Just wanted to give you guys an up-date about my stitch markers:
First of all, one of my knitting friends (who reads my blog - Thank you!!), was wondering about stitch markers as well and I told her that if she wanted, she could have my split ring markers. I gave her my Pony and Leisure Arts markers:
Pony Split Ring Markers
Leisure Arts Split Ring Markers
Next, I wanted to give you an up-date on my new & homemade markers and how I liked (or didn't like) them. :) What's the verdict? Well ...
- The pink clothes pin "marker"
It worked really well to help me "mark" how much yarn I used to complete a row. I really like it and wanted to pick up more of them when we had gone to Japan. However, I couldn't find this type of "pin" anywhere! :( I've asked my friend who originally got this for me to see if she could find them (again) and get me a box of 'em. :) She too couldn't find the plastic ones and ended getting me these instead:
They're different from the Santa pin below in which they're thicker and more stable (or less flimsy). However, it works like the pink plastic one above but really isn't comparable. :( In short, it's ok but I simply like the pink plastic one better. It's a bummer that I can't find more of those. :(
- I also had a wooden clothes pin "marker" with a little Santa head.
While it was ok, it didn't work as well as the pink plastic one (even though it was lighter than the plastic one) nor the (newer) wooden pins above. What I didn't care about it is that it twists easily (as you can see from the picture) and that it also catches the yarn easily. :( This pin works better holding papers rather than using it as a stitch marker.
- The plastic locking stitch markers:
These cheaper ones were exactly what it was - cheap. I had purchased a package of 100 and all I have left now are about 20 of them (at best). They break with you open them, when you close them, and even sometimes just on its own. The other ones I bought (the Clover, Hiya Hiya, and Pony Brands) are much better and worth the additional price (even if it has fewer markers in a package). Other than that, these are great stitch markers and work really well on my larger projects. :)
- The plastic Chiaogoo stitch markers:
These stitch markers are nice, bright, light and colorful. The only downside of it is that since it's made out of hard plastic, I found that as I moved them from needle to needle, if I wasn't careful, I could flip them off the needles and lose them (possibly permanently, especially in an airplane seat!). If I do manage to lose these as I'm using it, I don't think I would replace them because it's too easy to flip off your needles.
These were ... alright. Despite making it so that it fit my US 13 needles, they kind of work like the Chiaogoo markers, in which, if I'm not careful, I could easily flip them off my needles. So, while they're really cute and pretty, I don't think I'll be making any more of these types of markers. :(
Then, my hubby found some number and letter beads (to turn into markers) for me so, I also have these markers now (isn't he so sweet? :) ♡):
I plan to use these for bigger projects.
And these for projects that have Fronts, Backs, Tops, Left, and Right sides. I've used these markers for my socks and work perfectly ♡. No more wondering which side I'm working on and if it's the top or bottom side of the sock! :P
And these:
These dice were so cute ... I couldn't resist. :P But, they're heavy because it's ceramic; as such, I'm going to try to resist cute ceramic beads for future stitch markers.
I was also telling my hubby how I wanted smaller removable markers (the plastic ones I had were fine for larger, bulkier yarn but was simply too big for my smaller, sock yarn projects). He recommended that I should use smaller safety pins. But I don't care for safety pins as I tend to always get pricked by them (don't ask ... sharp objects and I don't always get along :P). So, he asked if I'd thought of locking fishing swivels. I thought that would be a good idea; so, I picked this up at Wal-Mart for $0.97:
And, here's how it looks like in my project:
Perfect!! :) But ... Because these are cheap ones, the silver coating started to chip off immediately (there were silver fillings were all over my poor sock). :( So, while the concept is really good (and, it is exactly what I was looking for and, it essentially works like I how I wanted/expected it to), if I wanted to use this "idea" on a more permanent basis, I really need to get better (and real) stainless steel ones. These size 7s work on my needles US 0 - 3. I'll need bigger ones if I want to use it on larger needles or, I'll just need to use these as body markers (which was my initial intent because my plastic markers were so large and cumbersome on my sock).
Upon hearing my complaint about the fishing swivels, my sweet Hubby offered to dull down all of my safety pins. :) (He's such a sweetie! ♡) And, that has worked so much better than the fishing swivels. The only problem with it was that sometimes the yarn would get stuck in the coils. :( Thus, the search for coiless pins started.
And, I found these at Yarn Story:
The coiless stitch markers are ... AWESOME!! :) Love them! :) They're perfect as markers and stitch holders. :) ♡
And these from Fringe Supply Co. as well:
Besides the ball and chain stitch markers (below), these are my next favorite type of markers to use. ♡ :) So, to add to my "little" collection of coiless markers, I also picked these up from Knitifacts (I wanted other metal colored ones then saw the painted ones and couldn't resist ♡ :P):
And these pins are exactly what I was looking for and are work perfectly - no snagging the yarn. :) I think I have enough now - maybe. :D
Then, I went on my yarn crawl in Japan and found these ball and chain stitch markers at my favorite Yuzawaya in Takashimaya Times Square:
I've been using them on my sock projects (yes, I finally got smart and am only counting new stitches I put on instead of all the stitches! :P) and they're working perfectly! ♡ :) They're bright, colorful and very light! :) Now, all I need are connectors to make a set of big and small rings! ;) (Or, maybe I need to pick up more to have extra large, large and small rings?? :P)
And these KA stitch markers (also at another Yuzawaya in Kyoto):
Now, I (finally, I think) have enough of these for my sweater! :) These markers are perfect for more bulkier type yarn and hold very well. You never have to worry about it slipping off! :)
I also found these beads. :) They were so cute and colorful, I simply couldn't resist! :P Plus, it helped that I found most of them at Seira (which is like a 100¥ store) in Nagoya or at my favorite bead store: Kiwa Seisakujo in the Umeda Yodobashi Camera building so, it was also very inexpensive. :D They all fit my (inherited) short circular US 13 needles except for the stars; they only fit on US 8 needles (as I couldn't find inexpensive jump rings big enough to fit the US 13 needles.)
They're all made out of plastic and are very light so, it's a bit of bling for me when I use them on my projects. :)
I just might've found the perfect combination of stitch markers - finally! :) Well, at the very least I now have TONS of stitch markers! :P
