Instinct Says

I think perhaps,  I am on the right track with Serenipity.  Ready now to start the 'V' neck shaping, the knitting on my needles at least looks more correct.

 

More correct than this one-sided piece did.

 

And more like the schematic shows.

Not that I give any credit to the pattern.  I've read and re-read it several times and I still believe the pattern says to cast on an extra 38 stitches on one side of the work only.   I credit plain, old experience.  Sometimes you just gotta' go with your instincts.