Tracking Repeats – Ideas for Keeping Your Place in the Chart
- Shaina Scott
- 19 minutes ago
- 2 min read
When you’re working on a lace or cable project — especially something with a detailed motif like the Clematis Scarf — keeping track of where you are in the chart can make the difference between smooth, meditative knitting and hours spent unraveling tiny mistakes.
Whether you’re a chart-reading pro or just starting out, here are a few tried-and-true methods for tracking your repeats so you can knit with confidence.
1. Use Highlighter Tape
Highlighter tape is a knitter’s best friend. This repositionable, low-tack tape lets you mark your current row without obscuring the chart symbols. Move it up as you go, and you’ll always know exactly where to start.
Pro tip: Choose a bright color that contrasts with your chart for maximum visibility.
2. Row Counters (Digital or Analog)
A simple row counter — whether it’s a clicker, a phone app, or a tally on paper — is perfect for keeping track of how many rows you’ve worked in a repeat. This works especially well for charts with predictable sequences where you just need to know your row number.
3. Magnetic Chart Keepers
These foldable boards hold your chart flat and use magnetic strips to highlight your current row. They’re portable, durable, and keep your chart from getting crumpled in your project bag.
4. Annotating the Chart
Sometimes, writing notes directly onto your chart is the best approach. Circle repeats, jot down stitch counts, or mark where you tend to make mistakes. Over time, these annotations become a personal roadmap for your knitting.
5. Lifelines for Safety
Even with careful tracking, mistakes happen. Adding a lifeline — a contrasting piece of yarn or thread run through the live stitches — means you can easily rip back to a “safe point” if something goes wrong. Lifelines are especially handy for complex lace charts.
6. Sticky Notes or Washi Tape
If you don’t have highlighter tape, sticky notes or washi tape work just as well. Bonus: washi tape comes in fun colors and patterns, so your project notes can be just as pretty as your knitting.
Which Method is Best?
There’s no single “right” way — the best method is the one that works for your brain and knitting style. You might even combine several, like using highlighter tape for row tracking and a row counter for repeats.
💡 Want to practice your tracking skills? The Clematis Scarf is a perfect project to try them out on, with both charted and written instructions to support you.
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