Hi guys! In this post, you’ll learn an easy crochet hack to keep track of your stitch and row counts, without having to count.
One of the most common issues that I hear from crocheters is accidentally losing or gaining extra stitches in their work. Keeping a consistent stitch count is hard, and it’s easy to pick up or lose a few stitches here and there.
Chances are that we only notice these extra or dropped stitches when we A) Take the time to count the stitches in each row, or B) Lay out our work, and see a shapeless blob instead of a rectangle. Most times, we don’t catch these gains or losses until it’s too late, and we are forced to unravel hours of work.
The best way to keep track of your stitch count is to periodically count the number of stitches in each row. However, counting can be tedious, and we don’t always have the time or patience for that. We just want to crochet!
Crochet Hack for Maintaining Stitch Count:
Mark the first and last stitch of each row with a stitch marker (or safety pin).
When you get to the end of the row, remove the stitch marker, and replace it once you’ve completed the first stitch of the new row.
This easy trick lets you know exactly where the row starts and ends, so you don’t miss or add stitches to the end of each row.
If you prefer to see this technique in action, here is a video tutorial for the Smiles for Miles Blanket (2:34) that shows you how to mark each end.
How to Count Your Rows Quickly
Now, let’s discuss an easy way to count your rows, so you don’t miss any!
Counting rows isn’t so bad when you have a small project, but when you have 40+ rows, it can be easy to miscount.
An easy solution is to place a stitch marker (or safety pin) into the side of every 10th or 20th row.
When you need to count your rows, count the stitch markers and multiply by 10 or 20 to determine your row count. For example, if I placed a stitch marker in every 20th row, and I have 8 stitch markers, then I have 8 x 20 = 160 rows.
It is that simple! Mark the first and last stitch of each row with a stitch marker, so you don’t lose or gain extra stitches. And mark every 10th or 20th crochet row with a stitch marker, so you can quickly count your rows!
I hope these hacks make crocheting large projects a little easier!
Pin this Crochet Hack for Later – HERE!
Pinning this post really makes a difference because it helps it get seen by other crocheters. Thank you for taking the time to pin this crochet hack, and get it circulating!
Other Crochet Tricks that You’ll Enjoy:
This wraps up Day 88 of the 365 Day Challenge. Read and explore more topics in the 365 Day Blog Post Challenge here.
Have a wonderful day, and happy crocheting!
Love, Dayna
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