How to Master Counting Rounds in Crochet
Learning how to count rounds in crochet is an important skill to master. You may be making a small bowl or a larger item like a shawl or a rug, whether your project is large or mini, you need to make sure your count is correct throughout your work.
The importance of this skill is undervalued. Knowing how many rounds you have at any point in the project gives you confidence in knowing that your project will turn out as expected, that if you make a mistake you are more likely to find where it is and finally you are sure you’re following the instructions for the correct round.
Counting rounds in crochet is very similar to how to count crochet rows but with an added layer of difficulty as we tend to add extra stitches to keep the circle in shape which affects how the stitches appear.
This article will guide you through how to master identifying your rounds and how to count them with confidence. Let’s get started!
How to Count Rounds
Identifying Rounds
The difficult part of counting rounds, much like counting rows, is learning how to identify where one round ends and the next begins vertically. Once you have figured it out, counting up your rounds will become super easy and quick.
As mentioned above, when working in rounds, we tend to add extra stitches to each round at the beginning of a project in order to keep the round shape flat. This can skew our perception of which round is which and cause confusion.
To help out, I've created a small sample of a flat circle in the three most confusing basic crochet stitches below using alternating colours to show the difference between them and how they appear in the round.
If you are turning your your work after every round then you may want to refer to my article on how to count crochet rows, which shows photos of what the stitches look like on the wrong side as well as the right side.
Rounds in Single Crochet (UK Double)
We will start with the single crochet stitch or the UK double crochet. This is the hardest stitch to count up in rounds as they are small and difficult to differentiate.
First you must identify the stitches so that you know where the top and bottom of the round is. For single crochet stitches, we look out for a small but distinctive V shape, each stitch will have this.
In the photo below, I have highlighted a V shape for one single crochet stitch and, next to it, two single crochet stitches that are together.
You can use this V shape as your marker for each round. Simply find the Vs and count them up, starting from the middle to the edge of your work, to find out how many rounds you have.
Rounds in Half Double Crochet (UK Half Treble)
Half double crochet stitches can be easier to identify but also a little tricker because we are not just looking for a V shape anymore. The stitch is taller than the single crochet and so there is an added section above the V that we need to lookout for. I have highlighted some of them in the photo below for clarity.
One arrow points to one half double crochet stitch and the other points to two stitches together. The half double begins with a V shape but also has a singular twist of yarn which marks the top of the stitch and thus the round.
Be careful here as sometimes the V shapes become compressed and aren’t as visible as when counting single crochet stitches.
Rounds in Double Crochet (UK Treble)
The double crochet stitch or the UK treble is slightly longer still than the half double. As the stitches get longer they become a little easier to identify. Again we are looking for the distinctive V shape at the bottom of the stitch but also the double crochet has two twists of yarn above, as highlighted in the photo below.
Using the V shape as the bottom of the stitch and the two twists as the top of the stitch it is easy to identify each round and count them up super quickly.
Other Ways to Count Rounds in Crochet
Identifying each round by the shape of the stitches can sometimes be tricky. You may not be working with alternating colours to make it easy and you may not be able to find the V shape at all! Don’t worry! There are a few other ways you can keep track of your rounds.
Count the Indentations
You may have noticed already that in between each round, there is a slight indentation. When working under both loops of each stitch or the front loop only, you will find this indentation after each round. You could use this to easily count up how many rounds you have. See the photo below for clarity.
If you are not working under both loops and are working the back loop only, you will have a line instead of an indentation, so it works similarly. Just count up the lines to find how many rounds you have.
Count Your Rounds with a Row Counter
A really great way to keep track of your rounds is to use a row counter. I know they are usually used for counting stitches but they can also be used for keeping track of your rounds. Every time you work a round, add it to your row count number. Easy!
This is my favourite row counter which is made from stainless steel which means it will last a long time and is available in black which make it looks really sleek. Rainbow colour is also available :)
Count Them with Stitch Markers
You’ve probably got some stitch markers so why not use them to count your rounds too. I like to mark my rounds in the middle of the round so that they don’t get confused with end of round markers and markers for joins.
Half way through the round, simply attach a stitch marker and then you can count them up really quickly whenever you want to check your rounds.
If you don’t have enough stitch markers you can also use paper clips like I do :) or you could simply use another coloured piece of yarn :)
Count Them with a Ruler
You could also use a ruler to count up your rounds. Just a bit of warning here that this method isn’t completely accurate and it is easy to make mistakes. Your tension may change during the course of the project and so your calculations may be wrong.
However, if you want to give it a try, you can measure your stitches and use the measurement as a guide to where your stitches begin and end.
For example, if your treble crochet stitch measures 1cm in height, you could measure your work to find how many centimetres it measures in total, then divide the total by the height of your stitches. If your work measures 10cm and your stitch height is 1cm then you can guess that you have made 10 rounds.
If you have any questions about counting your rounds in crochet just pop them in the comments below and I will be happy to help out.
Happy counting!
