Never Lose Track of Your Knitting Rows Again - Here's How

Counting rows in knitting can feel confusing. The stitches all look alike, and it's easy to lose your place. But knowing your row count is important for almost every project - from washcloths to sweaters. With a few simple tricks, you'll be able to count rows quickly and without headaches.

First, ignore the cast-on row and the stitches on your needle.

The very first row you made (the cast-on) does not count as a knitted row. Also, the loops sitting on your needle right now are not finished rows. Start counting from the row just above the cast-on, and stop before you reach the needle.

Look for the little V shapes.

A basic knit stitch looks like a "V". Each V is one stitch in a row. If you count the Vs from the bottom of your work up to the top, you'll know how many rows you have. For example, five Vs mean five rows.

Look for upside-down U shapes (sometimes called "frowns").

If you're working in garter stitch (which has bumps on both sides) or you just want to count purl stitches instead of knits, look for small arches that look like upside-down U's. Each one is one stitch. Counting these from bottom to top gives you your row count. Ten frowns mean ten rows.

➡️ What about tricky cable stitches? And how can tools like stitch counters make your life easier? Turn the page to find out.