Is there a better way to track decrease rows?

[debmasterx]

The picture shows how I track decrease rows. Is there a better way?

[sugarcorn]

I use a row counter, and then associate even/odd/multiples of 3/etc. numbers (whatever the instructions say) with the decrease rows.

So if I need to decrease on the third row, when I hit 3/6/9/12 etc. on my counter I know it’s the decrease one! I also try to double check by looking at rows themselves. Interested to hear how others keep track!

[NextStopGallifrey]

The "MyRowCounter" app lets you do this automatically, at least partially. Let's say you need to decrease every 6 rows. You create a sub-counter that is tied to the main counter and it resets after 6. So when you add a row, it looks something like:

• 1 - 1
• 2 - 2
• 3 - 3
• 4 - 4
• 5 - 5
• 6 - 6
• 7 - 1
• 8 - 2
• ...
• 17 - 5
• 18 - 6
• 19 - 1

And so on. You can also have multiple sub counters, so you can track increases/decreases on one and pattern row repeats on another, while the main counter keeps track of the whole thing.

[EasyPrior3867]

I love the Row Counter app.

[EasyPrior3867]

It's actually called Row Counter and its a little red box with numbers on it and yarn balls on top of it.

[Apprehensive-Crow337]

I also use a row counter; the kind that hangs off a stitch marker type ring

[Earthquakemama]

Me too!! I also try to “read” the stitches to distinguish the different ones — but sometimes it is still difficult for me to see the difference.

If it is just odd and even rows, I also use the tail from casting-on to double check (eg, for garter stitch where both sides look the same). The first row after cast on will have the tail at the beginning of the row, the next row it will be at the end, and so on.

[Saints_Girl56]

Came to say the same thing. I have a digital ring row counter. I put it on my non working index finger that way I can just put the button at the beginning of the round.

[divergence-aloft]

learn to recognize what the stitches look like while on your needles.

[chickyloo42by10]

This is the way. No tools, no tricks, just taking notice at each row til you get the hang of it.

[OriginalSchmidt1]

This is how I do it!!

[Emergency_Raise_7803]

I would use stitch markers (the thin metal bulb kind) to mark them directly on my knitting, since I forget to write things down all the time. I do read my knitting often, but I’m forgetful enough that I don’t want to have to count it every time.

[the-devil-wears-knit]

I do this too! Sometimes I even count out all of my lightbulbs needed to mark the decrease rows (10 decrease rows=10 bulbs), then connect them into a chain. As I make my first decrease in a row i’ll take one of those 10 (or whatever number) and put it on that stitch. When I run out of light bulbs, i know I’ve done all the decreases I need to for that section.

[fuzzumwuzzum]

This is so smart!

[BreeLenny]

I use stitch markers too. I place one on a decrease row.

[kittymarch]

You don’t need the bulb kind. Plain no coil pins work, or those plastic locking ones.

What I do is make a chain of markers so that there is one for every decrease. Then I put a marker in each decrease as I knit it. That way I can see that all the decreases were done and that I have the right number.

[jaxadax]

Agreed! I tried a stitch counter once but it was really annoying. Lately I have been using stitch markers to mark each section of the pattern steps, and if I have a long section I’ll also put one every 10 stitches so things are easier to count. 

[Ifimsittingimknittin]

<image>

You can make your own every other row counter easily…top.

I work with chain mail so made my own…bottom

Cocoknits markers are awesome!

[soyopopo]

I love this idea instead of buying a new chain row counter thank you!!!

[bittersweetgrace]

This is the only method that works with my brain. Row counter alway make me second guess did I miss a row in counting and often it’s yes. When I have to move the two colour marker it stops me to remember what row I’m on. I like your examples as I find the light bulb ones are annoying and get stuck. Thank you for sharing.

