I made a post on my blog last Friday on this very topic!  Here's the link: feathercreekdesigns.com/.../day-241-of-365-blog-project-various-ways-of-using-stitch-markers

A very kind vendor at NH S&W last year gave my then 6 year old grandchild a pair of fancy stitch markers that have doubled as earrings <G>.

One more way to use stitch markers. Our Sat. Knitting Club met last Sat. and Jean was knitting with 2 strands of yarn. She had put a round plastic marker on her yarn before she cast on and this kept the 2 strand together as she was knitting. Lynn was knitting with 4 strand at the time and she attached one of the plastic safety pin marker. Sure helped keep those together. A nice little guide for you yarn.

I too love stitch marker jewelry. (I make the sort with coated wire, sparkling glass beads, and crimps).  I love them so much that I often incorporate one into a knitted piece permanently...  to add a small sparkle splash to a hat, knitted ornament, etc.  I slip the stitch marker wire over a stitch loop, and keep on knitting to lock it in place.

I'm sorry, I have to correct myself. When I said split rings, I meant jump rings.

I'm a huge fan of markers. I use them for casting on more than 20 or 30 stitches (place every 10 sts, or a multiple of the total needed) and for keeping track of patterns.

If you go to the jewelry department in a craft store, you can get a whole bunch of split rings in various sizes for next to nothing. They're nice and thin and slip easily from one needle to the next.  When knitting in the round, I'll put 2 together to mark the beginning of the round.

I have also heard that you can use the small rubber bands that are used with braces (they come in lots of different colors and various sizes and can be found throughout the house if your kids wear braces). I tried them, but they were a bit sticky for me.

I use a lot of markers, so I bought some O Rings at Harbor Frieght store,  225  O rings for about $6.00 and many different sizes. Harbor Frieght has them  in a plastic storage box.  I have some markers that I  made from  an old necklace, by adding pearls, to mark specific spots, my first on has 1 pearl, the second has 2 pearls,  the third has 3 pearls, and so on.  This works well for topdown sweaters that are being knitted in the round..  I also use a marker with a green pearl to mark the start of my rows, like my prayer shawls,when I need to mark the right side which can be hard to track  when using a garter stitch.

I collected another method in here. I guess I will apply this tomorrow right after I can buy the materials.

I use plastic coilless safety pins to mark multiple decrease rows especially on fitted sleeves. Most of my knitting uses very fine yarn and it can strain the eyes trying to keep track of the rows. Also for foot length on socks. Once I've got one perfectly fitted one, I count the number of rows from the last gusset decrease to the first toe decrease; then the next one gets a pin every so many rows. It's much easier to count that way.

I also like the soft plastic rings and the plastic pin type. I use many of the ideas that have been posted. One I will now try is the idea when you have to decrease 22 st. put a marker in that spot and knit till you reach it. That is much easier.

One I have not seen posted is when I am making socks and making the increase for the gusset. I place a marker after the increase , just one at the start of the row. Then the next row would be a knit row and I take the marker out when I get to that spot. So when I see the maker I know it is a knit row and when no marker I need to increase. This is very helpful if the instep is a detailed pattern. I do knit two at a time toe up.

Great tips.  Love the sweater Eunny is wearing.  Anyone know where to find the pattern?

I use the safety pin type as a substitute cable needle when working with fingering, lace, or cobweb yarn.  The dangle type can be used as handy jewellery if you slip a few pretty ones onto a pair of hoop earrings.  My man says they look like fishing lures (??), so I suppose one day he'll scoop one and add a hook, and then I'll let you know how that works!  :-)

When knitting patterns from a big chart I place stitchmarkers for every 10 stitches to keep track of where I am on the chart. In an illusion-knitting of a tiger I used 14 different stitchmarker, one of them a rowcounter, and I made a small drawing of the stitchmarker on the chart. Then I could look at the chart and "Knit to the yellow cat-marker" made sense.

