The short version
Count in small groups, mark structural points, and compare your total with the pattern at a predictable boundary. Keep the running number separate from the row or round number.
Counting a chain
Lay the chain flat without stretching it. Count from the end named by the pattern, touching each chain once. Place a marker after every ten or twenty stitches so you can recheck a section without starting over.
Counting a row
Identify the stitch tops, not the spaces between them. Count from one edge to the other and use markers around increases, decreases, or repeated groups. If the first turning chain is not counted as a stitch, do not include it in the final total.
Counting a round
Find the beginning-of-round marker first. Count around the work and check any joined or skipped stitches according to the pattern. Increases and decreases are the first places to inspect when the final total does not match.
Write the expected total down
At the end of a row or round, record both the actual checkpoint and the target: “Round 5, 30 sts expected.” If they disagree, pause before continuing. A digital counter can remember the number, but only the physical work can confirm whether the stitches are there.
Using a counter app
An app is most useful when the count stays attached to the project and pattern. In SkeinHub, use the project counter for the running count and keep the expected stitch total in the project note. The row counter feature is a progress aid, not an automatic camera or diagram checker.
What to do when the count is wrong
- Recount the last repeat.
- Check the previous row or round for an extra or missing increase.
- Look for a turning chain or slip stitch the pattern treats differently.
- Undo only as far as needed to find the first mismatch.
Do not change the counter to match the expected total before you know what happened. That hides the useful evidence.