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Whenever you start learning to knit or crochet you accumulate a large number of needles and hooks very quickly. If you stick with it long enough, your stitch marker stash increases also.
Stitch markers are a fantastic tool. You can use them to mark a specific stitch, the increase point on a shawl, mark pattern repeat sections, mark the beginning of rounds, or keep track of where the top of that pesky turning chain is. Crochet stitch markers must be open so they can slip on and off of a stitch. Knit stitch markers can be closed and simply slide from one needle to another as you work.
Here are 6 different types of stitch markers I have and what I like to use them for:
1. These are plain plastic rings. Cheap, plentiful, and available in a wide variety of sizes. I have a knitted cowl I’m working on right now with repeats of 15 stitches. These are the stitch markers I’m using to mark off each repeat section. Every time I think I’ve finished a repeat, I should be at the next marker. If I’m not (and it has happened) it means I made a mistake, and I can fix it NOW instead of discovering it 3 rounds later and having to drop stitches or frog.
2. This stitch marker was a gift from a swap partner. Neat, chunky beads on a head pin are attached to a jump ring on an S shaped clasp. Perfect for my crochet work, b/c the S shape slips in and out smoothly.
3. My friend, Lisa, made this one for party favors at a yarn dyeing party she held (have I mentioned how cool she is- yarn dyeing AND free stitch markers). A closed loop means this is a knit-only stitch marker and the beads at the bottom make it cheerful while covering up the knot.
4. Split ring stitch markers from knitpicks. Inexpensive and plentiful. I don’t worry if I accidentally lose one of these (unlike numbers 2 and 3 ) b/c I’ve lots and it’s cheap to replace. The opening means it works from crochet.
5. I made these knit stitch markers with silver charms I got from my late step-mom. I hooked them onto small jump rings to make teeny stitch markers. They are great for when I work with sock yarn and I want an equally dainty marker instead of something large and bulky.
6. These are like safety pins without coils. They can close to use like a regular knit stitch marker. They can open up to use for crochet. Personally, I like to use this type of stitch marker to pin pieces of crochet or knit garments together when I have to seam.