I use the safety-pin looking type as a stitch holder for my miniature knitting.  works wonderfully!

I use the safety pin type ones to keep track of how many rows I've done.  I hook one into the stitch every 10 rows.  Really helps keep my socks of equal size.

In a past KD TV program Eunny showed how she uses markers when picking up stitches on a curved edge, such as a set-in armhole.  Great idea!

Wow, so many ways of using stitch markers! I knit on the bus so I can't really reference the pattern often so... I use them to mark changes in the pattern such as increases and decreases. I also mark the row that starts a change in the pattern so I know how many rows I have done. Obviously I'm not the first one to think of these things, but I did think of them on my own as a way to handle this issue! ;-)

I use beads as markers because they are gorgeous and I can get so many colours

I add a safety pin marker to each "pattern" on shoulder and side seams before seaming.  That way all you have to do is match each safety pin with the one on the opposite shoulder or side when joining and you have perfectly matched patterns when you are done seaming.  It is often difficult to see the pattern on the wrong side and nothing looks worse than to have patterns that don't match properly when the garment is stitched together.

Another use for stitch markers -- when you are seaming. Mark rows evenly on both pieces for for side seams. For other pieces, divide number of rows or stitches in a section by a common factor, and match up to marked rows or stitches.Results: beautifully smooth seams. And you told your fifth grade teacher you'd never use that math!

I don't like yarn or the fancy markers that have stuff hanging from them (though they make cute earrings!). I just use the rings that come with electric toothbrush heads to identify the head. My whole family knows they have to re-use the ring when they switch heads because I have absconded with all the others. They are small, thin, and move easily. I have been using them for years in all the ways mentioned, including the "green means go".

Loved this article.  Lots of new ideas.  For those large needles I use rubber bands used for dressing horses' manes for shows.  Probably a 100 for $4,00.

I use 2 colors of the split-safety-pin type markers to keep track of where I am on a pattern.  I find it especially helpful on cable patterns.  Using two colors lets me know exactly which row of the patten I'm on.  If an increase or decrease is needed, I put a small marker on the pin of the appropriate row as a signal.  Number of markers needed will depend on the number of rows between increases or decreases.  I use enough markers for 2 to 4 repeats of the pattern, moving the marker as a row is completed.

I like to use stitch markers when making an afghan that has several panels that should be knit seperately and sown together.  By marking the panels, I am able to make the afghan in one piece rather than sewing....which is not my most favorite thing to do after all that knitting.

I also use markers to define pattern and cable repeats. I keep them in every project bag and give them in knit gift bags.

I also use markers to define pattern and cable repeats

I really am learning quite a bit from these short videos and I appreciate them immensely.

that is such a neat idea. I can not count how many times that i have needed to add /cast on 100 stitches and count them umten times .... thank you so much for the idea of using markers for counting rows and such....

Like many others, I prefer to use yarn markers as I feel they are less bulky and do not introduce too much unnecessary yarn into the knitting.  However, one thing I use markers for which I've not seen in the posts thus far is to mark the wrap-and-turn on short rows.  The wraps are not always easy to see, especially if you're using dark yarn or multi-colored yarn.  I place a split stitch markers to around each wrap.  This helps meto easily find thewrap that I need to knit together with the stitch on the following round/row.  It also helps to make sure I'm not pulling the wrap too tightly around the stitch, so that I have left enough yarn to pull up later over the stitch.

Like many others, I prefer to use yarn stitch markers as I feel they are less bulky and do not introduce too much unnecessary yarn into the knitting.  However, one thing I use markers for which I've not seen in the posts thus far is to mark the wrap-and-turn on short rows.  The wraps are not always easy to see, especially if you're using dark yarn or multi-colored yarn.  I place a split stitch markers around each wrap.  This helps me to easily find the wrap that I need to knit together with the stitch on the following round/row.  It also helps to make sure I'm not pulling the wrap too tightly around the stitch, so that I have left enough yarn to pull up later over the stitch.

