Counting if you have a lot of stitches to cast on can be a challenge. Losing count, worrying if you counted correctly, counting several times just to make sure. It can be enough to drive you batty!

There’s a way to make it all easier.

Stitch Markers

Put a stitch marker every so many stitches. I usually do every 25 or so. Just pick a number that’s relatively small and easy for you to count by (as in 25, 50, 75, etc.).

Choose a stitch marker that’s thin so it doesn’t create space in your cast on. I use these hair elastics because they’re cheap, readily available, and super-thin. You can read all about them in the post One Marker to Rule Them All.

Unless your cast on is evenly divisible by your count, your last set will be less or more than 25. That’s fine – just remember that.

How to Count

Once you’re done, take one more count but just count every group as 25 (or whatever number you used). And remember that the last group may be a bit more or less.

What It Looks Like When You’re Done

You’ll have lots of stitch markers in your cast on row. Don’t let it bother you. Just remember to take them out during your first row of knitting. You won’t need them – it was just for counting.

And yes, I do count the stitches when working my first row. It’s similar to that old adage “measure twice, cut once”.