If you’re full steam ahead on the Happy Harvest knit-along, this week we’re finishing the front! But if you’re moving a little slower, that’s not a problem at all. This week’s blog post is all about keeping track of the rows in a lace pattern, like the Acorn Lace stitch—Elizabeth has some great tips to help you stay on track!
We’ve all been there, right? You think you’re keeping track of which row you are on in a stitch pattern, but then you get distracted and suddenly have no idea where you left off. There are lots of gadgets and methods out there for keeping track of what row you on but my favorite way? The simple, yet effective, post-it note!
This is how I kept track of which row I was on in the Acorn Lace stitch pattern when working my Happy Harvest. Simply stick it under whatever your current row is. And after you finish a row, just make sure to right away stick it under the next row – this way if you walk away from your knitting, get distracted or it’s time to go to bed, you’ll exactly which row you are on the next time you’re ready to knit!
Also, in Happy Harvest pattern, I made sure to put the written out Acorn Lace pattern on its own separate page, with the written instructions taking up the top half and the chart on the bottom – this way you can easily fold the page in half and, depending on your preference, have a large-print single page of the pattern that is not attached to the rest of the instructions.
Note from Amy: I’ve also seen some people do this with the sticky note above the row you’re working, since you read charts from top to bottom, but I’ve honestly done it both ways—play around to see what works best for you!
I always find it helpful to have it setup this way, and I hope you do too! How do you keep track of your rows? Let us know your best tips in the comments!
I use a progression marker. Then I just count the stitches from my beginning of round marker and know which row I am on. Each time I come to the marker I move it one stitch. It becomes a little dicey when the number of stitches increases or decreases within the part of the pattern between the beginning of round marker and the progression marker.
On a chart, I keep the post-it above the line I’m working. That way I can see the rows I’ve already done, makes it easy to make sure the stitches are lining up correctly with the completed rows.
I think your way makes the most sense!
I knit little tiny rubber bands into every other row of complex patterns. Then snip them out when I finish. Sounds wasteful but there was a stockpile in my house when the kids grew up and all the orthodontics were over. And honestly I have had so many markers that just fell out or got tangled in the work that they were discarded or never used again.
I lose my post it notes too often to rely on them!
I encourage my students (and any knitter) to learn to ‘read’ their stitches also as that can be really helpful when you need to drop some stitches to correct something.
Thank you
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I do the post it note, or if putting the pattern in a sheet protector a piece of the colored re-positional marking tape works really well too.
My newest method however is to use the frixcion highlighter oens and color each row as I do it. Make a mistake? Erasing is easy, just need heat from the special pen tip or my iron. Need the Mark’s back? Put the sheet in the freezer
I lost count of the row I was on twice already and had to take out whole rows. The post it notes work beautifully for me. Thanks for the useful tip.
O.K.
I use a magnetic board that was previously used for counted cross stitch. Works great!
If I’m working on a section with a repeating number of rows, I use a combination of sticky notes and pencil and paper. The risk with the sticky note is that if it comes off—and it will unless I’m really careful—I’ll have no idea where I left off. So to make sure I don’t lose track, I make a grid on paper with the number of rows along the left side and the number of repeats across the top. I can check off each row as I go, so I won’t get lost. But I still use the sticky note on the pattern because it focuses my attention in the instructions for just that one Row.
Traveling while enjoying complex knitting, anything requiring adhesive to prevent myself from coming unglued is problematic. Now I either stab the paper pattern after a row or use the purchased app Knit Companion.
I often use the highlighter tape – it is great! I put it under the row I’m knitting, but can still see the stitches below if needed. If you sing, I found it handy in marking music for choir at times too. If your yarn store doesn’t have it, you should be able to find it in a quilting store.
I also keep a running “NEXT ROW” list with dates somewhere on the pattern – I like to write it as I lose post-its sometimes. (9/19/19 Next row – 15) This is particularly helpful on projects that get set aside and you come back to some longer time later.
I write each line of the repeating lace pattern on an index card. Attach cards with ring in corner. Flip the card at the end of each row, so the next row is the card that’s showing. Haven’t gotten lost in pattern since started using this method.
I used to use the sticky note method. Now, I use the magnetic strips that came with my Knitter’s Pride Ginger Interchangeable Circular Deluxe Set.