You've pretty much covered how I use stitch markers. However I'd like to tell Shay Pendray that I miss her needlework shows.

Hello,

I tried to save the knitted lace patterns, but it automatically saved them somewhere, but I don't know where.

Please could we have the option of where to save it to.

Clicked on the file, and saving was not an option. I could open the file, but I could not save it.

I use small brightly colored hair elastics as markers. One of my favorite patterns is a top-down raglan cardigan. I added cables to the pattern, so I mark the yarn-overs with yellow, and the cable sets with coral.

Trying to complete my first graph knit, I put a stitch marker after each repeat.  That way I could check each section rather than go back through the entire row.

I often use those tiny brass safety pins.  I like to mark every 20th row on sleeves and on the front and backs of sweaters.  That way I don't have odd length parts.

Lucills

Eunny's sweater is a crocheted sweater from the fall 2010 issue of Interweave Crochet. It is called the Sage Jacket by Dora Ohrenstein. Here's the link to the magazine: www.interweavecrochet.com/.../materials-fall-2010.asp

Kathleen

Goodness! What a lot of different ways to use markers. I never learnt to use markers when i was first learning to knit, so find I don't tend to use them very much at all. Have never bothered using them to mark pattern repeats, as I can see the pattern and just count.

I do use them at the end of rows to denote armholes etc if there is no shaping to make it obvious, sometimes in circular knitting, again if the beginning of the row isn't obvious, and sometimes to denote where to decrease/increase if in the middle of a row. I use the little rubber rings, or a yarn loop. After all this discussion though, might have to try other uses.

On the BSJ, you're decreasing at each of two markers until you have 22 stitches left on the outside ends of the sweater. I put a marker at 22 stitches in from the edge, then knit and decrease away without constant counting. When my 22-stitches marker hits my decrease-here marker, I've done all the decreases I needed.

When crocheting a blanket, even if the pattern is pretty basic I use a marker on my row as a point to just quickly check back for mistakes.  When working a blanket I really don't fancy having to undo a couple of very long rows, so I put a marker in do some crochet, check back & move marker along to where I am & continue to hook again.  This has saved me a lot of ripping out rows I am sure.  It was a good habit to get into early on & I am pleased I do it.  I don't use anything fancy for it, as I need one I can remove & reapply else where.  If I am watching a show or talking, or even if I am really tired, I will check back the row on more regular intervals as I know more mistakes are bound to happen with less concentration.

I do like the look of the "BLING" for knitting & crochet but have no need for them yet!  lol  

I use markers as a color code to help me keep track of where I am. On flat work, I use a green (for GO) marker to indicate right side rows and a purple (for PURL) marker for wrong side or purl rows. In the round, a green marker on the needle indicates the beginning of a new row and if I use markers for the pattern, I use purple for the last repeat to tell me I'm near the end.

I use stitch markers when turning the heel on a sock.  I use the markers which look like a small plastic safety pin.  I frequently use markers to denote rows in a pattern, the beginning of a round when using double-point needles or circular needles and to help with shaping on left and right sides of sweaters and also with armhole shaping.  I sometimes use rigid rings or yarn loops for markers.  It depends on the project, but markers can be helpful.

I do not have any new ideas about How to use stitch markers, but I enjoy putting my orphan earrings to use As stitch markers.  French wires and clips work well for horizontal markers.

Thank you for this video and thanks also to those who posted such helpful comments.  I'm making socks with cables on the legs and always have trouble telling how many rows I've knit between each cable row.  My distances between cable rows aren't always the same (SOMEONE doesn't keep track with paper/pencil or with row counters, obviously!).  Now I'll start to put a stitch marker at the beginning of a cable row.  Why didn't I think of that earlier?  So easy!

Thanks for all of the great tips! I'll find out which sweater Eunny is wearing and post it here. Might not be til Monday because most people are out of the office for a long Thanksgiving weekend. Have a good one!