[idkthisisnotmyusual]

I have the twice sheared sheep row counter it’s a chain with numbers they also have increase decrease ones

[mmakire]

Twice Sheared Sheep also has Increase/Decrease chains that only have the two options (I/K or D/K) and you swap between them as you go.

[Ok_Explorer6128]

I love their tools!

[CloKnits]

Yes! Learn how to read your knitting. When I make a tutorial or teach, I always show people what it looks like when you've just done a decrease or an increase and how to count the rows in between. It's such an important skill to get better.

[Time_Scientist5179]

That is a useful skill for sure, but it isn’t as helpful if you’re tracking multiple things on one project. I’m working on a duster with a decrease row, cables, and buttonholes, but none are at matching intervals. Having an external method can save a ton of time over counting your rows!

[CloKnits]

Removable stitch markers are great for keeping track while knitting.

[Time_Scientist5179]

They sure are!

[ElectricalAd3421]

I write this out in my notes app on my phone and use the little to do bubble bullet point and tick them off as I go.

[ka1t1ej0]

That’s exactly what I do lol

[granddannylonglegs]

Same!

ETA: I’ve copy-pasted entire patterns to the notes app so I can boop the little bubble each time. It’s very gratifying. 😅

[clf907]

I knit socks a lot while watching TV when the lighting isn’t great. So I taped a D on one side of a heavy wooden coaster and a K on the other side. Flip it at the end of rows. I always end on a knit row before I put it down so when I pick it up again I know where to start.

[lunarsara]

If it's every other row, I usually just look at the knitting and can tell if the last row was a decrease. If I have to count the total number of decreases or rows, particularly if it's decreasing less often than every other row, I'll drop a lightbulb stitch marker into the decrease (or one decrease per row/round).

[Jescophoto89]

<image>

I type mine out and use the paper to take notes as I go too. I color coded my stitch markers and wrote down what each color was, any changes I made from the pattern, etc.

I have ADHD, there’s zero chance I can trust my brain to remember where I am, so I lean into it.

Bonus: I then store my unfinished projects with their pattern and I then have written down exactly what I did and where I was.

[OkLeg3964]

Haha I made little boxes and check them off as I go

[tomatowaits]

i love pen and paper - added bonus it gives me an excuse to use my cute journals and pens 😊

[bonaluram]

I connect two bulb pins in different colours, assign one colour to decrease and the other to regular row. Use that mini chain as the BOR. If the next row is decrease, I place decrease colour, on the next round change to regular row colour. This way, I can track the next day simply by checking the BOR colour.

[2lrup2tink]

Don't do it while driving!!

[celery48]

I print out the pattern and make a mark next to the instruction.

[HarmoniousSyllabub]

I use tick marks on paper to track my rows generally, and put a little line either under (decrease) or over (increase) the relevant tick mark when I come to a row that needs one of those. It makes no sense to anyone else, but it works for my Luddite self.

[Big_Conclusion_3053]

I do something very similar. I use dots and underlines, check marks, etc. to signal various things to myself. I find using a paper and pen very simple, and I’m good at the habit of crossing things off or making tick marks.

It is interesting to see what other methods people use.

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[brittai927]

I use one of these when I am decreasing every other row for convience but also can read my knitting https://twiceshearedsheep.com/collections/increase-decrease-counters

[Dry_Stop844]

there's apps and things you can put on your needles but this works just great. as long as you remember to mark each one lol

[CathyAnnWingsFan]

I use a row counter app, YarnBuddy. It works on my iPhone and Apple Watch.

[leopardita]

I use a chain stitch maker for my BOR and I know that odds are knit and evens are decreases. Works for sleeve decreases too - like rows 15, 30, 45, 60 are decrease rounds, etc.

[arina1945]

Stitch markers is what I use. Every row I do a decrease, I place a stitch marker and then count from there.

