I would take that to mean to draw up one loop in each of the next 5 double crochets, then yarn over and pull through all loops on the hook. Repeat all the way around.

I thought it would mean that too except that I'm starting with 84 stitches and when I finish this round I'm supposed to have 72 stiches left. If I decrease 5 stitches at once all the way around I'll only have 20 stitches left after I finish this round.

Hmmmm, after looking at the instructions again, I'n not sure, but maybe it means to just repeat the instructions in parentheses. Maybe you missed putting a comma before the word "decrease", or they did. So you would "sc in the next 5 stitches and make a regular decrease over the next 2 stitches", then repeat that until you get to the end.

I read it again and I'm sure that's right. Your first chain equals 1 stitch and you sc 4 times, making it 5 stitches, then you do a decrease. That equals exactly what is in the parentheses.

I think you are right Donna. They must have forgot to put the comma because when I did as you suggested I got the right amount of stitches I'm supposed to have after this round. Thanks so much for the help. For a while there I thought of throwing in the towel on this pattern.

Glad I could help.