I’d be curious to hear how other knitters and crocheters keep track of which row they’re on in a pattern.
I have a method which works pretty well, but I always like to hear new ways of doing things.
Here’s what I do: I like to work from a paper copy of a pattern, so if the pattern is in a book, I copy it (so I don’t mess up my pattern books). If it’s online, I space out the directions and print it. Then, I attach a brightly colored paper clip to the side of the paper and slide it down to indicate which row I’m on.
I’m pretty lazy about it, really…lol…First off, any time I knit ANYTHING if I need to put my work down I make sure I’m on a knit row…That way, no matter what, I know I’ll always start on a knit row 'cause, well, that’s just how I roll…If there is a pattern I am following and I have to put my work down I draw an arrow at the row I’m on, and circle the very next step…I use pencil so I can erase it, I don’t make copies 'cause I can’t be bothered to, and, my printer/copier thing isn’t working anyway…lol
to keep track in my chart I do use post-it-notes or a ruler across the line.
To know which row I am on in my pattern I also use a “rosary”. No, logically you can not make much of that term. It is my term.
Here in my blog I have an article to describe what that is and how it works. Pretty much it is a fool prove row/round-counter! (and I mean: fool prove!)
The linked markers are great for cable repeats or whenever you’ve got to do a repeat of decreases every specific number of rows. If you are varying the rows then they are harder to use.
I use just a mark next to the row I just finished in patterns that give you row by row instructions and I don’t want to forget where I am if I set it down for awhile.
The method that I use and have been the most successful method is that I have one of those small magnetic quick wipe message boards to which I use a couple of small magnets to hold my copied pattern. I then have a strip of card stalk paper to “underline” my pattern row, a couple of small magnets. and … sometimes I need a vertical paper to keep track of the place on the row(that is bad huh?, :wall: memory is a good thing to have). the wipe marker comes in handy for when you do repeating commands such as: (k3 p7) X5 . I simply make marks on the board and my marker is strapped right to the board. This method is great for knitting while traveling.
I keep subbing to threads on here simply because they have awesome ideas! Jan, thanks for the link to the jump ring chains thread, I bookmarked it and am going to try it with my next project. That’s a brilliant way to mark!
but I must say, after checking out the ‘rosary’ tip above, I am anxious to use that one my next project. Totally ingenious and brilliant! I just love how simple it is and impossible to forget or lose!
glad I could help! I love my rosaries, meanwhile.
Making them according to a certain project makes it really easy to not forget the points of interest…
You can always make one with further marks in the chain or anything.
The linked chain-stitch markers by Jan are the same thing. (the rosary is just quicker and cheaper. The chains are prettier and longer lasting!)
I have a row/pattern/increase and decrease counter. It is called “Peg-It” Knitting Counter by Susan Bates. It is a little peg board with a section to peg for rows, pattern rows, increase/decrease and a section called increase/decrease/finished. There is paper explaining how to use it. I also use a roe counter on my needles in case I forget to peg it. Been using it for over 50 years and still going great!!!
I like knitcindy use a variety of methods. My favorite is something I actually carried over from my cross stitch days. I have magnetic movers on a 8 X 10 size of thin metal. I place the pattern on the metal surface then I can move the 4 separate magnets around the page. It keeps the pattern neat and organized and I don’t have to worry about losing sticky notes. I also make sure I end on a completed row.
Whenever I start a new project I fix the pattern so it can be followed line-by-line. So, if “row 13” is “same as row 5”, I will copy the stitches from row 5 and make a row 13 in the pattern. Then I send that to my ipod touch and just scroll down at each row. I rest it on my knee while I knit and close the file when I’m done; it opens up when I left off.
All my patterns are downloaded from the internet so I just use the good old pad, pencil and paper, I always make a copy of the pattern too, keep it in a safe folder , it doesnt matter then if the other copy gets damaged
I don’t have a printer right now. I get my patterns free off the internet. I’m cheap. I detest following patterns. I prefer to knit using inch measurements. I look at how many rows are needed for a certain repeat. Using the row gauge, I convert the number of rows to inches and measure. If I do a pattern once, like it, and might use it again, I’ll write my inch measurements down in a small 4 by 6 notebook so I can find it again. It’s easy to forget how to do the pattern if you haven’t knitted it for a while.
A typical “pattern” for me goes like this. Mittens: cast on 32 stitches. K1,p1 ribbing for 3 inches. (afterthought thumb) knit in stockinette for 2 1/2 inches to thumb, mark it with contrast yarn, knit straight for 4 1/2 inches, begin my favorite decrease for the top of the mitten. That’s about 1/2 inch. Total length of mitten: 10 1/2 inches.
I knit practical things like mittens, hats, scarves, and socks so it’s nothing complicated. I know this method sounds strange but it works for me. My tape measure is my best friend.
My latest pattern was toe up baby socks. I liked this particular one because it gave measurements on page two, how much to knit from the toe until you had to start the heel turn.
I recently started using flip cards. I print everything out on index cards. One row at a time. (print or write or type). Then I punch a hole in the corner and insert a round clip of some sort-I have even used shower curtain hooks. Then after completeing a row, I ‘flip’ the card over! I just learned about that this past month!:woohoo:
Hello! I just found a Susan Bates “Peg-It” at a yard sale but it doesn’t have instructions on how to use it. Does anyone have the instructions? It looks like a really cool tool! Thanks in advance, Gogi