Does anyone else do this?
 

When you are sewing on the machine does anyone else count the needle going up and down? I also if walking alone count my steps . In fact if a job is repetitive I am always counting in my head. It is not just started over60 time I've always done it. My great gran started it as a child and i just keep going.

I find myself counting steps and other miscellaneous things,actions. Never really thought about it. I don't remember counting stitches/ needle going up & down, but I bet I have/do on occasion. Funny the things we do without thinking about. :)

my sister (63) counts EVERYTHING! pulling weeds especially! I find myself (58) doing it too now. maybe it's an age thing.

I always thought I did this because of all the years of counting money at the bank. I count peeling vegetables, chopping them, etc. People really look at you weird when you tell them how many carrots are in the salad. LOL.
I've never counted the machine needle. But that's most likely cuz I can't really see it all that well.

A little OCD. Never knew I had it until talking to my psychiatrist. Explains a lot for me.

I have had this annoying habit forever. When my first child was born, my landlady had a "spin -dryer" washer. You put the clothes in the washer, they wash, then you put them in a little cylindrical tube and it spins the water out, then you put the clothes back in the washer to rinse, and then back to the spin.. you get the picture? Well, I had to count the diapers into the washer, into the spin, into the washer, into the spin, and he had tender skin so I had an extra rinse for Dia-soft, so into the washer for that and into the spin. Then that wasn't enough, I had to count them as I hung them on the line to dry, and off to the basket, when done and then as I folded them, or piled up the Dexters,( shaped diaper). So, I often to this day catch myself counting something or other, but haven't started on the needle ups and downs, oh my!
So, Kate's Nana, what causes a person to do this? Inquiring minds want to know.

I do the same thing. I blame it on knitting and crocheting and needing to keep count of the stitches. I even count during water arobics. I don't count the needle all the time , but if going slow on the machine, I do sometimes

I also count some things - like how many pea pods I've shelled, how many green beans I've cut up - but I usually only do it in increments of 100 or so - and then start over from one.

Never counted how many times my sewing machine needle goes up and down. I might count stitches when I hand quilt, though.

Have done this to some degree all my life! Thought I was a little nuts but I guess it's not that unusual. Thanks for making me feel better!

I don't now but I use to count everything from steps to paneling strips in a wall to how many bricks up to a window. Ugh. One day I was counting blooming flowers by color and thought why am I doing this, it's a waste of time and it feels like work I have to do. Whenever I started counting again I stopped myself and ignored the counts. After awhile the counting stopped. I just let it go and I noticed a lot of stress seem to go with it.

I remember counting step to school. I would lay in bed and count the dog breathing. Then one day, same as onebyone, I said, why am I counting. I'm getting the school and it's just as far even if the steps aren't always the same. At least the dog is breathing. Eventually I stopped. Glad I stopped before I moved and had to walk almost a mile to school.lol

I'm a counter also....rungs on a ladder, points on a star, window panes, petals on a flower. Are we obsessive or extremely organized??

No, I don't. I am concentrating on where I am going next when quilting.

I think counting is a stress reliever. If you are counting you can't think about what ever problem in your life is causing you stress. Your mind is free of it's worries, like counting sheep to fall asleep. I never stress if I loose track just start over.

I worked as a cashier at Walmart. I got over counting after work. The customers often looked at me because I didn't just hand over the money stated on the register. I actually counted the money backwards. I would check the drawer for new money and would crumple each new bill individually so they wouldn't stick together. I still do.

I've counted things on occasion. Stripes on a wall, bricks on the fireplace, cars going by, cat stripes, buttons on a dress, etc. :)

No, I have never done this, but I think it must be a form of daydreaming, just more concentrated on counting. I used to daydream about winning the lottery, would think about this all the time while cooking and cleaning. I never even bought a lottery ticket, that's what is so funny ! I have stopped all this daydreaming and concentrate more on the present and I am going to be 70 in October. I daydreamed all the time as a kid and young adult.

