, 66) sts onto a stitch holder.
Row 2 (neck dec row – RS): K3, p3, k3, p2tog, work in Rib to end.
Rep last row (neck dec) every 4 rows 17 more times, AT THE SAME TIME, when piece measures 12 (13, 14, 15, 16) in. (30.5 (33, 35.5, 38, 40.5) cm) from beg, end with a RS row and shape armhole as follows:

You won't get all 17 decreases done before you start the armhole shaping. Keep an eye on the overall length from the beginning - when the piece is the right length (see bold above) that's when you start the armhole shaping. From then on, you'll be doing the arm shaping and the v-neck shaping at the same time.

[suzeeq]

Yep, start the armhole shaping when the length of the whole piece is 12, 13, 14 whatever inches from the cast on, not from where you start the V.

[Boyzo]

Thanks Marilyn and Sue - I will have to take some rows back and hopefully manage to pick up the stitches. If not I'll start over, it's all good practice!

Sandra