How to Count Rows

[@bikrgran]

WOW! I've knitted almost 70 yrs, and you have just answered 2 questions I've always had...actually 3. THANKS!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You are so welcome Linda! Glad to have helped.

[@alexispereda5672]

This is by far the most clear video I’ve seen about counting rows. Thanks so much!

[@demelzabunny6632]

clearest

[@anloke4088]

At last, I think I finally know what counts as a row - and I was never sure if I should count the stitches on the needle as a row. Many thanks🎉

[@karengolembiewski9052]

Dear Cheryl, I am so glad you have healed and are able to knit again! I would be lost if I was unable to knit! It is such a fulfilling part of my day. Thank you so much for this new video and all of your videos. I have learned so much and am so grateful for the time you have dedicated to making these videos to help your fellow knitters. You're a peach!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Thank you Karen and you are very sweet. I am grateful for how my hand has recovered thus far though I still haven't picked up the stranded Cowichan vest I was making for my brother when this happened. That's something of a wrestling match what with the size of the 5-ply yarn and catching the floats every other st, but I'm going to try it soon. Just one of an embarrassing number of WIPs around here . . . Nahh. I'm not embarrassed. :D

[@elizabethmullhall8226]

Great to have you back, Cheryl...missed your videos which are so relaxed and reassuring.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Thanks Elizabeth. It's good to be back.

[@ludouglas1]

Yes I've seen that kind of response too, 7, no 8, no 7 and then 6!!! This is so good and the close up is perfect. You always teach so very clearly and well. i love your videos.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Thank you Linda, for this kind comment. Are you on my email list yet? You can sign up at cherylbrunette.com or howtoknitasweater.com

[@karenparker263]

Cheryl, I have learned more from your videos than any other resource in my 8 years of attempts. My learning has been hampered by hand pain but the ONLY item I have finished - successfully and exactly as I expected was the sweater for my first and only grand daughter for her 1st birthday where I followed your 15 part videos and your 101 book. So I better get started on her 2nd BD sweater now! Glad you are all better.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Thanks for this lovely comment Karen. Lucky grand daughter! Wouldn't it be fun to make one for her for every birthday and document it?

[@mjb7692]

Thank you! I’ve been knitting for about 10 years and didn’t know about not counting the cast on row. Duh. Learn something new every day. Love your presentations. Very enjoyable and easy listening. Great video.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Thank you MJB. Are you on my email list? cherylbrunette.com or howtoknitasweater.com Lots of good infor comes your way.

[@colleenflanigan747]

Thanks Cheryl! I always counted that cast stitch as row 1 so now I know not to count it and didn't know I should count the stitches on the needles as a row. So this is invaluable advice!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

I'm so glad this clarified things for you Colleen. It's especially important if you're trying to match a completed part of a sweater for example. And yes. The sts on the needle are a row that you have already knit.

[@nadzoll]

Yes, this is what I have doing as well.

[@dufocar566]

Very clear and concise video that answers both of my questions. Thanks Cheryl

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You are so welcome Carole. Thanks for commenting.

[@poornis7025]

Well explained . I did not know that the stiches on the needle has to be counted as well. Thank you !

[@georgannagonzalez460]

Thank you so very much. I’m sorry about your hand injury, but happy to hear you are feeling better. Thank you very much once again for helping me to learn how to count knitting rows. 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹😉

[@shanedeleon5376]

I've missed seeing your videos! Glad you're back!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Thanks Shane. It's very sweet of you to comment.

[@danymariereads]

This is the perfect video! Explains it perfectly, addresses confusion, and is quick! Thanks!!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You're welcome!

[@vidyajoshi3821]

Your video is surely helpful to me while counting rows in honeycomb pattern. Thanks 🙏

[@maryalgar8779]

Thanks Cheryl. I enjoy all your videos and recently read about your recipe for pumpkin chocolate chip loaves. Sounds delicious and a lovely tradition.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You are so welcome Mary. I especially love thinking of dear Mrs. Shubel and looking out my kitchen toward her snow covered house as I first made these. She was in her 80s and I was in my 20s. She was my next-door treasure.

