slvoid

Your left shifter (which shifts the front shifter), the large lever shifts to the larger ring, the smaller shifter snaps it back to the smaller ring.
Put your gearing into the small ring. Then gently start pushing on the large lever until you feel it "click". Notice it'll move the front derailleur out slightly but not all the way over the large ring. This position allows your chain to "bend" more towards the smallest cogs on the back w/o rubbing the derailleur.
So on the large lever, a "half click" brings you from the inner to outer position for the small ring. A full click swings the derailleur out to the large ring. If you click the small lever, it brings it all the way to the inner position for the small ring.
It takes some getting used to, like finding neutral (especially from 2nd gear) on a motorcycle.