How to Count Rows in Crochet? Photo & Video Tutorial

When counting rows in crochet, it’s important to keep track of where you are in the pattern. This way, you can ensure that your work is progressing as it should. Many patterns will include a row gauge, which is a measure of how many stitches and rows are in an inch. This can be helpful in ensuring that your work is the correct size. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to count rows, rounds, ribbing, double, single, and amigurumi. 

We have other beginner-friendly crochet articles and tutorials for you to choose from:

• Best beginner crochet kits
• Why is my crochet curling? 
• How to crochet a basic beanie hat?
• What do you need to start crocheting?
• How to tie off crochet?
• How to tie a slip knot in crochet?
• How to crochet for beginners step by step

Let’s see you can we count rows in crochet

In the picture shown below, you can see two different textures. It may sound surprising, but both of these are double crochet. The blue fabric has double crochet in a round while the red fabric had double crochet going in rows. 

When working in rounds, it’s really easy to determine the rows because we have a break after each round and the only texture we get is of the right side of the stitch. so It’s as simple as one, two, three, four. 

However, when working in rows we see one row with the right side of the stitch and next with the wrong side of the stitch and it alternates just like this, giving us a different texture. 

To count the rows in crochet first make sure you’re facing the right side of the crocheted fabric. To find out just make sure the right side of the first row is facing you.

Now that you have the right side in front of you, you’ll see the right and wrong sides of the stitch make up a big block, quite bigger than a row. So what I do, is I count that block for two rows. For better understanding see the pictures below.

And what keeps the blocks apart is a little line of “v’s” which I like to call as the barrier. 

With this block of two rows technique it’s as simple as 2,4,6,8.

Do you count the first row in crochet?

The first row of any crochet project is the row we make on the foundation chain. So yes we count the first row when counting rows in crochet.  The foundation chain, however, doesn’t count as the first row.

Does the foundation chain count as a row?

No, the foundation chain does not count as a row. The answer lies in the question. The Foundation chain, it’s the foundation for the project, for the rows, and is not considered as a row itself.

What are rows in crochet?

Rows can either be horizontal or vertical lines in a crocheted fabric. When working in rows, at the end of the row crocheter make one or more chains, flip and start working again, so the end becomes the starting point. 

It is worth noting that in rows the texture is different than in rounds. Here, we get one row with the front side of the stitch and the next row with the backside of the stitch.

How to count rows in crochet ribbing? 

The Dearing texture of ribbing that we all love. This one line of small loops ahead of the half-double crochet looks amazing but counting the ribbing rows seems to be quite challenging sometimes. Don’t worry I have you back once more!

• To count the rows, the easiest way is to take account of the line of loops. I call it the line of barrier because it comes after every two rows and it acts as a container.
• I like to count these rows in a block of two. After each block of two rows, I get a barrier telling me that the rows have finished and now we have a new block of two rows.
• With this technique, it becomes as simple as 2,4,6,8,10.

How to count rows in crochet amigurumi? 

To count the rows of amigurumi, you can begin from the magic loop. As the amigurumi are always made in rounds it’s easier to count the rows as we have only the right side of the stitches. It’s easy to tell where the rows end and where the next row begins. 

• You can also start from the top and focus on one “V” then track down the “V” all the way along till the end.
• just as shown in the picture below.

How to count single crochet rows in the round? 

• To count the rounds of single crochet, I’d suggest paying close attention to the breakage of each row. 
• Or else you can simply track down the “V” 
• For a better demonstration see the picture below. 

How to count double crochet rows?

To count the rows of double crochet first make sure that you’re facing the right side of the crocheted fabric. To find out which side is the right side, pay attention to the very first row. The first row must contain the right side of the stitches. Now that you have the right side in front of you, you’ll see the right and wrong sides of the stitch make up a big block, quite bigger than a usual double crochet row. So what I do is to count that block for two rows. For better understanding see the picture. And what keeps the blocks apart is a little line of “v’s” which I like to call the barrier. With this block of two rows technique, it’s as simple as 2,4,6,8.