Rounds / Rows
Rounds and rows are the horizontal layers of stitches counted vertically in your knitting, referred to as rounds when working in circular fashion.
Explanation
Rounds (or rows when knitting flat) are the horizontal layers of stitches in your knitting. When knitting on circular needles, you knit in rounds, going around and around. When knitting flat back and forth, they are called rows. The number of rounds/rows determines the height of your knitting. In gauge, both stitches (horizontally) and rounds/rows (vertically) are measured per 10 cm.
Also known as: rnds, rows
Rounds versus rows
Working on circular or double-pointed needles, one full circuit is a round, and you end where you began. Working back and forth on straight needles, one pass is a row, and you turn the work at each end. Patterns switch between the two, and the instructions differ accordingly.
The distinction has practical consequences: stockinette worked in the round is knit every round, while worked flat it alternates knit and purl rows to produce the same fabric.
Keeping count
A row counter — mechanical or an app — costs less than ripping back. Click it once as you complete each round, always at the same moment, so the counter and the knitting never drift apart.
In patterned knitting it is often easier to count repeats than rounds: "three complete cable repeats" is far easier to verify after the fact than "36 rounds".
Common mistakes
- Confusing round counts with row counts when a pattern moves between working in the round and working flat.
- Clicking the counter before the round is actually complete.
Keywords
- rows
- rounds
- row count
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a round and a row?
A round is one full circuit when knitting in the round. A row is one pass when knitting flat. Two rows correspond roughly to one round in height.
How do I count rows without a counter?
In stockinette, count the "V" shapes stacked vertically in a single column of stitches. In garter stitch, count the ridges and double the number, since each ridge is two rows.