[@maryalgar8779]

I too had an older neighbour, although the age difference was 20's to 60's. She taught me to make pastry and gave me one of her heavy-duty forks which was the recommended tool. She has long since passed away, but I think of her every time I use that fork.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You know the pastry would be tough if you didn't use that fork. :)

[@demelzabunny6632]

Excellent, clear explanation. Thank you!

[@barenddutoit9931]

Hi Cheryl. It is so good to hear from you again. I did the course with you recently, bought the book and cannot agree more that you have REVOLUTIONIZED my knitting!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

So good to hear Barend. I realize that I'm not getting any younger and need to get this information out to more people.

[@elladaniells1322]

This is incredibly helpful! Thank you so much!

[@Knittingtoday]

I too like the smooth vs. the bumpy edge of the long tail cast on.

[@tsonus]

Thank you Cheryl for demonstrating clearly which is the first row 🙂

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You are so welcome.Thank you for commenting.

[@debraklein2649]

Thank you Cheryl. I learned something new today. I started watching you when I got my Bond 15? years ago and always found your tutorials so extremely helpful. I have graduated from the Bond but still pull it out occasionally. So glad you are back.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Thanks Debra. Good to be back. Lots of life gets in the way sometimes, and then there's the technology . . . but I'm making myself face that unafraid. Well, afraid, but I'll stick with it until I figure it out.

[@teslaandhumanity7383]

I had a Bond knitting machine for my 21st birthday 🎂 Iam 59 now .

[@bonniew7463]

Thank you so much for explaining this issue so clearly

[@stephanieknudtson4449]

THANK YOU for clearing this up!!!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You're so welcome!

[@katheewaterhouse9717]

Thank you, that explained it perfectly.

[@kathygoodman6159]

Thank you for this video. I was never sure if that first row that looked like stitches was part of the caston or not. Good to see you back. I hope your arm is ok. Sorry to hear about the injury.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Thanks. It's recovering well, though it still has a way to go. Still I'm grateful to bbe able to do simple knitting. Ligaments take a long time to heal.

[@jvallas]

Great! I seem to have more trouble counting garter stitch. Wouldn’t mind seeing that as well! Thanks for this one - very clear.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Good suggestion Judy. I can do that.

[@heathermato2779]

Garter stitch counting is my Achilles heel also :)

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

OK! Yours is the 4th request so I'll do that soon.

[@beckyberlin4843]

Cheryl, your video is, as always, crystal clear, well filmed, well enunciated, etc. etc., unlike so many you tube videos that are mushy, unfocused, poorly explained and otherwise hard to understand. This video is extremely helpful. I have gotten somewhat proficient at counting rows in ribbing, but I still have a MAJOR PROBLEM with counting rows in a patterned area, especially when the pattern leaves "holes" and repeats as a diagonal. Is there any chance you might do a video on this type of counting?

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Thanks for commenting Becky. Yes, there is a possibility that I will be doing several of these row counting videos. At least 4 people have requested one on garter stitch, another on cables. Lace would be another great one. I didn't quite realize it was as much of a challenge as it is for many people, though I should have caught on by seeing the arguments. Do you have a specific pattern in mind that's especially tricky? And thank you for your kind words. I studied radio and TV production at the U of Michigan over 50 years ago as part of my Speech minor. I spend hours knitting, scripting, and rehearsing before I turn on the camera, even for short KZbin programs. It's been fascinating to me to watch the evolution of KZbin . . . I think viewers are getting more sophisticated and less tolerant of bad production values. Are you on my email list yet? cherylbrunette.com or howtoknitasweater.com Lots of good information comes your way and it is where I stay in closer contact with knitters. I don't send out that many emails but the ones I do are more personal.

[@BecBec2015]

THANK YOU!!! i’m making a vest and following a pattern for the first time and i kept undoing and redoing the row bc i got confused which number i was on !!

[@meowning_dew3040]

I'm working on a knitted vest and am so confused where the right side of my working piece is. Also, I'm a beginner knitter so I struggle. This video of yours helped me a lot. Thank you! 💚

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You are so welcome, and I hope you'll stick with your learning curve. It's a wonderful, portable, useful, calming thing to do once you get more comfortable with it. Sometimes it feels almost sacred to me as I knit prayers into each stitch for a particular person.

