Held Stitch Tracker

How Held Stitch Tracker Works?

The Held Stitch Tracker works by recording Stitches on Hold for each group of stitches resting on waste yarn, a holder or a spare cable. Holder Location numbers each holder.

1. 1

   Move stitches to hold

   Slip the stitches onto waste yarn or a holder as the pattern says.

2. 2

   Count the held stitches

   Tap the count pad or press Space for each stitch, or use Step by 10.

3. 3

   Number the holder

   Press → to give each holder a number, for example 1 for the left underarm and 2 for the right.

4. 4

   Note the total

   Write the count on a tag tied to the holder for a second record.

Held Stitch Tracker Formula

The Held Stitch Tracker formula is live stitches on the needle = total stitches − stitches on hold. When you return to the held stitches, add them back to the count.

Live stitches

Live = total − H

H is Stitches on Hold.

Total on hold

H = h₁ + h₂ + … + hₙ

Add every holder.

Stitches after return

After = live + returned

Returned is the stitches moved back to the needle.

Worked example: A yoke of 288 stitches that holds 48 stitches for each sleeve has 288 − 96 = 192 live body stitches.

Held Stitch Tracker Conversion Table

The Held Stitch Tracker conversion table lists typical held stitch counts for 5 garment parts in worsted yarn.

Use smooth cotton waste yarn in a contrast colour so the stitches are easy to pick back up.

What is Held Stitch Tracker?

A Held Stitch Tracker is a tool that records stitches set aside on holders for later use. Sweaters, mittens and pockets put live stitches on hold while other parts are knitted.

Held stitches can sit for days or weeks. A saved count tells you how many stitches to pick back up and protects against a dropped stitch going unnoticed.

The Stitches Counter tool saves the held count and holder number in your browser.

What are the uses of Held Stitch Tracker?

There are 4 main uses of the Held Stitch Tracker, including sleeves, thumbs and neckbands.

• Sleeves

  Hold sleeve stitches at a top-down yoke split.

• Thumbs

  Hold thumb stitches on mittens.

• Neckbands

  Hold centre neck stitches.

• Pockets

  Hold pocket stitches for an afterthought pocket.