This is such a tiny tip, but it’s worked for me for years. Whenever I’m working in the round and calling it a night, I don’t just knit to my Beginning of Round marker. Instead, I mark my place by going one or more stitches past the marker — however many it takes to tell me which row of my knitting I was about to begin. For instance, on my Hermaness Worsted pictured above, I’m into the decrease portion, which is [k3, k2tog], a knit round, [k2, k2tog], a knit round, etc. If I’m working from a chart, hopefully I’ve also moved my post-it note to the row I’m about to work, but that’s not a sure thing (and post-its fall off, or what have you). The work itself is my definitive guide. For instance, when I pick this hat back up, I can see that I’ve worked k1, k2tog, so I know that’s the row I’m on, plain and simple. Whatever my brain or my notes might think, the knitting knows exactly what I recorded at the time.
Of course, it doesn’t apply 100% of the time, but generally speaking, it works great for colorwork and anything with a stitch pattern that varies from round to round.
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I do something similar– I find it much easier, for example, than counting 10 rows or rounds or however many, to eyeball the knitted work and see what I’m up to next.
I do the exact same thing, it has helped me out tremendously!
I also do that, even when I am working stockinette as I find I always loose my marker otherwise :)
I do something similar too. I try to knit the number of stitches that correspond to the row number I’m working on. So if I’m working off a chart and I’m starting row 7, I’ll knit 7 stitches after the beginning of the round marker.
I got an app for my iPad called knitCompanion. It has a line to indicate where you are in the pattern, and also a little marker you can place exactly where you stopped. You can use any pdf pattern you have (which you can make yourself with another app on your phone, Genius Scan.) Technology has really helped my knitting!
That’s a great idea. Also, I discovered Post it Roll (http://tinyurl.com/nuu7y9d), which is great for charts. I can make it as long or short as I need.
I do that also. In addition if I’m knitting a pattern that has x amount of row repeats I will complete the repeats before putting it down. For example, if I’m knitting a pattern with a six row repeat I will only knit on that project when I have time to complete the six rows. This way I’m always starting with the next repeat. This has made my knitting so much easier.
I love you right now! I have issues with keeping track of my knitting – forget to mark my place on the chart, rubbish at using a row counter (I don’t know why), etc… Luckily I’ve become really good at ‘reading’ my knitting but this idea seems like something I can actually do unless I have to drop my knitting randomly. I had the same thought Eva did – knit the # of rows after the marker (I guess unless it’s an obscene amount) so you can keep track of the row you’re on too.
ooh this is a great tip, thanks. I always knit one or two stitches past my marker just so I don’t lose it, so I can definitely start doing this!
What a great tip! Definitely using it!
Genius! Thank you
That is simply genius! Although apparently many knew this before, it was good you posted this, becaus I didn’t! Thank you for the tip, I will do this with the next knitting.
love this. I just spent an hour trying to fugure out where ai was on a chart. Breathing deeply.
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I do this as well, but I also make a ridiculous amount of notes when I am knitting, in pencil, right on the pattern. I guess I am still old fashioned and like to knit from a printed pattern. :) Whenever I finish knitting for the day I make a note of where I left off. This is especially helpful if I end up not picking up that WIP for a few days, or sometimes longer . It saves a lot of time in NOT having to study the WIP and read through the pattern trying to figure out where I left off.
I text myself my notes. This works really well for me.
When working with a chart, I make a photo copy and use a highlighter to mark the rows I am working on. When I finish a row I highlight the next row and that is where I start. I also work a few stitches to keep the stitch marker from falling off. Sticky notes don’t always stay stuck.