If you recently started crocheting you have probably gotten mixed up at some point when trying to count how many stitches and rows you have worked. If I didn’t write it down while crocheting how will I figure it out now? In this post we are going to explain step by step how to do it so you don’t get lost.
To make the swatches needed for this tutorial we used a size 7 mm crochet hook and skeins of our petite wool in different colors.
Counting stitches and rows in single crochet
Using a swatch worked in single crochet we are going to count the rows and stitches in the swatch.
The first thing we have to do is recognize the shape of the stitch. In the case of single crochet, the stitch forms “V’s” across the fabric, as you can see in the photo above.
To count the rows: look at the sides of the fabric and count the single crochet stitches from the bottom to the top.
To count the stitches in your swatch, look at the single crochets along the row from left to right. Keep in mind that the turning chain (that you will find on the edge of the row) counts as a stitch.
However, if you get a little lost using the method above, and can’t pick out the single crochets in the row, you can count the stitches along the top of the last row: by counting the “V’s” that are formed on the top you can easily see how many stitches there are.
Counting stitches and rows in double crochet
The double crochet stitch is taller than single crochet, that’s why, even if you have swatches of the same size, if it was made in double crochet you will have less rows and stitches.
Just like the case above for single crochet, the first thing we have to do is recognize the shape of a double crochet stitch.
To count the rows: look at the sides of the swatch and count the double crochets from the bottom to the top.
To count the stitches in your swatch, look at the double crochets along the row from left to right. Keep in mind, like in the above case, that the turning chain counts as a stitch.
Just like we saw with single crochet, if you get mixed up counting the stitches in your fabric, you can also use the trick of counting the “V’s” along the top of the last row to know how many stitches you have in total.
We hope these tricks can help you count the rows and stitches in your crochet swatches more quickly 🙂 As always, we hope you share your projects using the hashtag #weareknitters.
