Row counter that understands knitting charts

The idea

A sweater pattern is not a number, it is a structure: row 47 overall, row 3 of a 12-row chart repeat, fourth repeat, while also decreasing every 6th row at each end. Existing counter apps offer a tally button, so knitters run three counters in parallel and sticky-note the shaping rules, and one interrupted row means twenty minutes of forensic stitch-counting.

The wedge is modelling the pattern, not the taps. Nested, linked counters plus at-the-same-time alarms turn the phone into the thing that remembers the structure. It is a data-model insight, not a technology one, which is why the incumbents (mostly hobby projects) have not done it.

Who pays

The buyer is a serious knitter who pays 5 to 12 dollars per pattern without blinking and has been burned by losing their place in a 60 dollar sweater quantity of yarn. One-time 8 dollar unlock, no subscription, because this audience is loudly subscription-hostile. Distribution through Ravelry forums, r/knitting, and knitting podcasters on YouTube, who review tools constantly.

MVP scope

• Projects with pieces, sections, and nested linked counters
• Repeat-aware counting that auto-wraps and tracks repeat number
• At-the-same-time shaping alarms with vibration
• Lock-screen or widget plus-one so mid-row taps need no unlock
• One-time unlock via RevenueCat, one free project before the paywall
• Skip for v1: chart image parsing, PDF pattern import, social features, Ravelry sync

Build RowKeeper, a React Native (Expo) app for knitters working charted or multi-piece patterns. Existing counter apps are dumb tally buttons; this one models pattern structure.

Data model: a Project contains Pieces (front, back, sleeve x2), each Piece contains Sections (ribbing, chart A, decreases), each Section has a row target and can contain nested Counters: current row, row-within-repeat (auto-wraps at the repeat length and increments a repeat counter), and independent stitch-marker counters. Counters can be linked so one tap advances the row and the repeat position together.

Add At The Same Time alarms: attach a rule like every 6th row, decrease at each end to a Section; when the main counter hits a matching row, show a full-width banner and vibrate until acknowledged.

Screens: Projects list, Project Detail with per-piece progress bars, Active Counting (huge tap targets, whole lower half of screen is plus-one, long-press to undo), Section editor.

Ship a lock-screen or home-screen widget with a plus-one button so mid-row taps never require unlocking, and keep the screen awake during counting sessions. All data local with iCloud/Android backup.

Monetisation via RevenueCat: free tier allows 1 project; a one-time 8 dollar unlock removes the limit. No subscription, no accounts.