My Row Counter: Knit & Crochet

Android Only

Free· User Rating

What I would consider before moving my projects into it

The important question is not just whether it counts

Almost any basic counter can increase a number when I tap the screen. The more useful question is whether the app helps me recover from interruptions and understand where I am in a pattern. For a simple scarf with a repeating stitch, a physical clicker may be enough. For a garment with shaping, a chart, or several sections, I need more than a number. I need a way to connect that number with the instructions I am following.

That is where this app makes its strongest case. Its toolset includes pattern import, a timer, and a highlighter, so the experience is closer to a project companion than a standalone counter. I can use the counter for rows, the timer for a focused session, and the highlighter to keep my eyes on the current line. None of those tools replaces good pattern notation or careful counting, but together they reduce the number of small decisions I have to make while working.

I also look at how much effort it takes to begin. A counter is only useful if I can open it quickly when I am already holding needles or a hook. The app is most appealing when I have an ongoing project that deserves a little structure. If I only need to count ten rows once, setting up a digital project may feel like more work than using a paper tally. That distinction matters: this is designed for repeat use, not merely for solving one brief counting task.

My practical test: interruption, correction, and returning later

In a realistic evening scenario, I might sit down after dinner, work through several rows, stop to answer a message, and come back much later. The value of a digital counter is not that it makes the knitting faster. It is that it gives me a visible record of where I stopped. I can also use a timer when I want to know how long a session lasted, which is helpful when planning a project around short breaks rather than one long uninterrupted block.

Corrections are just as important as progress. I sometimes tap too quickly, count a row twice, or discover that I began from the wrong line. A good workflow needs to let me adjust rather than forcing me to abandon the project and start over. I found that I still need to pay attention when changing a count, especially if I am correcting several rows at once. The app can support my record, but it cannot determine whether the fabric in my hands matches the pattern.

My advice is to create a consistent habit from the first row: update the count at the same point every time, and use the pattern marker to show the line you are actually working on. That small discipline prevents the common problem of having a correct number paired with the wrong instruction. The app is most reliable when I treat it as a visual checkpoint, not as an automatic substitute for reading.

Pattern import is useful, but it changes the setup decision

The ability to bring a pattern into the same workspace is one of the features that separates this app from a basic counter. It means I do not necessarily have to keep switching between a document and a counter. For long patterns, that can make a noticeable difference because the current line and the current row are easier to connect mentally.

There is a trade-off, though. Importing a pattern requires a little preparation, and not every pattern begins life in a format that is equally convenient to use on a phone. A printed pattern may still be faster to annotate by hand. A complex chart may also be easier to understand on a larger tablet or on paper, particularly if I need to see several symbols at once. I would use the import and highlighter for text-heavy instructions and repeat sections, while keeping a physical or larger-screen reference nearby for dense charts.

A useful workflow is to mark the exact place where I begin rather than importing a pattern and assuming the app will organize the project for me. I can identify the section, note the starting row, and then use the highlighter only to move forward. That avoids a subtle mistake: highlighting a line can show where I am reading, but it does not prove that I completed the line correctly.

The timer has a purpose beyond curiosity

I initially thought a timer would be secondary, and for many users it will be. However, it becomes useful when I am trying to understand my own pace. If a project is taking longer than expected, a few timed sessions can show whether the issue is the pattern, the yarn, frequent interruptions, or simply an unrealistic estimate. That information helps me plan future evenings more honestly.

I would not treat the timer as a productivity contest. Fiber crafts are often relaxing precisely because they are not rushed. The better use is comparing similar sessions: perhaps how much of a repetitive section I complete while listening to a podcast, or how long a particular motif takes when I am still learning it. The result is personal planning information, not a performance score.

Where this app wins, and where another approach may fit better

It wins when one project has several moving parts

The strongest reason to choose this app is the way its tools sit together. A physical counter handles the number, a notebook handles notes, and a phone document holds the pattern, but switching among them creates friction. Here, the counter, timer, pattern view, and highlighter belong to one craft-focused environment. For a project with repeats, shaping, or multiple sections, that consolidation is genuinely helpful.

It is also a good match for people who lose track after interruptions. I often remember the general area of a project but not the exact line, especially when I put it down for several days. A saved digital workspace gives me a better chance of resuming without reconstructing the whole sequence. That is a less obvious benefit than the row count, but it is the feature that could make the app stick.

Another advantage is portability. A phone is usually already nearby, so I do not need a separate counter, notebook, and timer on the arm of my chair. That is convenient for projects that travel between rooms or come with me outside the house. The convenience is greatest when I already prefer digital patterns. If I work almost entirely from printed pages, the advantage becomes smaller.

It is not automatically better than a physical counter

A simple mechanical counter has virtues this app cannot reproduce. It is immediate, tactile, and does not compete with notifications or a dimming screen. I can use it with gloves, in bright sunlight, or in a place where I do not want to handle my phone. It also has almost no setup. For a repetitive project where I only need to advance one number, the physical option may be the calmer choice.

The phone-based approach introduces its own distractions. I may open the app intending to count one row and then notice another notification. The display also becomes part of the craft setup, which can be awkward if my phone is needed for music, a video tutorial, or a pattern from another source. I would not recommend moving every project into the app simply because it has more features. The best tool depends on whether those features reduce work or add another screen to manage.

