Custom Stitch Markers!

[PaperGirl]

Has anyone thought about using the plastic stitch markers that Im sure so many of us have (I know I do) and just embellishing them?

Ive got alot of dangles and stuff that I bought with the intention of earrings, but I think markers would fit them better.

Ive only got the split 9mm rings though. Hence the plastic ring idea.

I have to buy some other wire though. All I have is green floral.

[larudden]

Has anyone thought about using the plastic stitch markers that Im sure so many of us have (I know I do) and just embellishing them?

Now, THAT'S a great idea! Right in front of our noses, huh?

And those plastic markers come in all kinds of neato colors, don't they?

Thanks!

[Songbirdy]

All I can say about watch this thread is that I really feel my ugly plastic stitch markers are no good...

That and I'm going to see if I can find a bead store around here. Not because I can afford a new hobby but because they will likely be willing to connect me to someone who can make me some for a reasonable price.

You guys, they look fantastic. And I love the counting marker too. What would be neat if there was a way to make the counting marker so that you could adjust it for your pattern. I'm working on a cable pattern right now with a section of 4 row repeat, 8 row repeat, 12 row repeat and 32 row repeat. It has been a logistical nightmare to keep my various repeats all organized and I ended up making a spreadsheet!

[its the pattern that it mattered to count my cast on edge]

[ArtLady1981]

Hi Leslie!

You had asked:
1. How long should the total length be?
2. How big is the biggest sized bead I should use?

I thought about it...and thought about all my stitch markers, most of which I have used for several years.
I have some useful (I hope) input for you...about the biggest bead that works well, and the longest total overall length stitch marker, top-to-bottom, that performs well with the knitting.

Here are some photos of my longest stitch markers, and my biggest beads. I would not go longer nor get bigger beads.
These are the max!

1) This shows the width of the blown glass oval bead.



2) This shows the length of the blown glass oval bead. I am working with it now. It works well.




3) My red blown glass globes. I wouldn't want it any bigger!



4) This shows the width of the blown glass bead. It is as wide as I would recommend. Kind of an icky wrap, huh? I'll have to tweak it!



5) This shows the length of this blown glass stitch marker. It works well on the needle, and is not in the way.



6) This is 1 of 9 "vintage" crystal bead stitch markers I made the other day. It is as long as I would recommend.



7) This is 1 of 10 in my jade set. I made this set, and it is almost too long. Almost gets in my way sometimes. It has a 8mm jumpring.



8) I purchased a set of 10 with 6mm jumprings. I wouldn't recommend much longer for a stitch marker.



9) I purchased this in a set of 10 from my LYS. It is a 6mm jumpring. Little square crystal bead. This was my first set!

[ArtLady1981]

Has anyone thought about using the plastic stitch markers that Im sure so many of us have (I know I do) and just embellishing them?

Ive got alot of dangles and stuff that I bought with the intention of earrings, but I think markers would fit them better.

Ive only got the split 9mm rings though. Hence the plastic ring idea.

I have to buy some other wire though. All I have is green floral.

Hi PaperGirl!

My red "blown glass globes" stitch markers used to be attached to big plastic stitch marker rings...and I just hated them. They don't "swing" well on the plastic...I don't know...maybe it was my attachment "eye" being too small...so I took them apart, and remade them onto 8mm jumprings.

Thanks for your input! It is a worthwhile idea we could tinker around with!

[Eloewien]

I make these and sell 'em to friends all the time... maybe it's time I made myself an etsy store...

[ArtLady1981]

All I can say about watch this thread is that I really feel my ugly plastic stitch markers are no good...

That and I'm going to see if I can find a bead store around here. Not because I can afford a new hobby but because they will likely be willing to connect me to someone who can make me some for a reasonable price.

You guys, they look fantastic. And I love the counting marker too. What would be neat if there was a way to make the counting marker so that you could adjust it for your pattern. I'm working on a cable pattern right now with a section of 4 row repeat, 8 row repeat, 12 row repeat and 32 row repeat. It has been a logistical nightmare to keep my various repeats all organized and I ended up making a spreadsheet!

[its the pattern that it mattered to count my cast on edge]

Hi Songbird!

