I am making the Basic Head found in Christen Haden's "Creepy Cute Crochet." I believe that I have figured out what she wants me to do, but I am confused about how to count the stiches.

Here are the first three rows of the pattern.

Row 1: Sc 6 in magic ring, sl st to close round {6}.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc 1 in same, [inc] around, sl st to close round {11}.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc 1 in same, inc, inc, sc 3, [inc] 3 times, sc 3, sl st to close round {17}.

I can complete the first two rounds no problem. I end up with the correct number of stitches. However, when I try to do Row 3 I come up one stitch short.

My solution is to sl st in THE CHAIN and then to sc in that chain as well. When I do that, I come up with 17 at the end.

Here are my questions:
1. At the end of Row 2 I only have 11 stiches if I do not count the chain or the slip stitch. Is that correct?
2. How can I not count the chain but then work into it?

She includes a symbol diagram as well. I don't know how to make it in the round in this message- so you will have bear with me

1 x x x x x x -
2 0 x x--x x-x x---x x--x x-x -
3 0 x x-x x-x x x x x-x x-x x-x x x x -

0 = chain
x = single crochet
x-x, x--x, or x---x = single crochet twice in same stich
- = slip stich

Notice that in round 3 there is an x hanging out there with no x above it (the very first x!). This is the same in the diagram. I think that this is the missing piece to my puzzle.

Can anyone help?

Thanks, Amelia