BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Crochet Crochet pattern-not understanding

I am crocheting a baby sweater and do not understand the directions for the sleeves. They are as follows: 1st row (WS) 2 ch(counts as 1st hdc), 1 hdc into hdc at base of 2 ch-1st increased, *1 dc into next sc, hdc3tog around stem of dc just worked, skip 1 sc**.1 hdc into next hdc, rep from * to end, ending last rep at **, 2 hdc into top of 2 ch at beg of previous row-1 st increased, turn 24 sts. Working all increases as set by last row & working inc sts in hdc fabric until there are sufficient to work in patt, cont as follows: Inc 1 st at each end of next 4 rows, then on foll 2 alt rows, 36 sts. Work 1 row ending with WS facing for next row. I am a beginner crocheter and am used to a list of row numbers and this is confusing me. I have the body of the sweater done and don't want to give up now. Thanks for any help!!

Are there any instructions before this? Do you start with a base / foundation chain? or do you pick up stitches around the front and back pieces?

1st row (with wrong side facing you)chain 2 -- (this counts as 1st half-double crochet), work 1 half-double crochet in at the base of the chain 2 - first increase, work 1 double crochet in the next single crochet, work half-double crochet 3 times around the stem of double crochet just worked, skip 1 single crochet**. Work 1 half double crochet into the next half-double crochet, repeat from * to end, ending last repeat at **, work 2 half-double crochets into top of chain 2 at the beginning of previous row - 1 stitch increased, turn. You should now have 24 stitches.

Increase 1 stitch at each end of the next 4 rows, no increases on the next row, increase 1 stitch at each end of the next row, no increases on the next row, increase 1 stitch at each end of the next row, 36 stitches.

Work 1 row ending with wrong side facing you for the next row.

If these instructions do not help you, please let me know what you did before you started this row 1.