How to Use Stitch Markers and Make Your Own

February 16, 2023 by Sarah White Leave a Comment

For the longest time I didn’t really use stitch markers in my knitting. I guess I would use one at the end of the round if I couldn’t easily see where the tail was, but other than that I didn’t put these little things to good use.

Over the years I have learned there are a lot of great reasons to use stitch markers, especially when you have to do something regularly in a pattern at the same spot such as an increase, decrease, or change in the pattern (as for a cable or lace panel). Since top down raglan sweaters are one of my favorites, I have learned to love stitch markers and how much easier they make knitting life.

There are lots of great reasons to use stitch markers, including helping you count, reminding you to do something, or even holding on to a dropped stitch until you can get back to it to fix it.

I don’t, however, always have stitch markers handy when I need them. The other day I started a sweater worked on size 11 US needles and I found that not only could I not find the 10 stitch markers I needed for the project, most of the ones I could find wouldn’t fit on that large a needle.

So I grabbed some yarn and made a few of my own. If you want to know how to do it, check out the video below. (It’s not actually difficult, you just take a loop of yarn and make a strong knot). Choosing the right yarn for your marker is important, though, and I definitely didn’t do it with mine, but they have worked out OK and I don’t need them that long — raglans on a bulky sweater get done really fast!

How do you use stitch markers in your knitting? I’d love to hear about it.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NSIPiRbwDg]

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Christmas Sock Knitting Patterns

Why should the fireplace get all the fun? Instead of knitting stockings this year, why not whip up a pair of Christmas themed socks? These Christmas sock knitting patterns are lots of fun to make and you can wear them to holiday gatherings for years to come.

For our friends in the southern part of the world, there are the Christmas in July socks from the Kiwi Lodge – Kylie (Ravelry link). These shorty socks are covered in Christmas trees and have bright pink heels and toes for a tropical feel. There’s also an option to make a longer sock if you celebrate somewhere it’s colder.

Twin Stitches Designs (Ravelry) has a fun pattern with mix and match colorwork motifs you can use to build your own cozy Christmas socks. From the sample socks I see Christmas puddings, trucks hauling trees, Santa belts, ornaments and a couple of different borders. There may be more patterns included but the listing doesn’t say. Make a pair that matches or use different motifs on each foot for extra holiday cheer.

If you want to stick to Christmas puddings on your holiday socks, check out this cute pattern from Stone Knits. These lovely socks feature a band of puddings around the leg and a bit of holly by the toes.

These vintage holiday light socks from Grey Owl Knits by Sarah are classic looking and lots of fun at the same time. I love this color combination but of course you can make your lights and stripes whatever colors you like or have on hand. They’re worked using stranded knitting.

And if you’d like even more of a mix of patterns for your socks, try Barbara Ceglédi’s Christmas Chaos socks, a free pattern on Ravelry. The pattern includes 25 little motifs you can choose from, ranging from snowflakes and Christmas trees to elf hats, reindeer and hearts.

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