Knitting: keeping track of rows

No one has yet suggested my favorite way of keeping count of rows,
especially on charted patterns.  Find a xerox machine with an enlarger, and
make lots of "blown-up" copies of the graph (I usually run one enlarged
copy, and then enlarge it again.)  Then you have big, easy-to-read row by
row charts.  I use a highlighter to mark off each row as I finish it; it's
always OBVIOUS what row I am working.  Right now I am knitting an Alice
Starmore vest with something like a 65 row repeat; I made one BIG copy of
the chart for each repeat, plus one for the swatch.  I just toss each sheet
into the recycling bin after I've marked off all the rows.  This seems
obvious, I know, but I suffered thru the back of my first intarsia sweater
until I figured it out.

        I don't think that there is such a thing as too many markers.  I too
use the coiless safety pins:  I think it's Maggie Righetti who suggests
using them to mark increases and decreases.  I do this religiously, and
though my pin-studded knitting looks quite odd, it is a lifesaver if you
pick up your knitting at odd moments.  I can count safety pins marching down
my sleeve, which makes it easy to see if I need to decrease on the current
row, and how decreases I've already finished.


        Nancy Lutz
        lutz@platon.econ.vt.edu

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