Row Counters.
If you're unfamiliar with these, they are designed to help you keep track of where you are in the pattern when knitting, and where you left off when you put your project down and wandered off into the other room. I'm usually good about noting my row when I put the project down at the end of the night, but if I'm just stepping away to get another cup of tea, for example, I'll admit I'm a little more forgetful. Besides, it's always those "it'll be just a moment" moments that aren't just a moment!
These have worked their way into my Knitting Toys Queue because honestly, what's the point of having pretty jewelry on your knitting if your row counter is still boring and plastic or a post-it or whatever else. And I'm really enjoying creating it for my knitting :) Must be my inner magpie coming out. Pretty shinies!
Even better, you can make sets of knitting jewelry, to match your stitch markers and your row counter! Whee - sets! Yes, I'm anal about this sort of thing; I love it when things match!
Searching through Etsy brought up tons of creative row counter ideas. I've been experimenting to see which I can re-create to my satisfaction, and what style I prefer using. Like always, if I've borrowed someone else's instructions as a starting point, I've referenced them as best I can. Otherwise, all directions and comments are the results of my own little fumblings, so enjoy!
The most basic - bead up a plastic counter!
You know, those ugly circular ones that are supposed to fit on your needles but never really do? Add some pretty shinies to make these more aesthetically pleasing, and in the process you're also adding a hook or a ring so that you can attach it as well. The style on Etsy that I liked best had a ring on one end and a lobster claw clasp on the other. Meaning that you can use it either hanging from your needles or attached to the fabric itself (like in crochet). On mine (shown below) I have a larger ring on one end, and a lanyard clasp on the other, so I can clip it to a project or a needles or slide it onto the needle with a ring.
I inherited a handful of this style of row counter, and I like that they can count a large number of rows. But... they are boring and ugly plastic, and I honestly have a hard time sometimes having these fit my needles, especially if the plastic is old and stiff. So, between the ones I inherited and a pair I grabbed at Michael's when they were on clearance, I have a bunch to play with and see about different colors and styles I like.
You make these like the beaded stitch markers. Instead of using head pins (like with the stitch markers), I like using the ones with the loop on the other end. This gives me two ends to attach rings or clips to, giving me a little more freedom in how I want to use them.
Something to think about with these, though: The plastic row counters are big enough down the middle to fit over a needle. This also means that they are bigger than smaller beads or seed beads. These don't really fit against the opening, but slide through the center of the counter instead.
To solve this, the easiest way I found to set it up on the pin:
This gives you enough on the end of the pin to wrap around the ring or the lanyard clip, as you would when making a stitch marker. For the other end, open the loop at the end of the pin slightly using pliers, slide on the ring/clip, close the loop with the pliers again. Ta-da!
And I have to say, I love the metallic beads I found (Wal-Mart!) and how well they match the purple row counter :)
Pros: Quick. Easy. Simple. Doesn't take up much space in the knitting bag or on the needles. Those plastic counters typically count up to 100, so they are good for longer patterns or larger numbers of repeats.
Cons: Still have to deal with the ugly plastic marker (though they look much prettier all decorated - I really like my purple ones, because I found pretty beads to match!)
Variation: You can see one with just a ring on one end here at Something From Nothing. Be sure to browse through her pictures, too, because her stitch markers are BEAUTIFUL!
You know, those ugly circular ones that are supposed to fit on your needles but never really do? Add some pretty shinies to make these more aesthetically pleasing, and in the process you're also adding a hook or a ring so that you can attach it as well. The style on Etsy that I liked best had a ring on one end and a lobster claw clasp on the other. Meaning that you can use it either hanging from your needles or attached to the fabric itself (like in crochet). On mine (shown below) I have a larger ring on one end, and a lanyard clasp on the other, so I can clip it to a project or a needles or slide it onto the needle with a ring.
I inherited a handful of this style of row counter, and I like that they can count a large number of rows. But... they are boring and ugly plastic, and I honestly have a hard time sometimes having these fit my needles, especially if the plastic is old and stiff. So, between the ones I inherited and a pair I grabbed at Michael's when they were on clearance, I have a bunch to play with and see about different colors and styles I like.
You make these like the beaded stitch markers. Instead of using head pins (like with the stitch markers), I like using the ones with the loop on the other end. This gives me two ends to attach rings or clips to, giving me a little more freedom in how I want to use them.
Something to think about with these, though: The plastic row counters are big enough down the middle to fit over a needle. This also means that they are bigger than smaller beads or seed beads. These don't really fit against the opening, but slide through the center of the counter instead.
To solve this, the easiest way I found to set it up on the pin:
smallest bead, larger decorative bead, plastic counter, larger bead, smallest bead.
This gives you enough on the end of the pin to wrap around the ring or the lanyard clip, as you would when making a stitch marker. For the other end, open the loop at the end of the pin slightly using pliers, slide on the ring/clip, close the loop with the pliers again. Ta-da!
And I have to say, I love the metallic beads I found (Wal-Mart!) and how well they match the purple row counter :)
Pros: Quick. Easy. Simple. Doesn't take up much space in the knitting bag or on the needles. Those plastic counters typically count up to 100, so they are good for longer patterns or larger numbers of repeats.
Cons: Still have to deal with the ugly plastic marker (though they look much prettier all decorated - I really like my purple ones, because I found pretty beads to match!)
Variation: You can see one with just a ring on one end here at Something From Nothing. Be sure to browse through her pictures, too, because her stitch markers are BEAUTIFUL!
Next: the Slider
Sarah brought this style to my attention, as I hadn't seen it before. One of her classmates at Stitches was using this type of marker, so Sarah decided to give it a try.
All you need for this one is a length of yarn (or string or ribbon), a ring (I used a small split ring), and a quantity of pony beads. I used 10 pony beads, alternating colors with an accent color for #5 and #10. If you want to make a longer counter, simply increase the number of beads on the yarn.
To make them, start with a doubled length of string/yarn/cord/ribbon attached to a ring in the middle. A simple lark's head knot works perfectly. Using both ends of the string, lace the first bead, passing the ends through the bead in opposite directions. Leave yourself a little bit of slack in the string; you'll be moving the beads around on the string, after all.
Repeat your your next bead, crossing the threads back, again going in opposite directions.
Continue in this fashion until it's as long as you'd like. I made mine 10 beads long, alternating colors. Beads 5 and 10 are in a third color, to make them easier to see.
There's a pretty detailed set of instructions at Precision Teaching Hub and Wiki. Those instructions are for knitting counters specifically, but just generic bead counters. Doesn't matter though - the principles the same!
To use them, you slide the beads back and forth on the string. It's kinda like a hanging mini-abacus. Start with all the beads at the top (or bottom - your preference), then slide a bead to the bottom for each row knit. When all 10 are at the bottom (or when your pattern repeat is complete, if it's shorter than 10 rows), move everything back to the top and start over.
Pros: Quick. Easy. Simple. Lightweight on your needles too. And as you can see above, it doesn't take much in the way of supplies.
Cons: Personal preference, but I like seeing the number beads so that I can glance and see the row number. If that's not a problem for you, then this is a good style to consider. Of course, you can make it a little fancier and use number beads and a finer string. Seahorse Designs has some like that. Lots of variations after all!
A variation I did find: Dhrmayarns on Etsy uses 2 different size jump rings at the top of the counter (the end you put the needle through). This is a nice little extra which means that you can fit your row counter on your needles a little better. Very clever!
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