[@maretabester9784]

Thank you so much for your video and clear explanation. It has answered 2 questions I've always had and struggled with.

[@annblachly8068]

Oh, dear. I just watched your video "How to Improve Your Long-Tail Cast On" and it seems to contradict what you just said here. In the last moment you said you count the cast on row as a row. I'm glad I watched both and can therefore determine how I count rows in future projects. I'll be making a note on the project or pattern that I am or I am not. Thank you for your videos, and glad to see you back and healing.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Thanks for catching this Ann. I've said that in other places too because, I realize, that's what I do for myself because in my head I just know that the first "row" is a a cast on row. But once I started seeing the confusion, I thought it would be clearer for most people if they counted the cast-on row separately because that's how patterns are written, by separating the two. I'm not sure how to address this except head-on in another video.

[@akariwolf5712]

thank you Cheryl, Ive been trying to remember how many rows ive knitted and lost some rows which is just frustrating T^T. thank you again

[@sammiedav1053]

beautiful & clear video.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Thank you Sammie! are you on my email list yet? cherylbrunette.com or howtoknitasweater.com Lots of good information comes your way and it is where I stay in closer contact with knitters. I don't send out that many emails but the ones I do are more personal.

[@azandersons1735]

This is a great help in ending the frustration of do I count it or not. Thanks very much! (Lyle's wife)

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You are so welcome Lyle's wife! Perhaps you would like to sign up for my newsletter. You can do it at cherylbrunette.com or howtoknitasweater.com

[@Loraineatkinson6]

oh my goodness, brilliantly explained, thank you

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Glad it was helpful and thank you for commenting.

[@ginaluhn2081]

Very clear. Thank you

[@deemail100]

will be adding this to the list of CB vids that I recommend to people all the time.....thanks so much.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You are so welcome Dee.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

And thank YOU!

[@theastewart6721]

Thanks Cheryl. This video was extremely helpful!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You are so welcome Thea. Thanks for commenting.

[@mariahbarsby]

Brilliant! Thank you 🥰

[@barroo69]

Thank you, was wondering, so I thought I would KZbin it and find out

[@CaptainGerBear]

I have found that my policy on whether or not to count my cast on row depends on which cast on I have used. With a longtail, cabled, knit, or crochet cast on I would usually count it, since the cast on produces a distinct stitch in the work. With a backward loop or e-wrap cast on, I don't, as that particular cast on slips down into the edge frequently. It now occurs to me that I have no idea how I would treat a tubular or provisional cast on with regards to counting rows. Perhaps some experimentation is in order.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Good point!! As for tubular I'd make notes so that I could duplicate it.

[@UnsolicitedThoughtsOfARose]

Could you explain how to count stitches on a 1 by 1 rib? I get so confused on counting stitches in that stitch in particular.

[@cowgirljl]

Yep, Cheryl you sure know me...after all this time of knitting I still got confused..Thanks for the video!!!!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Hey Joan!!! Good to hear from you.

[@amyo.1821]

Thank you very much for this video!! Your explanation is so clear!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You're welcome Amy. People can be so funny about this subject.

[@marybethlindsay1682]

OMG!!!! Thank you so very much for this video.

[@naturegirl175]

Very helpful

[@hisalone5941]

Many, many thanks!!!!

[@jeanettelarson3560]

Thank you so much.

[@katringabrielle4672]

Do you count fisherman’s rib in the same way?

[@eleanor.shadow]

Thanks for this video, Cheryl! I'd love to see another video on how to count rows when knitting garter stitch - I'm alright when I've a stocking side but garter just makes my head swim! Thanks :)

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You're welcome Leonor and you're the second one to ask so I'll do that soon, I think. Once you see it, it will be easy.

[@eleanor.shadow]

Looking forward to that! Thanks so much for these videos, they're so helpful. Now to look for garter stitch projects I can lose the row count of...

[@harrietlangley5406]

Thank you!

[@sarahnaomi23]

Thank you!!

[@Noahidebc]

Thank you for this…

[@danponitlong]

Thank YOU

[@Marny5580]

I also like the cast-on side as the RS. But if someone is using the 'purl' side, how do they count the number of rows?

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

The same way. The bottom/first "row" of loops is actually the cast-on row.

[@mystidawn2723]

To get the nice rope bottom, so you knit or Pearl the first row?

