Stitch Markers

Does anyone else find that the column of stitches below a stitch markers appears a little wider than the rest of the stitches? Will this sort itself out during blocking at the end before I connect all pieces together

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I use very skinny “light bulb” markers to avoid the need for yarn to travel over a bulkier marker. They’re widely available.

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It depends what I’m knitting, but yes sometimes I do see the effect of a stitch marker if i use a plastic one.
I prefer the type salmonmac posted as they are metal and very thin. I also use the circle type sometimes but they are quite chunky and prefer the plastic circles i upcycled from my electric toothbrush as they are thinner.

I think if you’ve already knit something you probably won’t really notice after washing/blocking.

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Thanks for the tip. I’ll try them - I’ve been using plastic ones, but these look much thinner.

I use the stitch markers I bought from Knit Picks. They are flexible ones that are very thin.

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Mine are thin but I do try and make sure that the yarn is not held up at each transition. With bulkier yarns and markers, I’ll give the yarn an extra tug.

But I expect it will block out. If not, you can always try to redistribute the tension sideways around the ladders. A bit laborious, but you’ll already have put in a lot of effort!

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Yes, that’s pretty common. Stitch markers can slightly stretch the stitches beneath them, making that column look a bit wider while you’re knitting. In most cases, it evens out after you remove the markers and block the finished pieces. Unless the difference is quite noticeable or you’re pulling the markers very tightly, I wouldn’t worry about it.

After somehow knitting a plastic loop into a jumper (still don’t know how!) I use a scrap piece of contrasting wool knotted to make a loop.

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That was always my fear. If it can happen, it will. Luckily it wasn’t a metal marker! That’s why I use the thin removable markers.

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I agree. I use what @salmonmac uses. You can also get them at Hobby Lobby, sometimes on sale. They aren’t on sale this week, but $1.79 for 60 isn’t bad!

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I use the same type of stitch marker as salmonmac. I have had the unfortunate experience of using a completely closed circle type and ended up having to cut it out of the fabric a few rows later. My mistake in how I was using it, I know, but NEVER AGAIN.

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I usually find those pear shaped ones too sharp for my taste, makes it hard to use the tip without stabbing my yarn, but they do be super thin… Do they make them with rounded tips?

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Just got some of these thin metal ones which are working better that the plastic ones - they are sharp so have to be careful, especially around thread lifelines!

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Yes they can be a bit stabby. I tend to place them on my needle closed so they don’t split the yarn, or i move my knitting onto the cable where there is more space to get between stitches. I do still use plastic too but depending what the job is. I like the plastic for putting around or through a stitch or marking fabric or pinning seams together where the round end is better.

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If the wire on the pear-shaped ones is too sharp use a metal nail file to round off.

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Excellent idea

Here is the Canadian price for the same thing.