Always Crochet with Stitch Markers
By Rachel Choi – 11 CommentsOkay, maybe not always, but a lot of times stitch markers are like headache relievers when you crochet. Not familiar with stitch markers? Check out this quick post: All About Stitch Markers in Crochet. A stitch marker can be anything from plastic rings you buy at the store, a spare safety pin, or something as simple as a scrap of yarn. Whatever you use, the point is to stick markers into the stitches of your crochet work so that it’s easier to follow. Hence, headache relieving!
When working with crochet patterns, it most likely will not tell you to use markers unless completely necessary. However, there are tons of times when stitch marks are extremely useful. Here are some examples:
Beginning/End of Round
This is probably the most obvious for crochets who often crochet in the round (around in a circle) like a spiral. When you crochet in this fashion it is extremely hard to see where one round ends and the next begins because it is all continuous. By placing a marker at the beginning of a round, you know when to stop (when you get to the marker) to start the next round.
Counting Stitches
Have you ever had to crochet a really long chain, let’s say 200 stitches? If so, I bet you lost count a few times and had to rip out your work and start over. Ugh, I hate that! Markers are great because you can place a marker every 10 or 20 stitches as you crochet, so that if you do lose count you know that each of your markers mark off a certain number of stitches.
Mark Repeats
If you are crocheting a pattern that has a lot of repeats, it is really tedious to count the same number of stitches over and over. A great example is when you crochet a flat circle and each increase is evenly separated. It may be fine to count the stitches between each increase, when it’s only 4 stitches, but when it’s 15 or 20 stitches it’s great to use markers to show you where the increases are made. No need to worry if you are making the increase in the wrong stitch, if you have a marker to tell you where to make it.
Hard to See Stitches
One good example is when you are working with front and back post stitches. Especially when first learning to do these stitches it’s really hard to see where the stitches are and where to insert the hook. Placing markers into stitches that are hard to see makes it easier to keep track of them later.
When do you like to use stitch markers? When you do find them helpful? Feel free to share in the comments below!
I use small safety pins for all of the above reasons listed
I think I will now use paper clips! I’ve been sticking a piece of yarn or a plastic needle to hold the last stitch of a row. I have tons of paper clips so thanks!
You are so right. I use safety pins and paper clips, always have them at the ready. I’m doing strips of 103 rows right now and using safety pins to mark rows…
I have split ring markers somewhere but I rarely use them. Most often scrap yarn is more handy.
I mostly use a marker of some sort when I’m doing amigurumi and whenever the kids are screaming.
I have used bobby pins as stitch markers in the past. I have never tried paper clips but I will try them.
I love my growing collection of ridiculously cute stitch markers! Okay, it’s sort of like jewelry for my work, but I really enjoy the sparkles. 🙂 The best use I’ve figured out for stitch markers is to mark my ch-that-counts-as-a-dc, especially when doing a pattern of 4 or more where the starting stitch after the turn is in a different place each time. When I’m doing the ch’s at the end of the row/turn I mark the correct spot, so that when I’m coming back down to meet it I don’t have to count or refigure to finish the row.
Only problem is that takes up a LOT of stitch markers – up to 3 per WIP – so I’m always needing to get more! LOL 🙂
I like to use old small earrings that I don’t wear anymore (or when I lose one!) as stitch markers. It’s like paperclips, but cuter. 🙂
I also keep track of my rows with pen and a small pad,everytime I complete a row I make a line.
My husband is trained not to disturb me when I’m counting stitches,it’s the grown kids and grandbabies that interupt.if I do have to stop while making a row I write down the number of stitches already done.
I never thought of paper clips, I normally buy the stitch markers and get super annoyed at high prices.
I got tired of losing my markers and loved the earring idea, I got my daughter’s bead and jewelry bag and made some really cute counters. I even made a set with numbers, as I count I put the numbered marker on the stitch. Also made a few with charms and learned how to use head pins, eye pins and jump rings for my markers, really cute.
I love them.
For some reason, even though I count…my stitch marker is never in the right place? Frustrating, but it’s still working. I don’t get it.