What stitch markers do and why you need them
Stitch markers are small tools that sit on your needle between stitches to mark your place in a pattern. They prevent you from losing count, help you spot mistakes before they spread, and make it straightforward to find where you are when you set your work down. Most knitters use them on every project, especially anything with a repeating pattern or color changes.
The marker itself stays on your needle as you knit. When you reach it, you slip it from the left needle to the right needle as you work that stitch, then continue. It moves with your work, always marking the same spot in your pattern. This is different from counting stitches by hand each time—the marker does the remembering for you.
Key Takeaways
- Slip stitch markers from the left needle to the right needle as you work the stitch they sit next to, then keep knitting normally.
- Place markers at the start of a pattern repeat, between color blocks, or at increases and decreases so you can see your progress at a glance.
- Use different colored or shaped markers to track different sections—for example, one color for the body of a sweater and another for the sleeve.
- If you drop a marker, pick it up before you knit past it, or you will lose track of where that section ends.
- Stitch markers work on any needle size and with any yarn weight, so you can use the same set across all your projects.
How to place markers at the start of your project
Before you cast on, read your pattern to find where markers should go. Most patterns tell you exactly: "place marker" or "PM" means put a marker there. Common spots are at the start of a pattern repeat, before and after a cable, or at the beginning of increases in a raglan sleeve.
Cast on your stitches as normal. When you reach the point where the pattern says to place a marker, straightforward slip the marker onto your right needle after you have worked the stitch before it. If the pattern says "place marker at the start," put it on your needle before you work the first stitch. The marker now sits between two stitches on your needle, marking that boundary.
If you are working in the round on circular needles, place your first marker at the start of the round (where your yarn joins), then space the others according to the pattern. For a sweater with markers at each side seam, you might have four markers dividing the stitches into front, back, and two sleeves.
Moving markers as you knit
As you knit, you will reach a marker on your left needle. Do not remove it yet. Work the stitch right before the marker as you normally would. When that stitch is complete and sitting on your right needle, slip the marker from the left needle to the right needle. Then continue knitting the next stitch.
The marker has now moved to your right needle and will travel back to your left needle as you work the next row or round. It stays in the same position relative to your stitches—always marking that same boundary—but the needle it sits on changes with each row.
If you are working in the round, the marker stays on the circular needle and moves around with your work. You will pass it every round, slip it each time, and it will always mark the same spot in your pattern.
Using multiple markers to track different sections
Many patterns ask you to track more than one section. A sweater might have markers at each side seam (to show where the body ends and the sleeves begin) and markers at the start of a cable pattern on the front. Use a different color or style of marker for each type of section so you can tell them apart at a glance.
For example, use red markers for side seams and blue markers for cable repeats. When you look at your work, you when ready know which marker means what. This is especially useful in complex patterns where you are increasing at the sides while also working a stitch pattern in the middle.
If your pattern has a repeating motif that appears multiple times across a row, place a marker at the start of each repeat. This way, if you make a mistake in one repeat, you can see exactly where it is and fix it without unraveling the whole row.
What to do if you drop a marker
If a marker falls off your needle, pick it up before you knit past the spot where it belongs. Once you have worked several stitches past the marker's position, it becomes hard to remember exactly where it should go, and you might place it in the wrong spot.
If you notice a dropped marker only after you have knitted several rows past it, you have two choices. You can tink back (unknit stitch by stitch) to the point where the marker should be, place it, and continue forward. Or, if the marker was only tracking a pattern repeat and you can see where the repeat ends by looking at your stitches, you can leave it dropped and place a new marker at the next repeat boundary.
To prevent drops, make sure your markers are the right size for your needle. A marker that is too loose will slide off easily. A marker that is too tight will be hard to slip and might snag your yarn.
Types of markers and when to use each one
The most common type is a split ring marker—a small metal ring with a gap in it. You slip it onto your needle like a tiny safety pin. They are cheap, durable, and work on any needle size. They are loud (they clink against metal needles) but that can actually be helpful because you hear when you reach one.
Locking stitch markers look like tiny clothespins and clip onto your stitches instead of sitting on the needle. Use these when you need to mark a specific stitch in the middle of your work—for example, to mark the center stitch of a shawl or the stitch where you will increase. They do not move with your needle, so they are useful for marking a location rather than tracking a repeating pattern.
Beaded markers are split rings with a bead attached. They are easier to see in your work and less likely to slip off. They cost a bit more but are worth it if you knit with dark yarn where a plain ring is hard to spot.
Removable markers (sometimes called stitch counters) have a small loop you can open and close. Use these if you need to move a marker to a different spot mid-project or if you want to mark multiple stitches in a row without using several separate markers.
Markers for increases, decreases, and shaping
When a pattern includes increases or decreases, markers help you keep track of where they happen. Place a marker right before and right after the increase or decrease. As you work, you will see the marker, work the increase or decrease, then see the marker again. This makes it obvious that you have done the shaping in the right spot.
For a raglan sleeve (where you increase at four points around the sweater), place a marker at each increase point. Every row or round, you will work the increase right before each marker. The markers show you exactly where the four "corners" of the raglan are, making it straightforward to keep the shaping even on all sides.
If you are decreasing to shape an armhole or neckline, markers on either side of the decrease zone help you see how much shaping you have done and how much is left. This is especially useful in longer sections where you might lose count of the rows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use stitch markers?
No, but they save time and prevent mistakes. You can count stitches by hand or mark your place with a piece of yarn, but markers are faster and more reliable. Most knitters find that markers pay for themselves by preventing one frogged project.
Can I use anything as a stitch marker?
In a pinch, yes—a loop of yarn, a safety pin, or even a paperclip will work. But real stitch markers are designed not to snag your yarn or slip off your needle, so they are worth buying. A set of 10 costs just a few dollars.
What if my pattern does not say where to place markers?
Place them at the start of each pattern repeat, or at any point where you want to track your progress. For a straightforward stockinette project, you might place one marker every 10 stitches just to make counting easier. The pattern does not have to tell you where to use them.
Can I move a marker to a different stitch if I made a mistake?
Yes, but be careful. If you move a marker, you are changing what it marks, so make sure you understand how that affects your pattern. If the marker was tracking a repeat, moving it will throw off your count. If it was just marking a location, you can move it freely.
Do I need to remove markers before binding off?
Yes. As you bind off, slip each marker off your needle when you reach it, just as you do while knitting. Do not bind off over a marker—it will get stuck in your bind-off edge and be hard to remove.