I have three sets of key rings for various reasons and stitch markers (with a dangle object) help me identify each key ring. I also find them cumbersome when knitting but I can't resist buying them!

Mary Moran

mary1685@gmail.com

It's funny,  I don't like stitch markers either, or at least I didn't think I did.  But since I do use stitch markers in precisely the same ways as you, then I guess I do like stitch markers.  What I don't like about most stitch markers is that they snag.  The maker may say that they don't snag, but most do.  That being said,  I also prefer rubber stitch markers, and the triangle-shaped markers are really nice.  

Shirley

I prefer to use a contrasting color of yarn for markers.  Of course some yarns are better for this (they last longer than others, etc.) than others.  

Jill B, Michigan

I use stitch markers when casting on more that 30 or so stitches placing them every 20 or 25 cast ons.  That way it's easy to count the number of stitches.

There are too many great ideas to read them all.  I use the saftey pin stitch markers to hold up my work when I'm making socks when the cuff gets so long that it is hit my stomach.  I don't knit sitting up straight.  :0)

I use the "safety pin" type markers to pin pieces before sewing them together.  This is especially helpful when sewing sleeves into armholes.

KathPoole

http://pooledesignstudio.com

info@pooleds.com

I agree stitch markers are more decorative to me than useful.  I use yarn loops when I do require a marker because they don't disturb the knitting as much (no laddering around the marker).

For counting cast on stitches, I take a 3-4 inch length of contrasting colored thin yarn and lay it in between the stitches as I cast on - I use blocks of 20 stitches.  If I miscount it's easy to move it to the correct location.  And when I'm done, I just pull out the yarn.  I cut as many pieces as I need beforehand and that also tells me when I've cast on the right number of stitches.  

I also use these temporary markers as I'm establishing something like an Aran pattern where it's easy to continue once I have the initial row.  So I'll knit a row or two and then pull out the markers.

I also use them to count numbers of rows I've worked - very helpful with complex patterns that are hard for me to read, like celtic cables, laces, and anything knit in dark, lightweight yarns (just wait till you are over 50, you'll know what I mean!)

This isn't using markers but your comment about putting in markers as you cast on large numbers of stitches reminds me that when I am counting my stitches several rows in (to make sure I haven't knit 2 together or wrapped my yarn by mistake), I count in a series of 5. That way I can stop if someone interrupts and not lose my place. So if I have say 132 stitches, I count in 5s and have 2 extra at the end. Maybe that's anal-retentive but it's easier than realizing that 5 or 10 rows back, I messed up in a way that isn't easily fixed or disguised ( I know myself well enough to know that I might very easily do such a thing).

great ideas.   But please, please post the sweater Eunny is wearing.  It's so cute.

I always convert patterns from piece to seamless so I use markers to divide fronts from back or front from back so I do my shaping correctly.

I use stitch markers when casting on a large number of stitches, usually every 20 or 25 stitches. I also use them to separate pattern repeats. And, if I need to pick up a large number of stitches, say around a neck or armhole, I use them to evenly divide the area into smaller groups of stitches so that the picked up stitches are evenly distributed.

I really like the idea of using markers to track increases/decreases as you go -- will definitely try that on my next project.

This was an extremely useful and enjoyable article!

I would love to know the pattern of the sweater she is wearing.Looks great!

I haven't done this yet but just might...I have some pretty stitchmarkers, beaded, polished rock, etc., and I've thought about slipping a couple on a chain to wear as a necklace!

I prefer yarn markers but use the others when they are indicated too.  Casting on, figure how many markers you will need and set out markers for that many.  When you come to the last marker it is time to double check the amount [110 for example needs 11 for counts of 10] and continue.  Same for cables and lace patterns.

