How to count rows in knitting
There are two ways to know which row you're on: count the rows in your fabric, or keep count as you go. Here's how to do both, plus the pattern terms that trip people up.
Want the easy way? purlypop is a free knitting row counter that works in your phone's browser. Tap once at the end of each row. No app to download, no account and no ads.
Counting rows in stockinette
In stockinette stitch, the knit side is made of little V shapes stacked in columns. Each V is one row.
- Pick one column of Vs and start just above the cast-on edge.
- Count each V up that column until you reach your needle.
- Most patterns don't count the cast-on row. The loops on your needle are the last row you worked, so count them too.
Counting a long piece? Place a removable stitch marker every 10 rows so you only ever count the last few.
Counting rows in garter stitch
Garter stitch makes horizontal ridges. Each ridge is two rows, so count the ridges and double the number.
Counting rows in ribbing
Count the Vs in one of the knit columns, the same way as stockinette. The purl columns sit lower and are harder to read.
What RS and WS mean
RS is the right side, the side people will see. WS is the wrong side, the inside. When you knit flat, you turn your work after every row, so you alternate between them.
In most patterns row 1 is a right-side row, which makes odd rows RS and even rows WS. Always check your pattern, because some start on a wrong-side row.
When you knit in the round, every round is worked from the right side, so there is no RS or WS.
Rows and rounds
A row is one pass across flat knitting before you turn. A round is one trip around circular knitting, like a hat or a sock. You count both the same way.
What “every 4th row” means
When a pattern says “decrease every 4th row”, you work the decrease on rows 4, 8, 12 and so on, counting from where the pattern tells you to start. If it says “every 4th row from row 10”, that's rows 10, 14, 18 and so on.
| Pattern says | Work it on rows |
|---|---|
| Every 4th row | 4, 8, 12, 16… |
| Every 6th row from row 10 | 10, 16, 22, 28… |
| Every RS row | 1, 3, 5, 7… (when row 1 is RS) |
| Every other row | Alternate rows, usually every RS row |
In purlypop, add a row reminder for “every 4 rows” and it shows the exact rows and gives you a heads-up just before each one.
Keeping track of pattern repeats
Lace, cables and stripes often repeat every few rows. A “4-row repeat” means rows 1 to 4 are worked again and again. The trick is knowing both your total row count and which row of the repeat you're on. purlypop shows both, for example “repeat 3 · row 2 of 4”.
How to use purlypop
- Open purlypop.app. Your first project is ready to go.
- Tap + Row each time you finish a row. The big number is the rows you've finished.
- Set a target, a pattern repeat and row reminders on the Project tab.
- Write down your yarns, colours, dye lots, needles and pattern details so you never forget what you used.
- Add it to your home screen so it works offline and opens like an app.
Questions knitters ask
Is purlypop free?
Yes. purlypop is a free knitting row counter that runs in your web browser. There are no ads, no subscription and no paid features.
Do I need an account or an app?
No. Open purlypop.app and start counting. There is nothing to download and no sign-up. You can add it to your home screen if you'd like it to feel like an app.
Where are my projects saved?
Your projects are saved in your browser on your own device, not on a server. To move them to a new phone, or to keep them safe, use Back up on the More tab to save a backup file or code.
Does purlypop work offline?
Yes. After you've opened it once, purlypop keeps working without an internet connection, which is handy on planes, trains and in the countryside.
How do I put purlypop on my home screen?
On iPhone, open purlypop.app in Safari, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen. On Android, open it in Chrome and tap Install app, or find it in the ⋮ menu.
Can I count rows hands-free with a Bluetooth page-turner pedal?
Yes. Pedals that send Space, Page Down or the down or right arrow add a row. Page Up, Backspace or the up or left arrow undo one. Holding the pedal down adds just one row.
Does it work for crochet?
Yes. purlypop counts rows or rounds, so it works for crochet too. Switch a project to In the round if you crochet in rounds.
What does “every 4th row” mean in a knitting pattern?
It means you work the instruction on rows 4, 8, 12 and so on, counting from where the pattern tells you to start. In purlypop, add a row reminder for every 4 rows and it will give you a heads-up just before each of those rows.
Your rows, counted for you
A little monster knits along while you do. Free, no account, works offline.