Section of crocheted afghan with crochet hook and stitch markers

A Crocheter’s Best Friend (That I Ignored for 30 Years)

ByPenny

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For most of my crocheting life — and we’re talking about 30 years here — I did not use stitch markers.

I thought they were unnecessary.
A little fussy.
Maybe even a bit of a time-waster.

And then I met amigurumi.

If you’ve ever crocheted in continuous rounds, you already know…
finding that first stitch again is not always as obvious as it seems. And if you guess wrong?

You finish the round…
Your stitch count is off…
And suddenly you’re ripping everything back out.

That’s when stitch markers stopped being “optional” and became essential.

🧶 Why I Now Swear By Stitch Markers

Using a stitch marker means:

  • No guessing where your round starts
  • No recounting over and over
  • No unraveling because you were “probably close enough”

It’s one of those tiny tools that quietly saves a lot of frustration.

🔧 My Two Go-To Types (and When I Use Them)

Over time, I’ve settled into using two different styles depending on the project:

1. Clip-Style (Safety Pin Type)
These are the ones that snap closed.

I use these when:

  • I’m working in rounds (like amigurumi)
  • I need the marker to stay put for a while
  • I might set the project down and come back later

They don’t fall out, which makes them perfect for anything where accuracy matters across multiple sessions.

2. Open Ring Markers (Non-Closing)
These just slide in and out.

I use these for:

  • Mosaic overlay crochet
  • Tracking rows or pattern sections
  • Anything where I’m moving markers frequently

They’re quick, easy, and don’t interrupt the flow of stitching.

🪶 Why I Prefer Metal Over Plastic

I’ve tried both… and I keep coming back to metal.

Here’s why:

  • They’re thinner → easier to get into tight stitches
  • They don’t snap → unlike the plastic ones I’ve broken (more than once 😅)
  • They feel smoother when working quickly

If you’re a little… enthusiastic… with your stitching like I am, metal markers hold up much better over time.

💛 Final Thoughts

It still makes me laugh a little that I crocheted for decades without using stitch markers.

But now?

I wouldn’t want to crochet without them.

Sometimes the simplest tools make the biggest difference — not because they’re complicated, but because they quietly remove friction from the process.

And anything that lets me stay in that cozy, creative flow a little longer…

That’s a win.

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