In crochet, what does *[dc in ch-1, dc] 3 times; rep from * across, mean?

[Krista]

I'm making a cowl with 4 rows that repeat with rows 2-4. The pattern is from Love of Crochet, Winter 2012, page 14.

 

[liberareeian]

First thing I did was to look up the issue online to see if there was errata correction for this pattern, and sure enough, there is. I'm not sure if it addresses your problem, but there seem to be a lot more problems with the pattern. Check the page below for corrected instruction. Pay particular attention to the paragraph that says the pattern doesn't even match the picture exactly:

http://www.loveofknitting.com/corrections.html

 

[DR+MrsBearsface]

In the previous row you worked a chain which leaves a space underneath.
dc in ch-1 means you insert your hook into that space under the chain instead of into the top loops as usual.
dc means work a double crochet into the next stitch.
[-] 3 times means repeat the instructions between [ and ] 3 times
repeat from * across means repeat the instructions from * to the end of the row.
I think you have typed something wrong or the pattern is misprinted because as written what you are told to do 3 times is exactly the same as what you are to do all across the row. Therefore an instruction or stitch has been missed out.