How do you keep track of long rows? It all starts running together for me and I find I loose my place.
I do this in a quite place with no distractions. Somehow working long rows…I often find myself lost in the middle.
Any tips or tricks?
Be warned…this will take you the better part of half an hour, but it will guarantee you no more lost places.
What I did for a complicated lace pattern that had 50 million instructions for every row is I took a notebook and drew long lines down in skinny rows (just wide enough to contain one instruction) and then i took the pattern each little bit by little bit and wrote one per line per row.
For example, it may look like this
R1
K1
YO
K2TOG
K4
ETC
and then when I am ready to continue down another row, I just keep going in the next column. I suppose if you are computer savvy (obviously I am not) you could even do this in an excel program.
HTH!
What do you mean by keep track? Like keep track of where you are on a chart or pattern?
Stitch markers!
If it’s a simple pattern, put them every so many stitches to remind you. Say every 20.
If it’s complicated, then put them in betweeen repeats or something. For instance, I have a baby blanket on the needles with a 17-stitch lace repeat, 3 stitches of garter on each end, over 197 stitches (or something like that. I have one after the first three, then 1 every 17 after that, and then one before the last three. When I’m working the lace repeat, I know when to start the repeat.
Yep, me too. I also photocopy and highlight my pattern in places that correspond to my stitch markers.
Ok currently the afghan I am making is 182 sts with 30 increases in the 8th row.
It jumps around like crazy! K2 P4 K8 P2 ect…
I write down what row I have finished to know where to go next. But 182 sts???
I talk to myself alot :happydance: But it doesn’t keep my mind on last or next!
It’s like I get lost in the middle of the long row. I can’t write down each thing I have just done or I will really be confused! :??
Oh and I want to thank you all for taking the time to help me with these stupid questions. I am loving doing this, just am so green at it!
I think I need to clarify. I sit down and write all the instructions out first, and then as i knit all i have to do is cross off what i have done. Does that make any more sense?
So, what I would do is before starting to knit those rows, is sit down and write
K2
P4
K8
P2
etc
until all the instructions are written out like that. THen, all I have to do is cross off what i have done as I am doing it.
You don’t want to have to stop and cross things off all the time though, do you? Are you sure there isn’t some type of pattern repeat? I’d definitely say stitch markers are the easiest thing to do. Even if your stitch pattern is random with not much repeating across the row, I’d place a stitch marker every 50 stitches or so just so you have someplace to count back from without having to go all the way to the beginning.
The same works for casting on a large number of stitches. Place a marker every 50 or so, then if you lose count it’s a lot easier to pick up from a marker rather than the beginning.
I see, I could do it in excel, but bt the end of 212 sts with 5 repeating rows for the length, I could mess it up 12 times and still save time not doing it.
LOL 
I just need a way to keep my head in the game, but after 1/2 way through the row, I loose track or k or p X
This pattern is a really short repeat. :notworthy:
Here is a real novice question! Once a marker is used and knited in, how do you get it off?
That would probably be my best solution “if” I could remember to mark!
This pattern is hard for me. Long rows and everything is repeating in 2’s 4’s 6’s and 8’s. Half way through a row and I’m lost. Can’t talk to myself enough to keep track! URGGGGGGGGGGGGGGg :wall:
The stitch marker stays on the needle. You don’t knit into it.
Here is a real novice question! Once a marker is used and knited in, how do you get it off?
That would probably be my best solution “if” I could remember to mark!
This pattern is hard for me. Long rows and everything is repeating in 2’s 4’s 6’s and 8’s. Half way through a row and I’m lost. Can’t talk to myself enough to keep track! URGGGGGGGGGGGGGGg :wall:[/quote]
once u get to the stitch marker, slip it to the next needle
I’m going to kiss you all later!
I think I get it! :happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :happydance:
It’s hard being almost 40 and this new to something!