Pick up where you left off
A knitting project tracker and row counter you can trust tomorrow
The quick answer
A useful knitting or crochet project record keeps the pattern, size, yarn, tools, last completed row, and next instruction together. Count a row after you finish it, and leave a short note before stopping. The number tells you how far you got; the note tells you exactly what to do next.
On this page
What belongs in a project record?
Stashora keeps project notes, photos, and row counts alongside your making. Keep the yarn, tools, and progress for each make close at hand. You do not need a Ravelry account for local project tracking.
- Pattern name and the version or file you are using.
- Size and any changes you plan to make.
- Yarn name, color, amount reserved, and where the remaining yarn lives.
- Needle or hook size, plus the gauge you measured for this project.
- The last completed row or round and the next instruction.
- Progress photos and decisions you would otherwise need to reconstruct.
Sources: Stashora on the App Store
Choose one row-counting convention
A straightforward convention is “the counter shows the last fully completed row.” Start at zero before working the first row, advance after finishing it, and write a note if you stop halfway through. This is a suggested routine, not a rule imposed by every pattern.
Treat cast-on, setup rows, short rows, and the start of a new section according to the pattern’s own numbering. If the designer calls the first setup row “row 1,” follow that label in your notes instead of silently shifting all the later numbers.
| Situation | Counter | Note to leave |
|---|---|---|
| Row 24 fully completed | 24 | Start row 25; right side facing. |
| Stopped partway through row 25 | 24 | Row 25 in progress; stopped at marked cable panel. |
| Finished body, ready for sleeve | Keep the body total in a note | Sleeve begins next; use the sleeve’s numbering. |
Keep section rows and repeats distinct
A single number can be ambiguous when a pattern has repeated sections. Suppose the body repeats an eight-row sequence. If you finish the third repeat, the section has 24 completed rows, and the next instruction is repeat 4, row 1. Store that relationship in a note.
If you use a section counter, preserve the finished section total before resetting it. Record shaping instructions separately: “increase on next right-side row” is more useful than expecting a total count to remind you of the increase. This workflow works even with a single counter.
A short checklist before you put the project away
- Finish the current row if convenient. If you stop partway, mark the place physically and explain it in the note.
- Check that the counter matches your last fully completed row or round.
- Write the next action, including the next color, increase, decrease, or repeat when relevant.
- Record a changed needle or hook size immediately, especially after ribbing or a gauge adjustment.
- Keep the pattern file available on the device you will use next. Test the download if you will be offline.
Close the loop when the project is finished
Add a final photo, note the size and modifications that worked, and update the yarn remaining. Weighing the leftover gives the next project a better starting point than assuming the original skein is still full.
For a paused project, leave a more detailed next-step note and keep its allocated yarn identifiable. With Stashora, you can review supported project changes before sending them to Ravelry; local row counting itself does not require syncing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I count a knitting row before or after knitting it?
One consistent method is to increment after completing the row, so the counter shows the last finished row. Follow the pattern’s numbering for setup rows and sections, and note any partly worked row before stopping.
Can I use a knitting row counter for crochet?
Yes. The same routine works for crochet rows or rounds. Decide when a round is complete according to your pattern, then update the count and leave any needed repeat or shaping note.
Does the Stashora row counter work offline?
Yes. Locally saved projects and row counters are available offline. Download any pattern PDF you need before disconnecting. Ravelry sync requires an internet connection.
Sources and review
Written by Stashora. Product details checked on September 13, 2026. Worked examples and checklists are illustrative; they are not performance tests. Read our editorial policy.