I feel ya! I do a lot of cable work...and it is a nightmare sometimes. I have 3 Katcha-Katcha row/stitch counters...I put a little note on each one as to what it is counting for me! Sometimes 3 are not enough!

[PaperGirl]

Hi PaperGirl!

My red "blown glass globes" stitch markers used to be attached to big plastic stitch marker rings...and I just hated them. They don't "swing" well on the plastic...I don't know...maybe it was my attachment "eye" being too small...so I took them apart, and remade them onto 8mm jumprings.

Thanks for your input! It is a worthwhile idea we could tinker around with!

Yeah, thats a reason why I would attach them myself to the plastic markers.

I have LOADS of the plastic ones that came in my learn to knit kit...and I was cleaning out my craft stuff yesterday and found all the pre strung dangles...they are GORGEOUS...

I was thinking I could make my own eye and attach to the plastic...Ill show ideas when I get the right wire.



Artlady...you've got some gorgeous beads.

Theres a store here in Waco called Paper Bear..and the only other Paper Bear that Ive seen was in San Marcos, and chock FULL of beads...a make your own jewelry counter, TONS of GORGEOUS beads...wires, fixings...OMG. I was in there for TWO HOURS one day...

So I was THRILLED to see one here...I go in, and alas...

No beads.




So Ive been working on my old bead stash...

[Eloewien]

so... how much would be a "reasonable" price for a set of say 6 stitch markers?? just wondering...

[ArtLady1981]

so... how much would be a "reasonable" price for a set of say 6 stitch markers?? just wondering...

Hi Eloewien!

Any craftman(woman) needs to recoup "costs" plus something for "time". We call it "time and materials".

I don't know how you want to value your time spent, plus your "artistic creativeness"!

I will expose a true confession here, and hope none of my personal friends see it: I spent $50 per set (10 markers per set) for the stitch markers that I purchased 4 years ago at my LYS. Yes, and I bought 4 sets...2 sets were 6mm jumprings...and the other 2 sets were 8mm jumprings.

So, me thinks to myself, after the urgings of my fellow knitters at the South Sound Knitters Guild meeting...I will take one of my stitch markers to The Blue Iris Bead Shop...and make my amber set MYSELF...and save boatloads of money.

NOT.


I spent $80 to make this set of 10!


I spent $75 to make this set of 10! Yes, all components are Swarovski crystals and sterling silver findings. Save money? I don't think so.


So, if I were to SELL THEM...would someone really pay me $100 for the set...thereby paying me $20 for the labor? I don't think so.

So, after one more set of (amber colored) Swarovski crystal stitch markers...I started trying to use less expensive beads. I am still stuck on my sterling silver findings...but am trying to cut costs on the beads. Hence, I feel so smug when I dismantled that old vintage crystal necklace of mine...and made a set of 9 stitch markers! For just the cost of the jumprings and headpins! ($15 for the set of 10!)
Yippee!

I wish I could be of more help. The term reasonable is relative. I can see now that my LYS was charging a reasonable price for the ($50) sets of 10 considering how much they spent on all the elements. BTW, all 4 sets were crystals.

Later they started offering sets of 4...and started using gold plate...but, those didn't move. Gold was o-u-t at that time anyway, in the jewelry business and home decor.
Silver, pewter, stainless steel, platinum, bronze, copper...all these metals were the "in" thing. You couldn't give away gold jewelry!

Why don't you post photos of your stitch markers for us and let us give you an idea of what we would pay for them...if we didn't know how to make them ourselves!

I have seen "cheap" prices for stitch markers at different yarn shops...and even though they were relatively inexpensive, I wouldn't knit with them EVER. I would rather use plastic stitch markers. So, cheap is as cheap does.
Ya gets what ya pays for. I am usually willing to pay someone what something is worth, and rarely do I dicker about the price. I either pay it, or I don't. I think an artist's time and creativeness is worth something!! Not all people are like that.

Whatever price you ask...remember, you can always come down. in price..but you can never GO UP in price. Throw it out there, and see what happens. Don't undercut yourself.
Your work and creativity is worth something!

Well, that is my 2 cents.