Why does my Apple Watch count Crocheting as Steps?

Expanding on and adding to what Idris said, your Apple Watch can only track steps or other movement via the accelerometer, and when crocheting your arms are moving which will cause the Watch to count those as steps. Since there's no way for the Watch to know the difference, then either taking off the Watch, moving it to a leg, or turning off the tracker while crocheting is the only option to keep those movements from counting as steps. Or as Idris said, just allow the Watch to count your crocheting as "steps" since it's not likely to have a significant impact on the calorie estimate.

An alternative might be to get a third-party walking app that can track your movement via GPS (either in the Watch, if you have a cellular model, or from your iPhone) if you're tracking actual walks, not just moving around your house, rather than relying on the accelerometer. I use Walkmeter, but there are a number of apps you could consider.

Regards.

I have noticed that with watchOS 11, my Apple Watch arm has to be either horizontal or pointing down before the movement of my arm counts as steps.

If you are crocheting with your arms above the horizontal on watchOS 11, then I would not expect it to count as steps.

Before on watchOS 10 and older, it did not matter what orientation my arm was in, if I moved it back and forth it counted as steps.

Obviously you personal experiences may be different from mine.

BobHarris wrote:

I have noticed that with watchOS 11, my Apple Watch arm has to be either horizontal or pointing down before the movement of my arm counts as steps.

If you are crocheting with your arms above the horizontal on watchOS 11, then I would not expect it to count as steps.

Interesting observation. I'm a bit behind in my crocheting. I'll have to test this out.

Grangerit wrote:

I can easily get 10000 steps just from crocheting and only from crocheting because I'm stuck in bed/wheelchair from surgery.

Yes, it does make a difference and we want the watch to be accurate when we pay $400 for it!

Because the Apple Watch is strapped to your wrist, and it does not have any other sensors on your body, step counting has to make a guess. The guess is not always accurate.

We have exceeded the original Dick Tracy watch, not the newer video Dick Tracy video watch, and we are not even close to the Star Trek Tricorder.

Grangerit wrote:

I can easily get 10000 steps just from crocheting and only from crocheting because I'm stuck in bed/wheelchair from surgery.

So pay attention to the other metrics (movement, exercise, standing). Steps are only one way of measuring fitness. And not one Apple is particularly interested in. You'll know that none of the circles is "steps."

Yes, it does make a difference and we want the watch to be accurate when we pay $400 for it!

I was talking about the difference in calories. No consumer-grade device can do more than estimate calories burned.

If you're sitting crocheting, you're not using very many calories. Given the limited accuracy of any consumer fitness device in estimating calories, it's probably not going to make much difference. Also, the Apple watch has other ways of helping you measure fitness that don't rely on calories.

Alternately, walk while you crochet. I've certainly seen people do it. I used to do that when I was spinning with a drop spindle.

I can easily get 10000 steps just from crocheting and only from crocheting because I'm stuck in bed/wheelchair from surgery.

Yes, it does make a difference and we want the watch to be accurate when we pay $400 for it!