How to Count Crochet Stitches and Rows

Counting becomes easier when you stop looking at the fabric as one texture and start identifying the repeated parts of a stitch.

Count the top Vs for stitches

On most basic rows, each completed stitch forms a V along the top edge. Spread the fabric gently and count those Vs from one side to the other. Do not count the working loop currently on the hook.

Turning chains may or may not count as stitches. Check the pattern before including them. Marking the first and last stitch of every row removes much of the uncertainty.

Count horizontal ridges for rows

Lay the piece flat in good light. Beginning at the foundation edge, identify one complete line of stitches at a time. Taller stitches show visible posts; shorter stitches may form denser ridges. Rotate the work if the texture is easier to read from the side.

Build checkpoints into the work

• Count at the end of every row while learning.
• Place a marker every ten or twenty stitches on long rows.
• Record completed rows before putting the project away.
• Photograph a complicated section if you may need to return to it later.

Frequent small checks take less time than tracing a missing stitch several rows later.

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