Compared with notes, spreadsheets, and generic counters

A notes app is flexible and familiar, but it usually makes me design my own system. I might type “row 24,” add a reminder, and paste a pattern, yet I still have to decide how to organize corrections and where to place the next marker. A spreadsheet offers even more control, but it is excessive for most casual projects and can feel disconnected from the physical act of knitting or crocheting.

A generic tally counter is faster for a single number but does not address pattern navigation. My Row Counter is more specialized, which is both its advantage and its limitation. The specialization gives me tools that make sense for yarn work, but it also means I would not choose it for tracking exercise, household tasks, or arbitrary repeated actions. This is a craft tool, and its value depends on actually needing craft-specific organization.

Who should probably skip it

I would skip it if I rarely lose my place, use only very short patterns, or strongly prefer paper. Someone who enjoys the tactile click of a physical counter may find the phone interface less satisfying. I would also hesitate if my main requirement is a very large chart view. A phone can be convenient, but screen size matters when instructions contain numerous symbols or several columns that need to remain visible together.

It may also be the wrong choice for a beginner who expects the app to teach every stitch or interpret a pattern automatically. The tools help me manage instructions; they do not replace learning standard abbreviations, checking gauge, or understanding the construction of a piece. I still need to know what I am making and recognize when the fabric does not look right.

The cost of switching is mostly organizational

Because the app is free to download, the main cost of trying it is not financial. It is the time spent deciding which projects to create, importing patterns, and building a habit around updating the counter. Optional purchases are available, with individual items priced from $0.99 to $14.99, so I would explore the free experience first and only pay for something that solves a problem I actually have.

Switching is easiest when I start with one active project rather than moving an entire collection at once. I would choose a pattern that is long enough to benefit from a highlighter but not so important that a learning curve creates anxiety. After a few sessions, I could tell whether the digital workflow is genuinely reducing mistakes or merely duplicating my notebook.

There is also a backup habit worth keeping: write down the project’s current section and row somewhere separate before making a major correction. That is not a criticism unique to this app; it is sensible protection whenever a digital record becomes the only place I track progress. The more complicated the project, the more valuable a short written checkpoint becomes.

My recommendation for different kinds of makers

For a knitter or crocheter who regularly works from downloaded patterns, starts several projects, or gets interrupted often, I think this is an easy app to try. The combination of counter, pattern handling, highlighter, and timer makes it more useful than its name initially suggests. I especially like it for projects where losing one row can affect shaping later, because a clear progress record helps me resume with less guesswork.

For occasional makers working on a single uncomplicated item, I would make the decision based on convenience. If the phone is already beside the project, the app can replace several small tools. If opening and configuring an app feels like a chore, a paper mark or physical counter may be more satisfying and just as effective.

My final view is favorable, but practical rather than enthusiastic for its own sake. This is not a magic solution for pattern mistakes, and it cannot make a complicated chart simple. What it does well is gather several small pieces of project management into one place. With a 4.8 average and more than a million installs, it is clearly established enough to deserve consideration, while its Everyone rating and free entry point make experimentation straightforward.

I would recommend starting with one real project, setting the counter carefully, and using the highlighter as a reading aid rather than proof of completion. If that routine helps you return to your work without asking, “Where was I?”, then the app has earned its place. If you prefer paper, tactile controls, or large charts, keep those alternatives; the best choice is the one that keeps your hands on the craft and your progress easy to trust.

Pros

Tracks knitting and crochet rows with simple tap controls.
Supports multiple projects and keeps progress organized.
Customizable counters suit different patterns and techniques.
Helpful reminders can reduce the risk of losing your place.
Useful for beginners and experienced crafters alike.

Cons

Some advanced features may require a paid subscription.
The interface can feel crowded on smaller phone screens.
Manual tapping is still needed after every completed row.
Cloud syncing may be limited depending on the selected plan.
Ads can interrupt the experience for users on the free version.

FAQ

What is My Row Counter: Knit & Crochet used for?

My Row Counter: Knit & Crochet is designed to help knitters and crocheters keep track of rows, rounds, repeats, and project progress. Instead of relying on paper notes or trying to remember where you stopped, you can create digital project records and update counters as you work. It is useful for garments, blankets, amigurumi, accessories, and other patterns that require accurate counting.

Can I use the app for both knitting and crochet projects?

Yes. The app is intended for both knitting and crochet, so it can be used with a wide variety of patterns and techniques. You can create separate projects, assign counters, and track progress according to the structure of your work. Whether you are counting rows, rounds, pattern repeats, or sections, the app provides a more organized alternative to manually recording every step.

Does My Row Counter work with PDF patterns or printed instructions?

The app can be used alongside your existing patterns, including instructions viewed on your device or printed materials. Its main purpose is to track your progress rather than replace the pattern itself. Depending on the version and available features, you may be able to organize project information and keep notes together, but you should still check the current app listing to confirm document, pattern-import, or annotation support.

Is My Row Counter: Knit & Crochet free to download?

The application may be available to download at no initial cost, but some tools or advanced functions can depend on in-app purchases, subscriptions, or the specific platform version. Before installing, review the Google Play Store or Apple App Store listing for the latest pricing details. If you only need basic counting, the free features may be sufficient, while frequent crafters may find premium options more useful.

Is the app suitable for beginners as well as experienced crafters?

Yes. Beginners can benefit from a simple digital counter because it reduces the chance of losing track of rows while learning a new pattern. Experienced knitters and crocheters may appreciate having multiple projects, counters, reminders, and notes in one place. However, the app cannot interpret every pattern automatically, so users still need to understand their instructions and decide what each counter should represent.