A physical row counter is easy to knock off the sofa and lose your place. This browser counter does the same job, remembers your position between sessions, and adds repeat tracking and a live progress percentage so you always know exactly where you are in a pattern.
How it works
The counter keeps a single running total of completed rows. Two derived numbers help you stay oriented when a pattern repeats a block of rows:
rows remaining = max(0, target − current)
percent done = current / target × 100
repeat number = floor((current − 1) / repeatLen) + 1
row in repeat = ((current − 1) mod repeatLen) + 1The current − 1 offset means that while you are working row 1 the tool reports
“repeat 1, row 1”, and crossing a repeat boundary advances the repeat number
exactly when your chart restarts.
Where the repeat counter saves you
Many knitting patterns use repeating blocks: a 12-row cable cycle, an 8-row lace chart, a 4-row stripe sequence. Without tracking your position in the repeat, you have to count backward from your current row every time you pick up the needles. Setting the repeat length lets the counter always tell you “you are on row 3 of repeat 5 of your 12-row cable”, which means you know exactly which row of the chart to follow next.
For example: a pattern has a 12-row cable repeat and you need to work 84 rows total. You are on row 37. Without a counter, you would divide 37 by 12 and work out the remainder. With the counter set to repeat 12, it shows: “repeat 4, row 1” — you have just started a new cable cycle.
Tips for real-world use
One counter per project piece. Garments usually have separate pieces — front, back, sleeves — with different row counts. Use the reset button when you move to a new piece, then set the target and repeat for that piece specifically.
Correcting miscounts. The minus button undoes one row at a time without resetting everything. If you realise you miscounted three rows ago, tap minus three times — the repeat position corrects itself automatically.
Working in rounds. The counter works identically for circular knitting and crochet. Each press of plus counts one round or one row; there is no distinction between flat and in-the-round from the counter’s perspective.
Picking up mid-project. Because the count is stored in your browser’s localStorage, you can close the tab, return days later, and find the counter exactly where you left it. The state persists until you clear your browser’s site data or press reset.
Sharing progress. The percentage-done display makes it easy to answer the classic knitting group question “how far along are you?” — you can say “62% through my shawl” without counting rows manually.