It's the Little Things

Several months ago a woman in my knitting group made fancy stitch markers out of jump rings and beads. I'd been meaning to attempt this myself ever since, and yesterday I finally got around to visiting an amazing bead store called Bruce Frank Beads. It was pretty fabulous, but I was somewhat intimidated by all the expensive and exotic things they have. I did walk out with some (not expensive, not exotic) beads and other materials to make fancy stitch markers. I made five of them as soon as I got home.

The color in this photo isn't very accurate - the ones that look reddish are actually purple. But you get the idea. Scott pointed out the absurdity of fancy stitch markers. Essentially, I'm embellishing my tools now. It's like a carpenter carving a design into the handle of his hammer. But I don't care. They are pretty and they bring me joy.

As you can see in the photo, I promptly attached a fancy stitch marker to mark the center of my Peacock Feathers shawl. I am also using four plain jump ring markers. What's great about them is that they are thinner than plastic stitch markers, so they don't cause any gap in the knitting like the thicker plastic ones sometimes do.

I can't stop knitting on the shawl, and am (predictably) neglecting my other projects. Dorothy Siemens' patterns are so good! Go buy her shawl kits. You'll be glad you did.

Comments

[sarah b.]

That's funny about the absurdity of stitch markers. It might not improve our knitting but it does make it more fun! :-)

[Dympna]

I've started to make stitch markers also. I will say that yours look better then mine did when I first started. Now mine are starting to look close to the ones you buy. So I am happy.

[ShelbyD]

Those stitch markers are pretty. I need to upgrade my markers - I've been using scrap yarn loops and rubber bands when I run out of markers, and it's just sad.

[Annie]

Lovely markers make knitting more joyful - that's a large part of the thrill, isn't it!

Sometimes I'm so in love with the stitches as they sit on my needle that I'm almost sad to work them and go on to the next 'generation'

[Annie]

Lovely markers make knitting more joyful - that's a large part of the thrill, isn't it!

Sometimes I'm so in love with the stitches as they sit on my needle that I'm almost sad to work them and go on to the next 'generation'

[Michelle]

Beautiful stitch markers and shawl! I have the materials to make sms, but I need my daughter to help- I can't get the wires neatly twisted.