I changed this pattern and substituted the first four rounds and the first round of the graph with this:

Round 1:
2 ch (counts as 1 hdc),
7 hdc in the ring,
sl st in 2nd ch of the beg 2-ch to join (8 sts).

Round 2:
2 ch (counts as 1 hdc),
1 hdc into same st,
{2 dc into the next st},
rep from {} 7 more times,
sl st in 2nd ch of the beg 2-ch to join (16 sts).

Round 3:
5 ch (counts as 1 dc, 2 ch),
{1 dc into the next st,
2 ch},
rep from {} all the way around,
sl st in 3rd ch of the beg 5-ch to join.