Free crochet tool

Crochet Row Counter: tap once for every row

One big button, and your count saves itself after every tap. No sign-up.

A free row counter made for crocheting with your phone propped up beside you. One big button, a second counter for repeats, an optional target row, and your count saves itself after every tap. No sign-up needed.

How to use the row counter

1. Name it if you like. The name shows on the counter, so you always know which piece the number belongs to. Pick Rows, Rounds or Stitches for what you are counting.
2. Tap the big green panel each time you finish a row. On a laptop or with a keyboard, press the space bar or the + key.
3. Tapped one too many? Press Take one off. Reset asks you first, so a stray tap cannot wipe your count.
4. Working a repeat? Tick Count a repeat too. If the pattern says "repeat rows 3 to 6", that is 4 rows in each repeat, so type 4. The counter shows which row of the repeat you are on and how many repeats are finished.
5. Know how many rows the piece has? Tick Set a target and type the total. You will see how many rows are left, and a note when you reach the last one.

Everything saves in this browser after each tap, so you can close the page and pick up later. If your signal drops while the page is open, it keeps counting.

Tips to never lose count

• Tap at the same moment every time. When you turn your work at the end of a row is a good one. Then the number on the screen always means rows finished, never "the row I am on".
• Mark every 10th row. Clip a locking stitch marker or tie a scrap of contrast yarn into the edge of row 10, row 20 and so on. If you ever doubt the counter, you only need to count up from the last marker.
• Mark the first stitch of every round. Spiral rounds, common in amigurumi, have no join, so moving a marker up each round is the easiest way to see where one round ends. In joined rounds the slip stitch join shows you, but a marker still helps.
• Check the stitch count at the end of each row. The number at the end of a pattern row is usually how many stitches you should have. If yours matches, the row is right. If not, you have found the mistake while it is one row deep. New to reading patterns? See how to read a crochet pattern.
• Use the repeat counter for repeats. "Repeat rows 3 to 6 five times" is 4 rows per repeat. Type 4 and let the counter tell you when each repeat ends, instead of doing sums mid-row.
• Write the total down for pieces made in pairs. When the first sleeve or sock is finished, put the count in the project name (for example "Left sleeve, 48 rows") so the second one matches.
• Finish the row before you put it down. Stopping halfway through a row is the easiest way to lose your place, even with a counter.

For more ways to stay on track, read how to keep your place in a crochet pattern.

Row counting questions, answered

How do you keep track of rows in crochet?

Use a row counter and tap it at the same moment every row, such as when you turn your work. Back it up on the fabric: put a stitch marker into the edge every 10 rows, so you can count in tens if you ever doubt the number. Checking the stitch count at the end of each row catches mistakes early too.

Does the turning chain count as a row?

No. The turning chain is the start of the row it belongs to, so it never adds a row of its own. Count a row once you have worked its last stitch. Whether the turning chain counts as a stitch is a separate question. It often does in double crochet (UK treble) and usually does not in single crochet (UK double crochet). Half double crochet patterns go both ways, so check the notes at the start of your pattern.

How do you count rows in crochet fabric?

Count up the side edge, starting from the bottom. In double crochet (UK treble) each row is one tall stitch, so the rows are easy to see. In single crochet (UK double crochet) worked back and forth, the rows are short and two rows together often look like one ridge, so count the ridges and double the number, or count the small bumps along the edge. A marker every 10 rows makes this much quicker.

Can I use this as a stitch counter or a round counter?

Yes. Choose Rounds for amigurumi or anything worked in the round and tap once at the end of each round. Choose Stitches to count stitches, such as a long foundation chain, and tap once per stitch. For big numbers, place a marker every 10 or 20 stitches as well, so a slip of the finger is easy to check.

Is this row counter free, and does it save my count?

Yes, it is free and you do not need an account. Your count, project name and settings save themselves in this browser after every tap, so you can close the page and come back. They stay on this device only, and private browsing or clearing your browser data removes them. If you want your counts on your phone and laptop too, a free Crochets account gives each of your projects its own row counter, saved to your account. The count on this page stays in this browser.

Does the row counter work offline?

Once the page has loaded, the counter does not need a connection. If your signal drops while it is open, keep tapping and it keeps saving in the browser. To open the page again from scratch you may need a connection.

How do I stop my phone screen turning off while I crochet?

Tick Keep my screen on while counting and your screen stays awake while this page is open. If you do not see that option, your browser does not offer it, and you can make the screen timeout longer in your phone settings instead.

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