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

If you're making stockinette stitch, purl the first row

[@terryrose3990]

Thank you, Cheryl, I'm a beginner at this and last night I was watching a video on how to make a shawl, and right when I got to the last two stitches which I have never done or cable went off, we called our cable company and they were doing regular maintenance on the cable service which took 2 hours and it was 10 pm, so I went to bed and today I couldn't remember what row we were on and wasn't sure how to count the rows but you cleared that up for me. There are some videos on here about knitting that go so fast and too fast for us beginners but then there are ones like yours that take the time so we beginners can learn from them.

[@MarthaKP]

Excellent!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Glad you liked it!

[@moonlightpaw5868]

Thanks

[@KCOtutti1]

Thank you!!!!

[@targa9]

Amazing..😇 love from Pakistan

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Thank you! I'm glad it helped.

[@Millenialknitting]

seems so basic, and so confusing, thanks!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

I hope you are no longer confused Deanna. p.s. Are you on my email list yet? You can sign up at cherylbrunette.com or howtoknitasweater.com and get more information than I share on YT.

[@donnaevans7499]

Thank you so much ✅✅✅

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You're welcome!

[@MaryCochrane]

EXCELLENT!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Thank you!

[@meipop]

I always thought the stitches on the needle are not knitted yet, so I never added them to the row count!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

How would they get on the needle if you had not knitted them?

[@patportran4683]

Oh, yes, those stitches HAVE BEEN KNIT and therefore are on the needle. So you MUST count that as a completed row. Logical.

[@meipop]

Knitting with Cheryl Brunette I guess I treated them the same way as the very first row of stitches. From now on I will count them :-)

[@Thelmageddon]

As long as you're consistent - Cheryl doesn't count the first row of Vs because they are the cast-on row, but does count the ones on the needle. Lots of people do count the cast on row and not the ones on the needle. It's the same answer in the end. Though I have to say, if you're counting rows of colour, this way makes better sense!

[@gretchengggriffiths5133]

WOW!!! Thank you!!!!

[@tammyberg9451]

Are those knit stitches out purl?

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

This is a knit 1 purl 1 rib. I'm showing you how to count the column of knits facing us.

[@patportran4683]

If you cast on using the long tail method, you are indeed knitting the first row, are you not?? You can cast on in rib as well. Therefore, you must count that as ONE ROW. If you use another method, like the knitted on method, then you do not work that first row, so do not count it. So I think you made a mistake by not including that first cast on row. The count is off -- by only one row, but still is off. But am very pleased to see a new video from you! Welcome back!

[@kathygoodman6159]

Wow Pat, she said in the video that this is not up for discussion you DO NOT count the caston row. All instructions tell you to cast on and then work 8 rows or whatever. If you count the caston row you have only worked 7 rows after the caston and you will be a row short of the instructions. Sometimes the instructions will even tell you that you should be ending with a WS row, and you won't if you count the caston row.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

It's a question of semantics. Did you hear me say that some people count the cast-on row and that's fine if you are clear and consistent about what you're doing. But for less-experienced knitters, my experience is that it's easier for them to keep track if I have them separate the two. Usually directions read something like "Cast on 90 sts. Knit 12 rows of ribbing." Because they are separated in directions I think this is clearer if they're separated in the counting.

[@patportran4683]

Exactly. But you missed my point: You are casting on, AND also knitting the first row when you do the long tail method. That is clear. You CAN also cast on in rib... as you have shown (or someone has) in another video. If you use another method, where you do NOT work that first row, then you count differently. But it's true -- as long as you are consistent, and make it clear when you write any directions. Most designers, unfortunately, are not very clear.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

I did not miss your point. I just don't endorse it as the clearest way to explain things to the largest number of knitters in a way that they understand what they are doing. Defining the cast-on row, by whatever method (except perhaps tubular) as the first set of loops/stitches laid onto the needle makes a clear delineation, per how almost all patterns are written, from the number of rows subsequently knit. My goal on my channel is make things as clear to understand to as many knitters as possible.

