How to Use Stitch Markers and Make Your Own

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]

Next Pattern:

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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