Monday Mom Hacks - Knitting Row Counter Stitch Markers

Several months ago, a dear friend showed me how to make a fantastic new stitch marker.  I am abysmally bad at stopping my knitting to do any type of row counting.  Thus, I am constantly squinting at my rows, measuring, and trying to figure out if I have knitted the prescribed number or not.  Let's just say this isn't the best method for turning out a refined product.  So, when Tracy showed me how to make these stitch markers, I was over the moon.

Exhibit A is the chain stitch marker.  This was so easy to make!  I bought a package of jewelry findings that were simply rings large enough for my larger knitting needles to easily slip in and out of.  I used a simple pair of jewelry pliers and hooked the links together in a chain of 10.  At the end of the chain, there should be some type of a marker, so I slipped on a button.

Now, when I am knitting, I slip my stitch marker on my needles through the first link.  Each row I knit, I slip it to the next link.  No more squinting to count rows!  I just count my easy to see chain links.

But then, I started this shrug, and I only had a chain of 10, but I needed to count 80 rows.  So, how to count how many sets of 10 I've done?  I had an aha moment and slipped on a new stitch marker every time I finished a set of 10.  When I have 8 stitch markers on, I know I've done my 80 rows.  No more squinting!

I'm completely giddy over this new little knitting trick, and also because I smile EVERY SINGLE TIME I get to use my rainbow stitch markers from Ella Bleu Creations.

Do you have any great row counting tricks to share?