What does preliminary work mean?

In knitting, what does it mean to work in pattern as established and work 22 sts?

• Can someone explain what I am supposed to do! for the following? please and thankyou :) Thumbhole Row (Right Side): Working in pattern as established, work 22 sts, bind off 2 sts, work to end of row. Next Row (Wrong Side): Work to bind-off sts of previous row, cast on 2 sts, work to end of row.

• Answer:

  "Working in pattern as established," = The project is worked in a stitch pattern. You want to continue working the stitch pattern on the project while at the same time following the shaping instructions. So: Work 22 stitches in the stitch pattern as you have "set" it in the knitting so far. Bind off 2 stitches. Work to the end of the row in whatever stitch pattern that part of the project has established. On the next row, work back in the appropriate stitch pattern to the place where you bound off 2 stitches. Cast on 2 stitches to replace the bound-off stitches. Continue over the remaining 22 stitches in the stitch pattern.