Beginner Crochet•Tutorial

How to Count Crochet Stitches and Rows

Learn how to identify stitch tops, count rows, use markers, and avoid the most common counting mistakes in straight and circular crochet.

By CrochetIndex EditorialUpdated 2026-10-21

LevelBeginner

TypeTutorial

Learn in10–15 minutes

Updated2026-10-21

Follow the written lesson for each stitch. US crochet terms are used unless stated otherwise.

Quick answer

Count stitches by the V-shaped loops along the working edge. Count rows by identifying horizontal layers or stitch posts, using the stitch structure that matches the pattern.

Quick reference

Mini lesson sheet

Keep each complete first instruction alongside the accompanying reference illustration.

Step 1

Lay the work flat in good light and identify the working edge.

Step 2

Count each top V as one stitch when the row uses standard stitches.

Step 3

Check whether the turning chain counts as a stitch in your specific pattern.

Step 4

For rows, identify repeated horizontal layers or stitch-post levels from bottom to top.

Step 5

Place a marker every 10 or 20 stitches on wide pieces to make recounting faster.

Step 6

For rounds, mark the first stitch of every round before continuing.

How to Count Crochet Stitches and Rows practice sheet preview

Stitch reference

Follow the stitch instructions for each step.

Use this section as a fast visual check before you work through the full steps.

Use this as a quick check before the full lesson.
Keep it nearby while you practice the stitch or technique.

What you should see

Finished result

Final outcome

Crochet technique image for How to Count Crochet Stitches and Rows

Key facts

The live loop on the hook is not a completed stitch

Turning-chain rules vary by pattern

Markers are especially useful in continuous spiral rounds

In practice

Details that prevent common beginner mistakes

Find the real stitch tops

Count top V shapes, not turning chains or joining slips unless the pattern explicitly counts them. Place a marker in the first stitch of a continuous round to avoid shifting the starting point.

Step by step

How to do it

Step 1 image
01
Step 1
Lay the work flat in good light and identify the working edge.
Step 2 image
02
Step 2
Count each top V as one stitch when the row uses standard stitches.
Step 3 image
03
Step 3
Check whether the turning chain counts as a stitch in your specific pattern.
Step 4 image
04
Step 4
For rows, identify repeated horizontal layers or stitch-post levels from bottom to top.
Step 5 image
05
Step 5
Place a marker every 10 or 20 stitches on wide pieces to make recounting faster.
Step 6 image
06
Step 6
For rounds, mark the first stitch of every round before continuing.

Useful tips

Make it easier

Photograph a correctly counted row with markers in place if the stitch texture is difficult to read later.
Count before and after shaping rows.
For a plain sc swatch, chain 11 and sc in the second chain from the hook and the remaining 9 chains: your first row has 10 sc. The live loop is not stitch 11.

Common mistakes

What usually goes wrong

Counting the loop on the hook
Counting a turning chain automatically
Missing the last stitch because it leans toward the edge

Frequently asked

Questions about how to count crochet stitches and rows

How do you count crochet stitches?+

Count the V-shaped stitch tops along the working edge, starting after any turning chain that the pattern says does not count as a stitch. Mark the first and last real stitch when the edges are hard to see.

How do you count rows in crochet?+

Identify each horizontal layer of stitches or the repeating stitch posts for the stitch pattern you are using. Count complete rows from the foundation edge to the working edge.

Does the turning chain count as a crochet stitch?+

It depends on the pattern and stitch. Some turning chains count as the first stitch and others do not, so use the pattern convention consistently before counting the row.

Why does my crochet stitch count keep changing?+

The usual cause is missing or adding the first or last stitch of a row. Stitch markers at both edges make accidental increases and decreases easier to catch.

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