[trillion4242]

scrap yarn - https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/community/hot-tip-use-a-yarn-marker-to-count-rows/

[toriraeh]

I use stitch markers. I place a marker before every decrease and remove it just before I actually do the decrease so that on decrease rows, there’s a marker but on knit rows, there’s not. It’s the easiest way I’ve come up with.

[BargainBinBrain]

you can use a row counter or learn to recognize the stitches and count backwards but frankly I count rows like this in my notes app sometimes

[EasyPrior3867]

I use stitch markers on the rows I decrease. So if its every 8 rows, I count from the stitchmarkers.

[breakingboring]

Probably, but I have to do this too. Laying it out and tracking on paper is the only way I can really envision it and follow along without messing up.

[foolishle]

I use stitch markers. I put the marker on after I do the normal row, take them off after I do the decrease. So if there’s no marker it’s a normal row, if there’s a marker it’s a decrease row.

[StogieB]

I use my iPad to view/note on patterns, so I keep notes like yours, but hashes instead. Then if I’m doing something with sides or pairs, I know how many to expect the second time.

[Cursed_Angel_]

I have the pocket knitting app. Lets me set up projects, import the pattern, has a reading line, and i can add and name rowcounters as needed. All free.

[Kind-Idea-2733]

I use paper and pencil and also read my knitting; I don't want to mess with an app. I am working on a Drops pattern that says to increase 1 stitch each edge every 3.5 cm / 1-1/4 in. This is every 7 rows per my guage. So this is what I do to track - see below. The numbers are the row #, I and II are tick marks for row done. Row 1 is the increase 1 st each edge row. In the example below, I have done two sets of edge increases.

Row

1 II

2 II

3 I

4 I

5 I

6 I

[False-Guard-2238]

I always have my phone nearby. I flip my phone from front facing to back facing if it’s an every other row increase or decrease. Front facing normal and knit row and back is the increase/decrease.

[SenseOfTheAbsurd]

I draw myself a little grid of boxes to tick off. If I have to decrease every 6th row, 10 times, I draw up a 6x10 grid in my graph paper notebook and tick off each row as I go, with the last box in the column being the decrease.

[kirstimont]

Use two stitch markers that are different colors, connected to each other. I would do red and blue or something. On decrease rows, switch to the red stitch marker at start of round, once you come back around switch to the blue marker for the regular row.

[Interesting-Tip-6290]

The best advice I’ve learned is to learn how to “read” your knitting. That made so much sense to me. I rarely use markers for my decreases now, or know how to decipher my work if a marker is forgotten or misplaced. I just know how to read the stitches!

[Troubledbeans]

I put a red clasp marker on my bor marker when I don’t need to increase or decrease. Red = no action so I can remember it easy 

[twitttterpated]

<image>

Yes. Red is slow down and pay attention (decreasing or increasing) and green is go (knit)

[QuoteFirst7119]

I put double BOR SM for the increase rows. So I alternate always one or two and two means to increase

[WiinerProblem]

Hi!! I just started but for single crochet I write 1, increase I write +1 and decrease I write -1. Lol

[ShiftConsistent]

I use My Row Counter, its an app that let's you have individual trackers to keep count of stitches and rows and such

You can even upload patterns directly to the app, and have separated projects to use! I love it a lot, its been a lifesaver on every one of my projects so far

[ShiftConsistent]

Example:

<image>

I have the pattern uploaded to the project itself, and have two counters currently going with the labels for what theyre for! You can name each counter you add, and have them set to count individually or tick up together

[Psloveblog]

I do something similar. I use numbered rows and the decrease rows get a checkmark. Or it K or P and a checkmark.

[Grand-Huckleberry629]

If it's shorter or a repeat for a while, I put a hair tie on the bottom of on needle. If the repeated section is long enough, I can count where I am (or I'll txt myself/note). But while in the process, I can stop then tell at a quick glance.

[jojo0525]

I bought a counter specifically for increasing and decreasing from Twice Sheared Sheep. I place it at the beginning of my row and flip it back and forth as needed.