18 Comments

Any stitch pattern that is more than a 6 stitch repeat - stitch markers. Even if you have to put loads in.

Top down sweaters - vigilance, vigilance, vigilance 'til the yoke is done. (Recent experience tells me that multi-tasking i.e. watching TV, having a conversation, whilst knitting a colour-work yoke and doing short row shaping is a no-no.

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Oh, thank you for confirming these two. I do exactly the same. I have learned to live with annoying number of stitch markers for certain stitch repeats.

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Sep 14Liked by Kavitha

I was at a Hispanic festival yesterday, watching the dancers, and casting on for a new sock. They started teaching salsa dancing. 123, 567 said the instructor. I did not count how many times it took me to get the correct number of stitches. All my tricks helped some. Counting out loud, markers, counting by 2s. Eventually I got it, but it wasn't as easy as usual

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Ah, our brains seem to latch on to the loudest counting in the environment isn't it? Hope the sock is underway now.

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Sep 16Liked by Kavitha

Yes, the cuff is almost done. Onto the leg!

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I have attention deficit, so counting stitches is particularly challenging. I came up with a helpful strategy, at least for me: while counting every two stitches or rows, I say 1 instead of 10, 2 instead of 20, and so on. I have yet to use stitch markers, the women in my family never did, T least not to my knowledge. I wanted to use them for a long time, I just have to decide on a system…

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Deciding on a system that works for ourselves really helps. Thank you for sharing yours. I try to put a stitch marker every 20 sts or so for large projects. Maybe similar to what you are doing, except with a stitch marker.

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Ah yes, thank you for the suggestion. I’ve been knitting a lacy blouse lately, I have never counted more stitches 😆. I have to check every row. I have already unraveled partially more times than I care to admit. 🙄

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I hear you!! 🙈 Lace can be fussy like that.

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Sep 15Liked by Kavitha

Crochet counting is easier than knit counting. :)Yeah! I have said it. :) That said, counting is boring in both. I count and recount and then suddenly doubt my counting and rerecount....it's kind of endless. Then you stop in frustration, count one last time and breath a sigh of relief at the right number, only to find that you are one or two stitches short when you reach the end....:) story of my life.....

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Lol! That sums it up nicely! (Sorry couldn't resist the pun :)) )

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That hood is so cute! I love the color and the stitch pattern. I don’t have any counting tips, except sometimes I count by twos or fives, depending on the yarn and the number of stitches. For counting rows, I’ll use stitch markers whenever possible.

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Thank yo so much. Yes, row counting using stitch markers helps me a lot for socks, sleeves etc.

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Your thoughts on the challenge of counting really resonated with me! Breaking projects into 'mindful' and 'mindless' sections is such a great strategy! I've shared your post in What To Knit Next.

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I am so glad it was useful in some way Jodie. Thank you so much for including me in your latest. 🤗

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I have lots if plain and colourful stitch markers and five metal sheep markers. They have names. I am embracing my 8 year old self

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I love that. Names for stitch markers are absolutely unheard of and pure genius. 😄💛

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The counting can be challenging with a lot happening around me, so I need to use loud counting 😄. Also use a lot of stitchmarkers! When the counting is correct in a pattern, it brings me joy!

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