Review: Row Counter Roundup
Normally I’m not a fan of row counters. However, I can’t count rows in a cabled pattern to save my life, and I’ve been spending some quality time with some lovely cabled socks lately, so my appreciation for row counters has grown exponentially, especially the kind I can use on my computer or iPod and therefore can’t lose. So here are a couple of digital options for your row counting needs.
Row Counter
Found at http://www.pixeldustindustries.com/rowcounter.htm
Though it’s not visually stimulating, this simple online row counter does a lot more than meets the eye. At first all I saw was the boring interface, which I snazzed up for my own enjoyment, and the pictures for this story, I became more impressed with it as I experimented further. In the end, the fact that I needed to stay within arms reach of my keyboard to use this was a dealbreaker for this farsighted knitter.
Pros:
- Simple
- Uses cookies to remember the last row counted
- Unobtrusive
- Great if you knit in front of the computer a lot
Cons:
- Need to be within arms reach of the keyboard to use
- Boring look
- Easy to lose place if you clear cookies often
Knit Counter / Knit Counter Lite (iPhone/iPod Touch App)
Find them in the iTunes store: Knit Counter ($3.99) and Knit Counter Lite (free)
I’m more than a little addicted to my iPod Touch, so a row counter application was an ideal solution to my row counter dilemma. I ended up going with Knit Counter Lite, because the interface is pretty, it has all the tools I need, and I only needed the counter for my one cabled project. If I had more than one project going at once I would probably invest in the paid version.
Pros:
- Good looking interface
- Can run multiple counters at once for one project (think gusset increases/decreases for socks)
- intuitive to use
- You can set alerts for rows where you need to take specific action, like increases, decreases, or cables
Cons:
- Though possible, it’s a pain in the neck when you need to frog
- the buttons are small
- (free version only) You can only track one project at a time
I was really surprised, while putting this write-up together, that I found relatively few online row counters and no dashboard widgets, there are other row counting options out there, especially for the iPhone/iPod Touch (KnitBuddy, StitchMinder, and KnitMinder all come to mind immediately), but not much for your computer. I haven’t played with any of the other row counters enough to review them properly, but now I’m curious, What do you use when you need a row counter?
Popularity: 19% [?]
yarnpiggy Says:
I use the cheapo little counters that fit on your needle…or pen & paper.
) If I had an iPod Touch, I’d definitely try the apps…but I’m unlikely to get one anytime soon.
Posted on June 2nd, 2009 at 8:42 am
Bevsyarncrazy Says:
I am always in with in arms reach of my pc if knitting/crocheting at home, so I will give it a try. Away from home I rely on pen and paper still.
Posted on June 2nd, 2009 at 9:14 am
Hayley Says:
A piece of paper.
Posted on June 2nd, 2009 at 10:52 am
Laura Says:
I use a peg-style row counter at home. Usually. Unless it’s being used for another project, and I only have 1 of them. I hate the things that hang on your needles. Shudder. When my peg counter is busy, or I’m not at home, I use tick marks on the pattern.
Posted on June 2nd, 2009 at 11:49 am
Wanda in AR Says:
I have stitchMinder on my iphone which I especially like for my traveling projects.. I also not opposed ot using a piece of paper and a pen.
Posted on June 2nd, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Angie Says:
I’m pretty happy with the abacus bracelet that I made from this tutorial; http://sutherland-studios.com.au/free/rowcounter.html To come full circle, I think I found it on the Chum.
Posted on June 2nd, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Chris Says:
I use an ancient metal hand tally counter I found when we moved my company to a new building. I like the satisfying “click” and the fact that it’s nigh indestructible.
Posted on June 2nd, 2009 at 1:40 pm
WackyLisa Says:
I have a kachakacha counter that I can’t read independently. My abacus works well for home projects but I’ve had it get messed up in my bag.
Posted on June 2nd, 2009 at 2:26 pm
threegoodrats Says:
I use the little plastic ones that I can just stick inside my skein of yarn and bring with me. I am also a fan of post-it notes. Online row counters seem to just make a simple thing more complicated.
Posted on June 2nd, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Christy Says:
I use the little plastic kind you stick on the needle. I am always losing them and buying new ones. There must be 6 of them under my couch. I have also made beaded row counters which are pretty, but I keep forgetting which way to move the counter ring.
I have a freind that uses a length of contrast yarn that she flips back and forth from the public to the private side of her knitting every 5 rows or whatever repeat makes sense. When she is done, it slips easily out of the knitting. I can see this would make a lot of sense, except maybe in a lace pattern, where I might have trouble reading the rows.
Posted on June 2nd, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Emma Says:
Thanks for mentioning my partner’s program, Knit Counter. The review and feedback is greatly appreciated!
Posted on June 13th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Courtney Says:
I use Knit Counter and I LUV it. I usually have multiple projects going on at one time and my hand held counter was such a pain to drag around. Also, I hate writting on my patterns (even though I usually work from copies, I don’t know why) and I always lose those little post-its and pieces of paper.
Cordless Dog did such a great job with Knit Counter, now I wish they would create software that converted gauge to yarn requirements. Similar to the “The Knitter’s Handy Guide to Yarn Requirements”. I tend to buy yarn on the fly, whenever I come upon a Knitting/Yarn store and I constantly run into the problem of how much yarn to purchase for a particular idea (sweater, hat, scarf, etc.). It would be nice to have software on my iTouch that would do this for me….
Posted on June 17th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
cocao Says:
Thanks for the great ideas for online counters. Angie, thanks for the link to the bracelet counter instructions, I would like to try that out. I usually use the plastic row counters on my needles and tick off the rows with a pencil on my lace charts (I keep the chart I am working on one of those metal boards that comes in a pack with a couple magnets and a magnetic ruler). The Daily Chum is a wonderful resource and I appreciate all the hard work that goes into it putting all together.
Posted on July 12th, 2009 at 10:07 am