Knitting Tips – keeping track during pattern repeats

A really simple method of keeping track of which row of a pattern repeat you’re working on (if, for whatever reason, you don’t want to use a row counter) is to write the row numbers, e.g. 1 to 24 down the side of a piece of paper. You can then attach a paperclip to the paper that can be moved down as you work through the rows and then back to the top for the start of the next repeat.

This is fine if you know what you should be doing on each of the rows, e.g. if all the even rows are to be worked in the same way and similarly for the odd rows. What I find this most useful for though is when a pattern consists of, say, four differently worked rows that are combined in a 24 row repeat. This may result in the original pattern being written something like:

Row 1 [RS]: Stitch details for row 1.
Row 2 [WS]: Stitch details for row 2.
Row 3 [RS]: Stitch details for row 3.
Row 4 [WS]: Stitch details for row 4.
Rows 5-12: Repeat Rows 1-4 twice more.
Row 13 [RS]: Work as for Row 3.
Row 14 [WS]: Work as for Row 2.
Row 15 [RS]: Work as for Row 1.
Row 16 [WS]: Work as for Row 4.
Rows 17-24: Repeat Rows 13-16 twice more.
Repeat Rows 1-24 six times more.

So, if I’m on row 20, I need to work out which of rows 13-16 that corresponds to, then I need to look back again to find out what that actually means I should be knitting. No, thank you!

However, by copying and pasting the details for rows 1-4 into a text editor and then working through the instructions, copying the details from the appropriate row, I ended up with something like:

Row 1 [RS]: Stitch details for row 1.
Row 2 [WS]: Stitch details for row 2.
Row 3 [RS]: Stitch details for row 3.
Row 4 [WS]: Stitch details for row 4.
Row 5 [RS]: Stitch details for row 1.
Row 6 [WS]: Stitch details for row 2.
Row 7 [RS]: Stitch details for row 3.
Row 8 [WS]: Stitch details for row 4.
Row 9 [RS]: Stitch details for row 1.
Row 10 [WS]: Stitch details for row 2.
Row 11 [RS]: Stitch details for row 3.
Row 12 [WS]: Stitch details for row 4.
Row 13 [RS]: Stitch details for row 3.
Row 14 [WS]: Stitch details for row 2.
Row 15 [RS]: Stitch details for row 1.
Row 16 [WS]: Stitch details for row 4.
Row 17[RS]: Stitch details for row 3.
Row 18 [WS]: Stitch details for row 2.
Row 19 [RS]: Stitch details for row 1.
Row 20 [WS]: Stitch details for row 4.
Row 21[RS]: Stitch details for row 3.
Row 22 [WS]: Stitch details for row 2.
Row 23 [RS]: Stitch details for row 1.
Row 24 [WS]: Stitch details for row 4.
Repeat Rows 1-24 six times more.

I then printed this off and attached my handy paperclip. Now, at a single glance, I can see exactly where I am in the repeat and what I should be knitting on that row.

4 thoughts on “Knitting Tips – keeping track during pattern repeats

  1. I do something similar to this. I also use a text editor to write out all the rows. Since I generally have my computer sitting next to me, when knitting, rather than printing the page and using a paperclip, I just double-click on the first word in each row, as I begin that row.

  2. I have all my patterns downloaded to my nook.. In adobe. I highlight the row I’m working on.
    When it’s a repeat I highlight in a different color and leave that highlighted till the end.

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