Whether you’re new to lace or have been a long-time devotee, there’s one thing we all have in common … mistakes happen! It doesn’t matter if you’re dealing with a missed decrease, dropped yarn over, or just a misdirection in the pattern, it isn’t too hard to fall off the planned path. The good thing about messing up, though, is uncovering the solutions. And the BEST error-prevention solution lies in those unsuspecting stitch markers. They are the unsung heroes, knights in shining armor, caped crusaders!
Ok, that’s a stretch, BUT, I do have four stitch marker tips that’ll make your next lace or lace-weight project a breeze.
Stitch Marker Hero Ideas
- When you’re casting on a large number of stitches, such as for a shawl or blanket, place a stitch marker every 10 stitches. This will help for those annoying moments when you inevitably lose count. On your first row, just remove the markers as you come to them.
- Place a stitch marker between each repeat of your lace stitch pattern. This is incredibly helpful in keeping track of your placement in the pattern, as well as helping you identify the exact area of an error. For example, say your stitch pattern has a 10-stitch repeat. You’d place a stitch marker every 10 sts, working the repeat in-between. If you ever find you have only 9 sts between the markers, you’ll know you’d missed an increase (like a dropped yarn over). Thin, round markers work best.
- Counting rows can sometimes be a beast in lace, so safety-pin style stitch markers work great to help keep track. Every 10 rows (or after every row-repeat), drop a marker in to monitor where you are in the pattern.
- Those thin stitch markers work great at being visual stop signs for projects where you have multiple stitch patterns going on. Place one at the end of every pattern to remind you it’s time to change charts/instructions before moving on.
Lace can feel a little intimidating for many of us, but I hope these little tricks make it feel a lot more approachable. This list is just a sample of everything in our new Becoming a Lace Knitter course on the School of SweetGeorgia. In the workshop, I’m going to bring you right to the basics of lace so that it’s not overwhelming. In fact, when we’re done, you’re going to have a whole new world of light, beautiful fabrics to explore.
