Post by @kerravonsen@mastodon.au

2026-03-17 04:33 UTC

@ansate I haven't learned magic loop so I can't help you there - I prefer to use double-pointed needles. But in regard to using stitch markers, I do have experience with that. First of all, there's more than one kind of stitch-marker. There are two main categories: closed, and open(able). Closed stitch markers can only be used one way: slide them onto the needle. They mark the space between two stitches. They "travel" with the needle; that is, while you are knitting, you get to the stitch marker, and you transfer it from one needle to the other, so it now marks the space between the stitch you just did and the stitch you are about to do. Open stitch markers can be used in two ways: they can be slid onto the needle like closed markers, or they can be attached to a specific stitch in the knitting (and are able to be removed from it later). When attached to a stitch, rather than marking the space between stitches, it marks *that* stitch. Thus, it travels with the stitch, rather than travelling with the needle. When you get to that point in the row/round, the marker is attached to that stitch, in the row below the current row, and if you want to mark that spot again, you need to remove it from that stitch, and attach it to the new stitch that needs marking. So, why would you use openable stitch markers, if they have to be moved all the time? 1. For marking the right side of the work. Closed markers can't do that, because they are not on the front or the back, they are between everything. 2. For marking the start of a round. Yes, you could use closed markers for that, but because one is likely to pause the knitting at the start of a round, unless you are very meticulous with needle-protectors, a closed marker could just fall off the needle, and you will have lost it. Attaching an openable marker to the actual stitch which marks the start of a round means it won't fall off; you don't need to move it every row, once every five rows is fine. #knitting @knitting

Replies (4)

@goleztrol@mastodon.social 2026-03-17 06:59

@kerravonsen @ansate +1 I prefer DPNs as well. To mark the start of row, I often put the stitch marker before the last stitch, so it doesn't fall off at the end of the row. The actual start is where the needle starts. Often I will use a color coded chain of (openable) markers if I need to alternate rows, for example a red and a green for gusset increases. When I move the marker, I also flip the color on the needle. Red means, the next round is an increase, green is normal knit.

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@kerravonsen@mastodon.au 2026-03-17 11:53

@ansate @knitting #knitting Then there are the decorated stitch-markers. These can be either closed or openable, though I've seen them most often be openable (using a lobster-clasp to attach to the knitting). A decorated stitch-marker has a decoration attached to it, dangling off the stitch marker. The decoration can be a charm, or a bead, or beads; something that is decorative! I don't use them myself; I feel they would get in the way too much, and in the worst case, might drag on the knitting if they are too heavy. For those who do use decorated stitch markers, why do you use them? I'm curious.

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@ansate@social.coop 2026-03-17 12:55

@kerravonsen This is great! I happen to have a set of closed stitch markers and couldn’t really picture how they would work. Thank you

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@terri@social.afront.org 2026-03-17 17:00

@kerravonsen @ansate @knitting adding to this: I also use removable stitch markers for: 3. Marking rows to make it easier to count either for doing repeats or things like sweaters where I might need to do 20 rows and it's much faster to see when I'm done if I mark them off in 5s or something. Also good for repeated charts to make checking progress faster. 4. Grabbing a dropped stitch or marking a mistake so I can fix it when I get back around to that part of the knitting. Very helpful for mistakes where you need to drop back a bunch and reknit. 5. Marking off a larger cast or place where my repeats change I forgot to use the other type of stitch marker on the previous row. Turns out I really hate counting some days. 6. Holding up my pants hem when I inevitably rip it out after 5 years and don't want it to get caught on my bike on the way home. 😂

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