Abacus-Style Beaded Row Counter

By Suzi Anvin

Detailed instructions:

Recall that the beads have the following values:

• Each green bead represents one completed row
• Each pink bead represents five completed rows
• Each blue bead represents 25 completed rows
• Each silver bead represents 100 completed rows

To count your first row, move one green bead from the bottom up to the loop at the top:

Your counter now shows 1 row. You would repeat this process for each of your first 4 rows. For example, moving onto row 3, you would move your third green bead to the center loop:

After completing 4 rows, you will have no green beads left. You need to first return your 4 green beads back to the bottom of the counter then move up one pink bead to represent your 5th row:

You would then move your next green bead as usual for your next row (#6):

Repeat this process every time all 4 green beads are on the upper loop of the counter. For example, to move from 14 rows to 15 rows, you would do this:

After completing 24 rows, you will have all 4 green beads and all 4 pink beads in the upper loop of the counter. To count your 25th row, you will need to return your pink beads and your green beads to the bottom of the counter, and move up one blue bead:

Repeat this process every time you need to move a blue bead.

The process is similar for moving up a silver bead. When you reach 99 rows, all your green, pink and blue beads will be at the top of the counter. Return them to the bottom of the counter and move up one silver bead to mark your 100th row:

Repeat all the steps above as needed to count up to 599 rows.