Here are some photos of my knit gauge swatch and I hoping someone could tell me I am doing it correctly. Every picture I see (other than my own) there are V's shown when doing the knit stitch and honestly I see no V's in my work.
Also, I was hoping someone would be able to tell me if I counted 17 rows correctly? The yarn I am using is an organic cotton by Lions Brand and the work is being stitched on size 8 needles.
Thanks so much for any help you can offer.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/katrinaw/8-13-2007181.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/katrinaw/8-13-2007180.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/katrinaw/8-13-2007179.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/katrinaw/8-13-2007178.jpg

I am a pretty new knitter as well. To me it looks like you're doing the garter stitch which is knitting the entire thing? You won't see the v's until you knit one side and purl the other, which is stockinette stitch. (Some one please correct me if I said that wrong).

As for counting, I'm no help there...I haven't figured that out yet either. :??

Gauge swatches are knit one row, purl one row. You repeat until your swatch is big enough.

It looks to me like you have knit 28 rows total, but I defer to the experts. Even if you count each ridge set as 1 I only counted 13 ridges, then one row, plus the row on the needle. I may be totally wrong so someone else can jump in here with corrections.

I agree with Nonny about the number of rows. I think each ridge represents 2 rows.

For years I've used a stainless steel sports counter or clicker for counting my rows in knitting. It is easy to see and click, easy to reset. I use it constantly. I bought it originally to use for counting laps while walking on the indoor track at the rec center, but I've used it more for knitting and crocheting. I bought it at a sports store.