In an effort to be more economical I’ve stopped printed out the patterns that I’m working on. Doing that uses so much paper and ink. So I’ve been using the notes app in my phone to keep track of where I am and I store the pattern in the book app. This works great for most projects. It’s not working so well for the cowl though. My way of keeping track of where I am is by mimicking the pattern so for example I’ll write “Color A: 1, 2” so that I know I’ve completed each row with that color. This pattern repeats the color and rows over and over and some are the same. I may have repeated a section or maybe skipped one or two. I’m not sure. Flipping back and forth between the apps on the same device makes it difficult to have a true side by side comparison. Add in holding the cowl and trying to count sections. Yup, I’m lost. Today I’ll be figuring out where I am and, if I did mess up, getting things back in order. Good grief! I’m always getting in my own way!
Do you do things like this to yourself? Am I the only one who ends up in these situations?
NothingButKnit 
I find that I understand paper patterns better, so I print it out. Sometimes I’ll jot the repeats on an index card.
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I like having a printed copy of the pattern, so I can make notes on it and check off rows and sections as I finish. Sounds like your method is better for the environment and ink budget, and can work for simple projects. But maybe the paper is needed for your current project? Good luck getting it straightened out.
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I try not to print patterns out, but if it’s something really new or complex color work, I print. The same with quilt blocks, I try to not print.
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You are not the only one.
I end up second guessing myself or overthinking half of the time. I get myself into a fallacy or illogical cycle… I think that they think… then I think they know what I’m thinking so they changed … but if they thought that would think they were thinking that then they wouldn’t … to throw me off…. it’s a terrible rendition of the Princess Bride poison cup scene… check it out for a dorky laugh. I butchered it… but alas, in short you are not the only one. Maybe see if your phone or tablet will allow dual screen or split screens? Some allow two things open and displaying at the same time. Not sure if that’s what I was reading. I know a lot about fiber – not so much about knitting besides knit or purl. 😉 Hope fall is treating you well as it slowly comes in (here anyway). I did that with my story… I had to walk back and make sure I didn’t forget something and had to make a note in my planner to keep it all straight.
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I’m a paper pattern person 🙂
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Digital never works for me. I always print my patterns out, and wind up writing all over them during the course of the knitting. I figure ink and paper are just part of the price of the garment.
I do write on them using pencil, though, and often knit the same garment more than once, especially kids’ stuff, so I’m only printing out once and using the same papers again and again.
Evelyn
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you are not alone. I do it all the time. Knitting group was making fun of me (as we do) just last night. lol.
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Only on days that end in “y.”
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You are definitely not the only one! I have done this too. I am also a paper pattern person, and usually make notes on it to indicate where I am. Sometimes if there are a lot of repeats of something though, I get overconfident and don’t make adequate notes, and then I’m figuring out where I am 🙂
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Sometimes I print out the pattern or just use the downloaded version on my iPad. My phone is just too small for me to use a pattern that way. I also keep a notebook with the pattern details as a permanent record making ticks for each row. I can still get lost.
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I couldn’t begin to cope with just digital. I even had to abandon a digital row counter because I kept accidentally setting it back to zero. Paper works so much better for me!
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Not sure what platform you’re on when you say you’re using the Books app to store the pattern, but on the Apple Books, you can annotate PDF content with highlighters, write notes directly on the page, or swipe over a word or sentence, highlight it and then choose to add a note which opens up a separate sheet but still within the Books app. If you’ve got an iPAd and pencil it’s easy, on my iPhone X with my finger it’s harder, but not so bad as to be impractical. Hope that’s some useful information.
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Thanks! I had no idea. I’m using an iPhone so I should be able to do just that.
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I use the app on my android called bee knit. I can set it up to count rows, colors, pattern sections or whatever I need to keep track of. Saves me from keeping tallies on a sheet of paper. When I print out a pattern I only print out the part I have to have………like a chart. Case in point, I just purchased a pattern that is 28 pages long. The chart for it is on 2 pages. Only the chart got printed.
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Correction, the Android app is call “beecount”
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I’m old fashioned and like paper. I don’t sweat the printing cost. I know it’s there and if the digital content gets lost, then I have the physical copy. Plus, and here’s a great argument in favor of paper, it’s less screen time stress on the eyes.
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Me, me, me!!!! I do digital patterns and I am always getting lost! But I keep doing it. LOL
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I’ve done it each time I’ve tried to just use my phone for the pattern. I think I’m stuck with printing the patterns.
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That’s why I’ve mostly been making small and/or simple things lately 😅 I was also super conscious of how much paper and ink I was using. So I’m just using my phone and editing the patterns directly on books to make notes so that I don’t have to switch between apps.
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I write out the pattern if it’s a scarf, but print when I’m making anything bigger. Here’s a device I wear on my thumb to keep count of lines when I’m knitting something complicated: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01DR4T1JG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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I also print patterns and make notes, but I’m going to try the iPad thing!
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I go back and forth – recently I’ve been using more digital because I’ve been too lazy to get more ink. I use the KnitCompanion app on my iPad. The free version has a lot of good stuff like being able to download directly from Ravelry, several counters, and a sliding row highlight which I love for charts.
https://www.knitcompanion.com/
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I use Knit Companion. Well, I haven’t used it since my tablet died, but I like having a pattern handy.
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I’m a paper pattern person all the way.
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Paper patterns – and magnet strips to keep track of rows. Not having internet at home limits my choices, too. And I have piles of knitting magazines; they are often my source of patterns. (And are paper.)
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I used to use my phone for patterns too but now I print them out. I already have my phone on for the stitch counter.
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Two words. Paper Pencil. Lol
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I print out patterns, then mark with pencil. If I use it again I erase marks and start over. Cannot keep track on a device, wish I could.
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I have a very hard time with online patterns but I’ve been forced into them due to our printer not moving across the country intact. We haven’t replaced it yet so I am adjusting. lol But I keep Postits and pencils with my knitting at all times to keep track of things when I’m working with online patterns. I guess that would be a happy compromise – alot less paper and ink used, but still something tangible to help out without having to back and forth between apps. 🙂
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I use the free version of knit companion. As long as I move the row marker, it always remembers where I am. It’s brilliant!
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