Locking Stitch Markers

Just as the name implies, their main use to mark your stitches. But let me tell you that not only are Locking Stitch Markers Super cheap but very useful.  Always an essential part of my tool kit for every knitting project I make.

I first saw them at Joann’s during one of their clearance sales. I might have paid $2 – $3 for a little pack of 20. Never knew they even existed. Boy, was I missing out. To get your own

Click HERE

Now I use them to find the end of my yarn, in place of cable needles and to make my finished project removable just to name a few. Let me list a more things you can do with them.

 

1. Mark Your Loom

The locking stitch markers are wide enough to wrap around the loom pegs nice and  loose.  This way when the pattern changes you can just move them without having to pull your loops off the pegs.

Great for sock looming when its time to wrap and turn. You can move the marker to help you know where to stop.

I show them locked but if you plan to move them – leave them open they won’t fall off and it will save you time. If it worries you too much then lock them up but use the tip to push it into place, if you use the back side (butt) you might break it.

 

2. Find Yarn Ends

Ever get frustrated looking for the end of your yarn. This use to happen to me all the time. Now..

1. I find the yarn end

2. Make a slip-knot

3. Put Locking Stitch Markers of a contrasting color (on both ends)

4. Secure it to the yarn somewhere that is easily visible.

 

3. Find Original Stitch 

Some stitches call for you to find the original stitch. Like the Popcorn stitch or Scarlett Royal’s Loom Knit Crocodile Stitch pattern, This can be painful if the original stitch is the same color as all the next stitches on top of it. Not a problem if you marked the first one but don’t close the marker to make things easier.  Then you just knit as many as needed after that and without even taking the marker off – you use it to pull-up the original stitch and place back on the peg, remove it and knit off. Done.

 

4. Cable Needles

Cable needles are cool to have but I never want to carry one more item then necessary. Since all of my yarn skeins already start off with a Locking Stitch Marker when I remove it I use it as a tool in multiply ones.

One of the great uses is as an alternative to a cable needle which by the way is more expensive.

 

5. Note Holder

They top part of the marker has a “Flat Head”. This lends itself well for you to tape a little piece of paper or use a Post-it to leave yourself a note.

An example is if you have to put the project down and you need a reminder, say how many more row were needed to finish, what hook size or yarn weight you used.

 

 

6. Removable Items

Ever knit or sew a little flower or other decorative item for your project and then discovered that you wanted to add it to 5 other things. This won’t fly well if you permanently attached it to an item. However, if you take a glue gun you can adhere a pin and move your little flower from you sweater to your hat in no time.

 

7. Decorative

They really are Super cute. Add a little bead and put them on a scarf, hat, bag, sock, you name it.

They will add a burst of color to anything you can hook them on to and they have that particle use of keeping your scarf closed up and you nice and toasty warm

 

 

8. Alternative to Metal Safety Pins

This one has limited applications because they are not as sharp as their metal counterparts but then that’s what makes them perfect for kids.

 

9. Mock Up Your Sewing Project

When you’re making some thing like a blanket out of squares it’s great to be able to temporarily attach the pieces together before you start sewing to see if the project is going to look well.

Don’t put to many because you will need to remove them to sew. You don’t want to give yourself a bigger job then necessary.

 

 

10 . Count Stitches

Seems almost silly to say but of course you can always use them to count stitches. This is the original intent and why I bought them in the first place.

If I have a long project like a scarf I place a marker every 10 stitches. Every time I reach say 20 or 50 I change the color of the little marker. That way if I loose my stitch counter – I just count the markers and the last few and I know how many rows I have knitted. This works especially well for those of use not very organized and with a heavy tendency towards forgetfulness.

 

 

Two Extra Non-Knitting Ideas

 

11. Party Favors.

In place of the longer plastic safety pins – you can use your extra pink and blue Locking Stitch Markers to make Baby Shower Party Favors.

I find these so cute.

 

 

 

 

12. Mark Your Keys

So you have more than one key that like exactly the same. Mark them with different colors.

It’s cheaper than having them redone in some special high-end style and you can change colors over and over again to fit your mood. You can do that because they’re so cheap and come in so many colors.

 

 

The Down Side of the Locking Stitch Marker

There is a down side to everything in life (maybe not everything) and these fellows are no exception. I list 3 issues that I read in the reviews over and over again 3 out of 3 are avoidable if you want to follow a little advise or pay a bit more.

 

 

* They Can Break Easily

If you buy the wrong ones and you don’t know how to use the correctly. I rarely break mine because I close them by pushing the “tip” into the locking part. I don’t use the back (butt) part.

There also is the higher-end version by Clover. This brand has a softer plastic so although you will pay more it really is a better product.

 

* They’re Shorties

There is a good reason for this – you don’t want them in the way while you knit. But depending on the project a little more length would have been nice. No biggy, you can always buy the Jumbo size.

 

* It Can Take Up to 4 Weeks to Get Them

To get them for a really cheap price – you’ll have to order them from overseas. That means that you’ll have to put the patient hat on and chill. You’re alternative, go to your local craft store with a coupon and buy them instantly.

 

Hope you get as much use out of your little Locking Stitch Markers as I do. I must have hundreds of them in every available color. Inflation is creeping near and right now I can afford them. 🙂

Let Me Hear From You My Loomy – Any Ideas, Question or Comments ?

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Tagged: counters, markers, ring, split, stitch