[@shelleyn.8503]

Well then, I have been doing it incorrectly! Thanks for clearing this up for me!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Well . . . it's not a matter of correct or incorrect so much as being able to see what you've done in a clear way. And you're certainly welcome Shelley. Are you on my email list yet? cherylbrunette.com or howtoknitasweater.com Lots of good infor comes your way.

[@shelleyn.8503]

Yes, I am on your email list. Love the way you teach!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Thanks Shelley.

[@steph8503]

what about the bind off, do you consider it a row? I'm making a doctor who scarf so each block of color has a set number of rows, and the last block is 28 rows. So do I knit 28 and then bind off or do 27 and make the bind off 28?

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

It depends on the kind of bind-off. If you are doing a standard knit 2 sts and pass the first over the second, then K1 psso across the row, no, I would not count the bind-off, but really? It hardly makes a difference in this case. Who would be able to tell if you knit 27 or 28 rows unless he or she actually counted them?

[@steph8503]

then why does it matter so much at the start?

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Because patterns are often written, "Cast on and knit x number of rows . . . " and then there are more directions. People seems concerned about making sure they have the right number rows, but more importantly . . . I've seen too many people confused by it.

[@steph8503]

but you do know what the "dr who" scarf looks looks like, it's all about counting the number of rows for each color change. so yes i would like the project that i took so long to make because I'm a huge dr who fan to come out as perfect as possible.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

No. I don't know what the scarf looks like, if you're doing a pass over bind-off, knit 28 rows, then do your bind off.

[@hiskliff]

Diosa subtítulos! Beatriz de Buenos Aires

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Es demasiado costoso contratar a alguien para subtítulos. Lo siento.

[@pamc5107]

Can you make one for Stockinette ?

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

It's exactly the same Pam. You see that I'm counting a column of knit stitches, right? Just choose a column of knit sts on your stockinette piece and it will be the same.

[@pamc5107]

@@CherylBrunetteTV thank. you so much! this really helped me find my way back to my pattern after being pretty lost as to where i was !

[@cyn5490]

Wow! I've been counting incorrectly! Thanks!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Or, well, with different words, or seeing it differently. I hesitate on the terms "right and wrong" because there are nuances.

[@Jane-ow7sr]

Oh so you dont count the cast on. So its kind of like a foundation chain in crochet. Huh i didnt know that.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

I don't. Some people do but I think it's more logical not to count the cast on because that's how most patterns are written, e.g. "Cast on 96 sts. K 2 P 2 for 14 rows."

[@Dailywhatnots]

👌

[@tess7510]

I just gasped when you explained that the "first row" is actually the cast on row.

[@MercuryMythbusting]

Why don’t you count the cast on row?

[@stephburgess915]

I think counting or not counting it is just how you learned. I learned knitting from a particular woman on youtube and she explained that some people count it and some don’t, technically it’s the “setup” from which all rows are grown. I believe most patterns will not include it in the row count and knowing that, I always refer to it as either row 0 so it doesn’t interfere with the actual row count, or simply “the cast on”. But I think it’s really just a potayto-potahto thing and just something to be aware of.

[@kayguynes6675]

7 7 no 8

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

:D

[@teslaandhumanity7383]

😬 I’ve been doing it wrong all these years and I’m 59

[@TheFitgirl3]

Rattle rattle rattle oh my gosh just tell me how to count the rows

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

If you don't like it, don't watch it. It's free, after all.

[@michele8208]

Go to 1.41 to get past all the talking

[@juliansydney9819]

Video half over before she actually started counting rows. Too much talking!

[@BoudiccaPLG]

Wrong.

[@jjbing3]

Good video except you didn’t tell us how many rows you did. I counted and wanted to see if I was right. 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

I DID tell you. I had one cast on row and 7 rows of ribbing above that.

[@patportran4683]

Cheryl did say she had one caston row plus 7 rows -- so really, she has 8 rows.

[@kathygoodman6159]

Didn't you listen? You don't count the caston row. She has 7 rows.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Well, you can count the cast on row if you 1) understand that you're doing it and 2) are consistent and 3) can duplicate what you've done.

[@heathersmee8378]

This was so helpful! Thank you

[@annak1371]

Thank you.

[@gerriewalraven3525]

Thank you so much

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You are so welcome Gerrie.

[@sandygrogg1203]

Thank you!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You are so welcome Sandy. Thank you for commenting.