I don't like those ring markers - they just seem to get in the way. I use yarn stitch markers I make with a length of about 15-20 cm (6-8") in a contrast smooth yarn. I fold it double, and slip it on the needle. I use it at the beginning of a round in circular knitting to mark the beginning. I tend to shift my stitches around when doing circular work (to avoid ladders) so this always helps. If there is any pattern I need to do, I will slip that marker with yarn in front to say that something different happens here. If it is a plain knit round, I just slip with the yarn in back and proceed. I can easily see when I pick up my knitting after a day or 2 weeks, where I am and what I need to do next. It also helps to count rows for me since I can see "blips" as the yarn is carried through my knitting (the contrast yarn is woven in and out of the knitting). If I need to mark off every 5 rounds for example, I just slip with yarn in front every fifth round... I can easily count 4 carries behind the marker! You can't do that with a ring marker!

It does look strange sometimes with that contrast colour running up my knitting. I may even have other colours to indicate something different here or there. But if you have to explain to other knitters what those colours are doing there, are they really knitters?

I like to use stich markers when knitting lace. Place them to mark repeats. They are my life savers;-)

If I find I've dropped a stitch (or made another mistake), I hook a locking stitch marker through the loop of that stitch to keep it from getting worse before I get back to it, and it's easy to see where it is.

I have a new baby Conure who is fascinated with my beaded stitch markers. I pin them to my shirt with an acco clip as toys for bonding with him! He loves them.

I use a split ring when using dpns by putting it on the project a couple of rows down from the first needle of the new row and moving it up as I go. That way I don't have to worry about a circular marker falling off.

Thanks for the great tips Eunny and Kathleen...

happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I like to knit socks and gloves two-at-a-time, magic loop. If I'm knitting a pattern where the beginning or middle of the round shifts (I'm looking at you, CookieA), I'll use a locking stitch marker to hold the stitches that have to be transferred to a different needle. This makes it so I don't have to separate the socks (or gloves), and my projects zip along, uninterrupted!

When I'm making a lace project or anything that involves a repeating pattern, I place a maker at the beginning of the stitch count (like the lace repeat is 15 stitches and you have 5 repeats on the needle, so I'll have 5 stitch markers)

When I'm making a lace project or anything that involves a repeating pattern, I place a maker at the beginning of the stitch count (like the lace repeat is 15 stitches and you have 5 repeats on the needle, so I'll have 5 stitch markers)

I not only make stitch markers out of beads but use them with a circular needle threaded through bottom of knitting with no border or ribbing to keep from curling.  The beads help to weight the knitting down enough without stretching.  I place markers about every five stitches as I threaded needle through cast on stitches.

I have some very pretty beaded stitch markers but I don't use them because they tend to get stuck in the yarn.  I use mostly round plastic ones or the opening ones like in the video which are my favorites.

Hi there. When I first learned to knit I was incredibly impatient with my progress and I didn't ever count and I didn't own a stitch counter.  So I used stitch markers to mark every 10th stitch (on a wide swatch of stockinette stitch).  It really made me feel like I was almost "burning rubber" when I'd get to the next marker, indicating I was making good progress.  ALSO, it was helpful to alert me if I'd dropped a stitch, which is, of course, one of the easiest thing to do as a beginning knitter.  

When I teach someone to knit.  I have them use the markers to mark off every 10th stitch.  Helps the student to see progress AND easily find where they dropped a stitch.  I'll never forget when I went to a knitting store with my first project and it was studded with markers, which seemed to indicate nothing at all.  The kind clerk asked me why I had so many markers and I told her "it helps me to feel like I'm making progress"  HA HA  I'm sure she thought I was crazy. NOW, just TRY to pry those knitting needles from my dead, cold hands!

I use stitch markers to count rows.  I recently 'un-vented' a knitted-in sleeve, and I wanted to make sure the second sleeve would be the same length as the first.  Like when you use them for casting on, I marked every 10 rows to make counting easier!

I use plastic pins when I find I have dropped a stitch. It holds it until I knit around to that spot and then pick it up.

I also use it when I have to increase a number of stitches in one row. I mark each increase interval with a pin this way I can make sure the increases are evenly placed and I can easily see where my increases are as I knit that row.

