Custom Stitch Markers!

General Knitting
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[B]NOTE: I bumped this thread by request.[/B]

Hi’ya! :waving:

I purchased 4 sets of 10 stitch markers from my LYS several years ago. I was hooked. What is nice about stitch markers with a pretty little bead(s) hanging from the silver ring? The weight of the beads helps keep the stitch marker from “flicking off” the needle and flying across the room…never to be found again.

I wanted more styles and colors! Could [U]not[/U] afford more.:pout:

I was at my local South Sound Knitters Guild meeting…we have a “show and tell” segment…so I brought the stitch markers…and my helpful fellow knitters said “oh no…you bought them? Didn’t you know that you can make them very easily? Go to the Blue Iris Bead shop and buy the beads, findings, etc…and make your own! It is so easy. The bead shop people will show you the concepts. Just bring in one of your stitch markers as an example!”

Well, who knew!?:shrug:

So, that is what I did!

Here are some photos of some of the sets I made for myself since then!

I just love them all! Some rings fit the smaller size needles, others fit up to size 10 needles. I haven’t found soldered silver jumprings to fit the extra large needles…so I have to use plastic for bulky projects.

I recently took apart an old crystal bead necklace (very old, the thing was really ugly…didn’t fit me anymore…but sentimentality prevented me from tossing it out). I have nine stitch markers made up on the headpins…I just need to go down to the bead shop and get the silver jumprings!

I think very unusual stitch markers could be made out of disassembled vintage jewelry. Shop around for old jewelry…that you wouldn’t wear…but could make great stitch markers!

I hope you will enjoy these photos…and maybe find some inspiration to make some stitch markers yourself! [COLOR=Blue]
[COLOR=Black]******************************************************[/COLOR]
(NOTE: page 4/post#38 [U]of this[/U][U] thread[/U] has a photo tutorial for the making of a stitch marker)[/COLOR]

Made two of these handblown glass beads. A bead shop in Poulsbo only had two left. Both beads are on this same row, on either side of the center 20 stitch cable pattern! [COLOR=red][B]Love them! :heart:[/B] [/COLOR][COLOR=black]They are very lightweight, too![/COLOR]

Found these 6 glass beads at a local bead shop in Poulsbo! All the shop had was six. Darn. Just made these today!

I made a set of 10 of these, all are a different color: blues, lavendars, pinks, greens. The other 9 are on a project right now!

These are Swarovski crystals. I just love these little babies!

I use this one to mark the middle of a row. There is only one of these.

These are ceramic. There is a set of 10 of each…but some are on projects right now. I think they look like little Japanese lanterns!

I got these jade beads at a big swapmeet, from a man that sells polished rocks, etc. of all kinds!

These are Swarovkski crystals. There are 10, but one is on a project right now.

Stitch markers
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Those stitchmarkers are all [I]very[/I] pretty. You have a good eye for style combinations. :yay:
I had thought about making my own stitch markers as well. But I have such little time, I have not gotten around to making any. Maybe one day soon…

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Try here:

http://www.countonknit.com/begin/

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Hi’ya Limey! :waving:

Thanks for the interesting link! Very unusual concept for stitch markers!

I will have to see if my local bead shop has any of the horseshoe-shaped “open rings”! If they do…I will pick some up and give 'em a try!

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These are gorgeous! I don’t know how you get that wrap so tight! :??

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ahem… :psst:

If you’s gonna get hooked on beads 'n things, I guess I’d better not tell you 'bout Shipwreck Beads, self proclaimed largest bead selection in the world, it’s 'bout an hour south of you/me. (depending on traffic) I-5 take the Marvin Road exit (first one after you come up out of the Nisqually Flats)

It’s a vewy vewy dangerous place. :whistle:

I has ta take da next exit when visitin’ my gf - udderwise I get suuuuucked in there! :out:

But I’m not gonna tell ya, nope, hunh unh, not gonna do dat! :fingerwag: Wouldn’t want ta have a fellow KH’er infected by dat place! :eyes:

:roflhard:

ETA: gorgeous work, btw, I love it!

LL

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Lovely!

Welcome to the addiction that is stitch markers… I’ve made about 20 sets, most of which have sold to friends for swaps or for their own use. I’m thinking of starting a line and selling them through Etsy and my LYS.

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Wow artlady! congrats to you for your unending creativity! I swear every time u post it is always something new and fantastic!
I have been to stores and thought about the making stitch marker thing, the question I have is where do u find the ring part that u attatch to the beads? I was never able to figure that out:hair:

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Those are gorgeous!

