life with a chronic disease and a really big yarn stash
Stitch Markers for my “Waiting for Rain” : A Short Tutorial
I started knitting my new shawl over the weekend. The colors are really cool. Check this out:
This is the beginning of “Waiting for Rain” by Sylvia Bo Bilvia. That cool yarn is “Garden Party” colored Lydia Sock Yarn.
I grabbed the shot of the knitting just as the sun was getting ready to set, but you can see the great way the flecks of color are showing up in the white yarn. I just love it! I can’t wait to get to the part of the shawl where the lace inserts appear. There are short rows coming, too. Fun!
Today my wrists were sore when I woke up so I decided to take a break from the weaving and knitting today. I vacuumed. I did laundry. I cut out some fabrics to do some sewing later on this week. I also took out my new beads and decided that it was time to make some more stitch markers.
These are currently my favorite little stitch markers. They are simple, light weight and perfect for projects using fine yarn like socks and fingerless mitts. The largest bead is a 6mm Swarovski cubic crystal bead. I picked it up at a local store and have never seen them again.A couple of weeks ago I decided to just order some more cubic beads from Amazon.com so I could make new stitch markers. It took almost three weeks for them to arrive. Oh. Who knew they would be shipped from Hong Kong?!Here’s what was in the envelope. Two of these bead sets came. Sweet! Eight new stitch markers waiting to be made!I cleaned out my beading supplies a few weeks ago. Here’s the little drawer that I keep everything in. I need to use the needle nose pliers and the wire cutters to make the markers along with the beads and wire.I made little piles on the table of the bead colors thought I might use along with 2″ headpins and small stainless steel split rings. The rings that I used have an inner diameter of .25″.After playing around a little I finally settled on a combination of beads that I liked. I threaded them onto the headpins with the largest bead at the bottom. This was just personal taste: I could have also put small beads below the largest bead.Using my little jewelry pliers to anchor the wire I made a 90 degree bend in the headpin wire with my fingers about 1/4 inch above the beads, and then…I wrapped the wire around the headpin a couple of times using my fingers to wrap the wire while holding the loop at the top with the pliers. Easy-peasy!I cut the excess wire off after finishing the wrap. This is the only dicey part of the entire operation: you should wear safety glasses when you do this because the wire can fly across the table when you cut it. I try to hold the end of the wire when I make the cut, but you never know. Safety first! I even put the cats outside while I was working.All that was left to do was to thread the marker onto a split ring and they were done. Ta-da! I now have cute markers to use while knitting my “Waiting for Rain” shawl.
Won’t these look cute on my lace shawl?
Can’t wait to get back to knitting. My wrists are feeling better already. Maybe tomorrow. 🙂
I weave, knit and read in Aurora, Colorado where my garden lives. I have 2 sons, a knitting daughter-in-law, a grandson and two exceptionally spoiled kittens. In 2014 I was diagnosed with a serious rare autoimmune disease called systemic sclerosis along with Sjogren's Disease and fibromyalgia.
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19 thoughts on “Stitch Markers for my “Waiting for Rain” : A Short Tutorial”
For Amazon- I always look at the Estimated Delivery Date (which can usually be found somewhere in the initial description). If it’s 2 weeks or less – usually that seller is in the same country as you are , or uses an expedited method of delivery. If the Estimated Delivery Date is 3 weeks or more- you really can’t even rely on THAT date. It’s coming by slow mule, and he hates you. So it will get there whenever he decides he’s tired of punishing you.
I’ve been using wire for some of mine, making a loop and then crimping it above the bead (don’t know if that makes sense) but your way looks so much easier/cleaner. And the crystal cubes are my favorites!!
It’s hard to not like them. Now I’m thinking of sets with 5 crystals of different colors. 🙂
Your stitch markers look beautiful especially in the light! They will look great on that gorgeous yarn!
Those are some pretty stitch markers! I love the colors.
It’s funny, though I too like beading, I’ve never made stitch markers. :O Yours make me want to get some done.
If you have the beading materials they are fast, easy and cheap. I bought some fantastic beads at the Interweave Yarn Fest that were sold in sets of 5. The ones I made are great for me because they are light weight.
So you have a lot of great sources for your bead supply, that’s wonderful! Looks like more markers are on their way – looking forward to those. 😉
I do have some good lightweight beads (I make paper beads too so they’ll definitely work); I just need to sit down and make the markers… 🙂
They really make me happy when I knit and are fun to make. Be careful with the jump rings; I bought cheap ones at a craft store and discovered the stainless steel ones at the bead store were much thinner and had a nicer single thickness space so my markers never got hung up. Once you make some markers you’ll see what I mean.
Yarn, Books & Roses 
Very cute!
Thanks
For Amazon- I always look at the Estimated Delivery Date (which can usually be found somewhere in the initial description). If it’s 2 weeks or less – usually that seller is in the same country as you are , or uses an expedited method of delivery. If the Estimated Delivery Date is 3 weeks or more- you really can’t even rely on THAT date. It’s coming by slow mule, and he hates you. So it will get there whenever he decides he’s tired of punishing you.
Yep. I was suspicious about things because of the delivery date, but since it was just beads and I wasn’t in a hurry I bought them anyway.
Love those! I hadn’t thought about using split rings before. I’ll definitely be getting some for my next batch of markers!
Thanks! I’ve had trouble with the yarn getting through the gap in the jump rings so I switched. Problem fixed!
I’ve been using wire for some of mine, making a loop and then crimping it above the bead (don’t know if that makes sense) but your way looks so much easier/cleaner. And the crystal cubes are my favorites!!
It’s hard to not like them. Now I’m thinking of sets with 5 crystals of different colors. 🙂
Your stitch markers look beautiful especially in the light! They will look great on that gorgeous yarn!
I just started the lace section last night and the markers are perfect! I do love fuchsia and punks. 🙂
Those are really pretty stitch markers. You are so crafty. Glad you are feeling a little better.
Thank you! I got some knitting done today and my wrists still feel fine. The shawl is starting to look good. 🙂
Those are some pretty stitch markers! I love the colors.
It’s funny, though I too like beading, I’ve never made stitch markers. :O Yours make me want to get some done.
If you have the beading materials they are fast, easy and cheap. I bought some fantastic beads at the Interweave Yarn Fest that were sold in sets of 5. The ones I made are great for me because they are light weight.
So you have a lot of great sources for your bead supply, that’s wonderful! Looks like more markers are on their way – looking forward to those. 😉
I do have some good lightweight beads (I make paper beads too so they’ll definitely work); I just need to sit down and make the markers… 🙂
Very cute
Thanks!
Oh my gosh!!! Those stitch markers are fabulous. I’ve got to give it a try. I love them!
They really make me happy when I knit and are fun to make. Be careful with the jump rings; I bought cheap ones at a craft store and discovered the stainless steel ones at the bead store were much thinner and had a nicer single thickness space so my markers never got hung up. Once you make some markers you’ll see what I mean.
Have fun!