If I need to do a certain number of stitches, then turn and repeat, yes I do count.
Now I do count the basement stairs going up or down. Fell once on my back when being careless so I'm more careful now. of course I just broke my wrist in the back yard! If counting keeps your work going well, good for you and your Great Gran!

I don't do this but I did use this trick when I was a kid and got into the habit of blinking constantly. I rode the school bus and decided that I "couldn't" blink until I'd passed so many telephone poles. It worked and the habit was broken!

it sounds OCD to me. I've got so many other thingd to think of while walking, likeing trying not to fall over!!! or when sewing, trtying not to sew my finger !!! My mind is always racing a few steps ahead of my fingers or legs, so no, I don't count. I like wannabe, when bored think of winning the lottery and the things i'd do with the money.

Oooopps! I thought it was just me that did that.

I used to tend to count things by sevens. Finally traced it back to when i used to set the table and there were 7 place settings.

I don't count, but I break down words into 3 letter increments, like quilting board would be qui lti ngb oar d, and just keep going with more words! What does that make me?! An idiot probably!

Counting is often a way to manage anxiety. It keeps the mind occupied thereby warding off other thoughts.

Ahhhh....OCD creepin' in. I count everything!!! until I catch myself and then I move on. I have certain routines, like putting on underarm deodorant, that require a certain number of steps...I guess b.o disappears after 7 strokes of deodorant. I don't know why 7, but it's not 6 and it's not 8, it's 7. I have other OCD symptoms....but I do my best to ignore them without stressing over them.

I don't count the stitches but I find myself counting the cut pieces for a quilt too many times. If I need 144 pieces, I may count my 12 per stack several times.

I also count everything. Yes, it is probably OCD, but it helps me when I am having an MRI, Catscan, I just start counting and it takes my mind off what is going on.

Oh, MY! You made yourself way more work than was necessary. I have had 4 of the spin-dryers and loved them. But you don't have to take the clothes out of the spinner to rinse them. While it is spinning at first, the wash water is spun out and goes back into the machine for the next load. Then you turn on the rinse water and turn the faucet so that it drains into the sink. When the rinse water runs clear, turn off the water and the clothes spin dry. Too often, I would leave the faucet over the machine too long while it was rinsing, and the wash tub got too full and the water ran down inside the agitator into the motor. Hence 4 machines!

And I am a counter, also. I don't count stitches, but I count people in church, chairs at a banquet, cups in a row, socks hanging on the line, houses on a block, crazy stuff like that.

I do this walking and exercising--can't have the left side doing more than the right--I haven't counted the needle going up and down though--hard to do when it is going so fast--I guess I do count when do the fix that makes like a little knot at end of a seam.

I'm glad I started this thread.. I knew I did it and thought it was just me that had developed an unusual habit.im normal yippee.

I worked with a woman who could count syllables. We could read several paragraphs to her and she would know exactly how many syllables were in the wording. Finally we got tired of checking her results which took forever and just called her "Rain Man". She said she didn't have to consciously count them, she just knew. Still amazes me!

..ok couldn't pass this one up........the only thing I count is money......and the number is always too low!!!!!

I'm so glad this topic came up. I thought I was goofy because I count so many things. It's nice to know that other people do this too! I'm not alone!!!!!

I started counting steps and other things as a kid, I thought it was just out of boredom, maybe not?? but now I don't feel so foolish since so many of you count also...

I do count a lot of things, but not the needle.

Have done it a couple of times then I ask myself WHY! don't do it any more lol

I don't count, but, I write everything on my hand, leg, or the armchair rest, IN SHORTHAND! I took shorthand in school, but never used it in my work days, so I use it now.LOL

It is an OCD behavior.

I nearly always find myself counting stair steps. I have no idea why.

I don't count the needle...probably will now, but I do seem to always be counting in my head. What does this say about us counter!