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:notworthy::notworthy::notworthy::notworthy::notworthy:

Those all look great.

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Oh, Artlady! :inlove: your work!

Yes, I wanted some pretty jewelery for my knitting too. And I got stung seriously by the stitchmarker beading bug just this April… :oops:
I’ll have to post you a picture later of some of the stuff.

However, if you’re looking for more supplies (soldered jump rings, beads, etc), Fusion Beads is a store in Seattle and they also sell online with no shipping fees(!). They have ALL SORTS of stuff…

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Beautiful!:heart:

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I don’t know if you have ever heard of the Oriental Trading Company, but they sell tons of stationary, school, and [I]craft supplies[/I]. They have an entire section jusst for beading. The prices seem to be pretty good.

www.orientaltrading.com. Click the craft & hobbies section to get to the Simply Beads section.

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Very nice :thumbsup:

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Hi’ya Jan! :waving:

Some of my earlier creations were really a bust. I did and re-did the “wraps”. I finally got the hang of it just recently!:shrug:

I use 3" Sterling Silver thin/fine gauge head pins…they wrap like butter. The heavier gauge metal head pins are a beast to work with for stitch markers.

Thanks for your compliments everyone! :hug:

I had to go down to the Blue Iris Bead shop tonight to get those soldered silver jumprings…and got some more headpins while I was there. I have had 18 beads I’ve been meaning to get to…so…I was in the mood today.

Here are the vintage crystal beads that were a necklace I have had for at least 45 years. I remember wearing this necklace to a Coronation Ball at O’Dea High School with my DH back in 1962! (I was a baby, of course! :wink: )

Here is the full set of 10 Swarovski crystal squares markers.

Here is a set of 8 large blue porcelain beads…they complete the “set” I posted earlier.

Here is a set of 10 red glass beads that I did up today.

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Hi’ya REVS! :waving:

Thanks so much for the link to Fusion!

I will eagerly await your photos! I love to see other’s work!
Thanks again!

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Hi’ya LibraryLady! :waving:

Oh, I know all about Shipwreck Beads, although I have managed to stay out of there so far! My DD is pestering me to take a trip with her down there! She lives in Tacoma. She wants to take jewelry classes! I saw it from the off-ramp two Saturdays ago. I had to do an art show down in Olympia…and that was me exit…only I turned Right onto Marvin instead of Left…which is the direction of Shipwreck! Soooo close. :pout: Phew!

I have this Saturday off…no art shows booked…and I tried to call her today to see if she wants to go there with me tomorrow. Her DH can watch the two little girls for us!

Oh yikes. If she can…I may be in trouble! :wink:

As it is…Blue Iris Beads is located about 4 blocks from my house. Now THAT IS DANGEROUS! :teehee:

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Hi Misstialouise! :waving:

Let me know how you do…selling through Etsy (what is that?) and your LYS!

My LYS sold their stitch markers for about $50 per set of 10 back 4 years ago. Yipes. They were made of silver findings and crystals. Kinda spendy…but I treated myself to a few sets I must confess.

Making them can be spendy, too…for crystals, etc. It is nice to get hold of vintage beads. It cuts down on costs.

However, I spent $64 tonight at the Blue Iris, just for 40 silver head pins and 40 silver jumprings. Yipes. Didn’t get one new bead, although I did look! :eyebrow: I had too many beads at home, that have been “on hold” for a year.

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Hi Mulder! :waving:

Do you mean the actual silver ring that slides onto the needle? If so, they call that a “jumpring”. I buy the “soldered” jumprings…and I prefer sterling silver. There are two sizes of jumprings that will fit perfectly onto knitting needles sizes 0-10.

There are larger jumprings (saw them tonight at the Blue Iris) that would fit US11 and up…but they have some carving/detailing on them and they cost $5 per ring! Choke! I don’t think so! I will continue to use the big turquoise-blue plastic stitch markers for my bigger needles. :thumbsup:

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Misstialouise wrote:

Welcome to the addiction that is stitch markers… I’ve made about 20 sets, most of which have sold to friends for swaps or for their own use. I’m thinking of starting a line and selling them through Etsy and my LYS.

I’m glad that you enjoy making stitch markers- it would be interesting to know if you ever got around to trying out the free set of Countonknit stitch markers I sent you - the ones you received 12 months ago from me, on the understanding that you would review them and get back to me.