Twice Sheared Sheep | PDXKnitterati

Have you ever had a knitting pattern tell you to increase or decrease a number of stitches evenly over a row or round, but not tell you how? Or have you designed or adapted something for yourself, and struggled to get your increase or decrease round to work out?

I’m a fan of this online knitting calculator from Worldknits. Alex Capshaw-Taylor is the generous soul behind this site, and it is super helpful to me right now!

More about numbers: I’m pretty distracted lately, and my handy barrel counter/stitch marker isn’t getting the job done for me. I sail past it, and then I can’t remember if I turned the number. Usually I can read my knitting and figure it out, but sometimes that’s not easy.

two kinds of row counters on a background of entrelac knitting

Both of these row counters show that I’ve finished two rounds of ribbing.

knitting row counter from Twice Sheared Sheep

When I move this chain marker from one needle to the other, I’m also changing to the next number. Now I know that I’ve advanced the counter.

There’s a little extra clip to mark the tens, so this can count from zero to 99. The clip requires a little squeeze to make sure it doesn’t slip off. The row counter is available as a straight chain, as well as this circular chain. I chose the circular chain because it doesn’t dangle as far down my knitting. I don’t want it to be a cat toy!

This row counter was a gift to me from Twice Sheared Sheep. Search for row counters on that page, and you’ll see them all, straight or circular, with various charms. (The link is an affiliate link, so if you order through it, I earn a small commission.) I like it so much that I’m planning to order a second one, this time with a sea turtle charm.

I first encountered Twice Sheared Sheep at Vogue Knitting Live in New York last year. They had goodie bags for the teachers, and I eventually used the cat clip stitch markers in my Jelly Jewels jewelry organizer. They were exactly what I needed before I even dreamt of this project.

cat clip stitch markers on assigned pooling knit fabric

I enjoy well-made products that get the job done, especially if they’re pretty, too.

How do you like to track your work? Have you ever used a chain counter like this one? I remember my Susan Bates peg counter, but I could never be sure that my pegs wouldn’t fall out!

Necessity is the mother of invention. I was frustrated by my box of tangled silver necklaces. Every time I wanted to wear one, I had to untangle the pile in my necklace box! Some problems can be solved by knitting, and this was a perfect opportunity.

Jelly Jewels are wall hangings designed to serve as a jewelry organizer.

They are knit in the round from the center out with fingering weight yarn, and feature assigned pooling
petals on a stockinette stitch background. Choose a yarn that is dyed for assigned pooling, with an accent color run of about 8-10”/20-25 cm long. One skein of pooling yarn is enough for five or more pieces, depending on what size you make. I used a skein of Cadillac Sock, colorway April in Paris, from Garage Dyeworks.

I used these Cat Clip stitch markers to hold my necklaces. The stitch markers are from Twice Sheared Sheep in the large size (affiliate link). Cute, and the ears help hold the stitch markers in the fabric. More information on the pattern page for Jelly Jewels.

The pattern includes video tutorials for the center out cast on, and for the assigned pooling petal motif. There’s also a written tutorial for blocking and finishing your Jelly Jewels.

The pattern is available through Ravelry, and also through Payhip. Use coupon code TANGY for 15% off the pattern through November 10, 2025.

Why are these called Jelly Jewels? I knit these at the coast, and the jellyfish reminded me of my knitting. Pictured: Knitting and Twin Rocks in background, Moon jelly, Lion’s Mane jelly.

Tidy is as tidy does!