crochet help!

[doogloose.livejournal.com]

ok im sure this isn't a new one, as from what i understand, crochet patterns are cryptic to just about everybody who tries to learn on their own.

but, here's my deal: i have found a very cute hat pattern from the memories that i want to do. i understand how to do many crochet stitches and have printed out pages with translations for the abreviations that are found in patterns, so i'm not entirely clueless.

anyway, let me try to explain the exact details of how im stuck, and maybe someone can enlighten me?

Rnd 1: Ch 2, 6 sc in 1 st ch, join to 1^st sc.

First *big* question arose pretty quickly - if I chain 2, where am i supposed to work the 6 single crochets into? (I read this as: chain 2, work 6 single crochets in 1 stitch chain, join to 1st single crochet). So, chain two, and then make another 6 on the chain as a base for a row of single crochet? or what? And what's the 1 st ch? Also - where is this "1st single chain" I'm supposed to join to?

Rnd 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a stitch, here and throughout), 2 hdc in same st and in each st around, join.

What does it mean "does not count as a stich here and throughout"?

Rnd 3: Ch 2, 2 hdc in each stitch around, join.

Rnd 4: Ch 2, 3 hdc in each stitch around, join. The edge will be ruffled.

Rnd 5-29: Ch 2, hdc in each stitch around, join.

I guess I would also like to know - I am assuming that this hat starts at the top (like the crown of the head), and works its way downwards. Is that right? And - am I building a stitch that keeps repeating itself in each round? Because the pattern doesn't seem to describe enough stitches to make a whole hat (if that makes any sense).

And fyi this came from: here

Thanks so much in advance, hope that this was at least partly decipherable! Was pretty tough to explain how my brain was interpreting this pattern. To be honest, I've been messing around with the bloody thing for 2-3 days now, using net tutorials, practicing stitches, and giving up periodically, I'd really really like to figure this out. I'm sure it makes sense if you know how to read it.

- Amy