If Woody could only count her rows, none of this would ever have happened. :rollseyes:
Mer - our cats are twins. I just thought you should know… :roflhard:
Rebecca Spender’s “KnitWit” device automatically counts the number of stitches in each row by detecting the movement of the knitting needles.
The project was her final-year assignment for a product design degree at Brunel University in west London.
Now that’s what I’m talking about… :happydance:
This is what Nobel’s should be reserved for. REAL geniuses. :roflhard:
I do my patterns a little strangely. Let me say first that I’m dyslexic and very forgetful and I have 2 kids who only want to talk to me if I’m in the middle of an increase row. I also have a hard time counting because while I’m counting I’m thinking of something else. Yeah…I have issues. But now I have Straterra 
Here’s what I do.
I print out my pattern. If it’s in a book, I copy it. Then, I highlight all of the actual pattern lines, using different colors for things like stitch patterns, increases, decreases, etc.
If there are lines like this: [K1, SSK, Knit to 3sts before next marker, k2tog, K1.] Knit 3 rows. Repeat 3 more times.
I write the whole thing out so it looks like this:
Row 1: K1, SSK, Knit to 3sts before next marker, k2tog, K1…
Row 2: K
Row 3: K
Row 4: K
Row 1: K1, SSK, Knit to 3sts before next marker, k2tog, K1…
Row 2: K
Row 3: K
Row 4: K
Row 1: K1, SSK, Knit to 3sts before next marker, k2tog, K1…
Row 2: K
Row 3: K
Row 4: K
Row 1: K1, SSK, Knit to 3sts before next marker, k2tog, K1…
Row 2: K
Row 3: K
Row 4: K
Then, I cross off each row as I do them. I back that up by counting up how many stitches are increased/decreased within the row, and I count every row to make sure I’ve ended up with the right number of stitches.
It helps to make a list of what you know after you read the pattern, with this example, after 16 rows, I should have 8 less stitches than when I started and I should see some shaping happening going on near my markers. If I look at my knitting and don’t see the shaping, I know something has gone wrong right away and I can frog back.
I still go back and count the knit stitches, too.
I do the same thing for charts, too.
It’s time consuming and a little obsessive, but it works for me. It also helps me figure out how patterns work and gives me a chance to make notes as well.
:roflhard: :rofling: :roflhard:
Funny… welcome to parenthood… I only become dyslexic when I knit 
I also write out complex patterns… that way I Can just follow rows… I found that to help out… specially with the Monogramed baby blanket…
Man I need to get some pictures of that up…
Sounds to me like you have a mensa level IQ, Denise.
All them notes…AND some KIDS around? How do you keep track of the paper? The pen? The kids? Much less the knitting and the needles…
I think they should study your brain for clues about genius.
Is it the Strattera? Because I’ll take drugs if it helps. :roflhard:
Ive always been curious about how it knows the difference between REAL sts and “accidental misses”. And, what about K & P into the same st??
I just dont want a counter that I have to pick up between each row. I want it RIGHT THERE where I can turn it conveniently.
I’m really anal about this. I have to write it out. I mean everything. I have tons of pieces of paper that look like this:
123456
123456
123456
123456
1234
1234
1234
1234
123456
123456
123456
When I do a row I cross off the number. Its the only way really. What twith all the kid interruptions and my own wandering brain and the TV show…
I also use pen/paper. After each row, I make it a habit to set the needles down and record the row. It really makes it easy for me to look at and know where I am. I have row counters also. I had it sitting by my recliner where I’d left it after putting my knitting away. (in this case, it was a simple scarf, and I was using the counter to get used to it). Anyway, days later our daughter and sil are there and she’s sitting in my recliner, and what do you know, turning the wheel asking, hey, this is neat, what is it. LOL!!! I told her she better be glad I was just experimenting with it. THEN she put it down and our next daughter/sil/g’kids arrive and the g’kids play with it like it’s a toy. Have no idea where it got to after that!! so I bought two more this past weekend. Still in package and I still use the pen/paper!!!
I don’t keep track of the paper…that’s how I got so good at it!
If I were a genius, I wouldn’t have to do all this stuff with the paper, LOL. And, I wouldn’t lose the paper. I use circular needles, so those are stuck in the knitting.
Just started on the stretterra, I’ll let you know!
I tend to just remember it. The first time I did cables, I wrote down each row as I finished it, but that’s the only time I can remember doing that. I have a weird thing for remembering numbers, though.
I’ll probably be screwed once I start my sweater. :rollseyes:
I have both the red clicker and the barrel one that sits on your needle. The dial on the barrel is so loose I’m never sure if it isn’t turning itself as the needles move. I prop the clicker next to the copy holder which has my pattern on it and click at the end of the row. I keep track of odd/even rows by the tail of the cast on. If it’s at the top, it’s an odd row, at the bottom even. (Or whereever the tail was when you stared your first row.)
I also found a neat idea on the net (but I can’t find the link). If you have a pattern repeat of say 10 rows, you take a piece of yarn, fold it in half and tie 10 knots spaced down the yarn. As you do your row, you move the reminder down to the next space between the knots. It’s cheap and can be customized to your project by the number of rows you have to do.
I thought it was kinda nifty. I’ll look for the link on my home computer.
I use paper and pencil.
I always copy the pattern, and make any adjustments needed for sizing or gauge changing if I’m switching yarns, etc. on the copy. Then, on a piece of looseleaf paper I write down the yarn and gauge I’m using and who the item is for (especially if I’m making the same sweater pattern in three different sizes, in three different yarns, with three different size needles, for three different people - yes, this is my Xmas knitting-LOL).
I do lots of Aran patterns, so I ALWAYS make a tick mark as I go. I’ll make a tally for the back, front, and each sleeve. That way I’m sure I have sleeves with the same number of rows, and the same number of rows until the armhole shaping, etc. I’ll subdivide for neck shaping too, to make sure I do the same number of rows on the right shoulder as the left shoulder. Even if the pattern says to knit the sleeves to 17" before binding off, I still count. You’ve got to do 2, you know 
When I’m done, I have a complete record of exactly how I did that item if I ever want to replicate it, and it’s easy to slip in a 3 ring binder. In the last three years I think I’ve only done one dishcloth where I followed the pattern word for word. Oh, and my first two pairs of clogs! :doh: Then I just used a sticky on the pattern. Everything else there’s always something I want to “customize”, either for looks or for sizing. Paper makes it easy!
Happy Knitting and Counting :XX: :XX: :XX:
Mary
Wow…
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
I wish I could focus on anything that long without gnawing off my hand. :shock: