Ideally, you would join into the top of the sc. Apparently they do not have you do a ch1 at the beginning of the next row. Actually, you could do it either way with doing a sc next or a ch1 and then a sc. Try it both ways for a few stitches and see which look you prefer. If it looks too crowded there with a ch1 and sc, then do just the sc.

sheilajoyce - my previous post was confusing to me :-) I'll try to be more clear:

rnds 4 though 8:
ch 3, dc in each dc; join (join in top of ch 3)

rnd 9 (turning rnd):
ch 1, sc in front lp only of each dc around; join (join where?), TURN

rnd 10:
ch 1, sc in both lps of each sc; join (join where?)

rnds 11 though 13:
repeat rnd 10

also meant to say, when I do the rnds of dc, I have 36 stitches (ch 3 counts as first dc)

when I turn and do the rnd of sc, I'll have fewer stitches for that rnd?

You join to the first stitch of that round whenever it says join. Use a slip stitch. Do you know what a slip stitch is?

You will have 36 sc too because you will do a sc in each dc including one sc in the turning ch3.

Hope this helps.

Back to your earlier questions, when you join in the first stitch, that join just connects the stitches side by side, not on top to make a new row. Then you ch1 to go up for the next row, then you sc in that first stitch of the row below. You can do the ch1 and then turn, which is what I usually do, or turn and then do the ch1.

I know what a slip stitch is and I know how to join (for 8 rounds I had been joining with a slip stitch in the top of ch 3). The sc round begins with ch 1 and I didn't know whether to join in this/beginning ch 1 or the first sc when at the end of the round.
It probably doesn't make much difference either way, I just wondered which would be correct or best.
Thanks for your help.