@britab you are NOT alone i totally do this even when i know the last string is your leading string even when i KNOW its supposed to be my leading string i count it as a base string so every time you start a nee bracelet, keychain, etc just count one of the base strings as your leading string for example, it said 17 string bump it down to 16 strings and use the 17th string as the leading string
was 7 rows in and realized the strings were wrong, i did always notice a leftover string and thought nothing, counting my strings over and over again it was 17 just like you listed at the "strings" place, BUUUUT when i counted the strings on the actual pattern it was 16, its fine just an honest mistake but REAAALLY bugged me out and im not wasting any of this perfectly good string so now i gotta take 7 rows apart