I use stitch markers in all the usual ways listed, for casting on a large numbers of stitches, marking lace repeat sections, in shawl patterns for the center spine, etc.  I also use them as encouragement to keep going.  I'll place a removable one at the beginning of the row to mark where I've picked up my work, that way I can see  how far I’ve knitted either that day or since the last time I checked. After all, it's inch-by-inch that we get to the end of that lovely scarf. : )

Eunny, thanks for the info.  I use a row counting chain that I got on etsy.  Each link is numbered and they come in small, medium and large.  You can clip on a marker on 1 after finishing the chain once to indicate 10, move it to 2 to indicate 20 rows completed. Just pick up the  next link instead of slipping the one on the needle. It comes in 2nd in my equipment list after my Signature Circs.

I mark mistakes I have noticed in preceding rows (like a forgotten yo), so when I get to that point while knitting across, I can fix the error.  Works for dropped stitches several rows down when you need to ladder back to fix those, too.

I use locking/removable markers to indicate the right side, as well as a motivational device to indicate how much I've knit in a sitting. It helps to see my progress in terms of inches, especially on larger pieces.

I mainly use markers as you mentioned...to keep track when casting on large numbers of stitches, and in lace or other knitting with repeats, to set off the repeats so that I can see at a glance if I've missed a yarnover or  a decrease.

I wish I'd seen that  video before I started my current sweater...I ended up ripping out a large portion of it because I somehow lost track of armhole and neck increases, which were coming on different rows.  I'll surely use Eunny's  trick in the future!!

I've only been knitting a couple of years but fine stitch markers helpful when casting on to keep track of my number  of stitches, where I should change my pattern (such as an increase or decrease), when knitting in round the beginning of a new row.  I probably use way too many but until I'm comfortable with what I'm doing it keeps me in line.  I love reading your posts!

Dear Kathleen,

When I'm on the row at which the armhole decreases begin, I place one of the safety pin plastic  markers into a stitch in the middle of the row.  I use it to measure upwards toward the measurement for the shoulder decreases to begin.

Jane Graves

I use stitch markers on the ch 1 and the end of a crochet row b/c I sometimes have a difficult time figuring out where the stitch is.  I also use when casting on to keep from recounting the entire cast on amount of stitches.  I bought a bag of small hair rubber bands for little girls and use them as stitch markers.  But of course I also have the clip on variety.  I find that a loop of yarn is the best for beg of row in circular knitting.

I only use them for two things: between lace repeats when working a lace pattern where the stitch count changes from row to row, and a split-ring marker every ten rows or so, when knitting two pieces that need to identical (socks, sleeves, mittens).

I met a woman at our knitting group who was knitting socks. She put a coiless safety pin every ten rows to keep accurate count of length.

I always use a green marker to indicate start of round.

Yarn loops are very useful -- light weight and free. Some markers are cute but very heavy. Those are truly besT for decor.

I think the markers Eunny used first are locking markers.

When I am knitting till a specified length and am getting close, I sometimes  carefully measure and place 2 markers  parallel in the work at an inch or 2 short of the desired measurement.   Then I only have to measure that short bit.  The same works for row counting.  I can place the marker at 10, 20 or whatever stitch interval.

I agree with Kathleen that I try to avoid markers within the row as long as I can see the design repeat clearly enough in my work.

I use locking stitch markers as stitch holders when there's just a few stitches to be set aside; for instance to hold the stitches that will become the base of a gusset for a thumb on a mitten.

I actually use stitch markers AS jewelry.  I wear three gold hoops in graduated sizes in each ear, and dangle interesting items from the bottom largest hoop.  At the Knitters Frolic last year one of the vendors had felted yarn ball stitch markers for sale - six different colours in one bag.  She very kindly repackaged a bag for me so that there two each of three different colours.  I now have three pairs of felted yarn ball earrings -- black, turquoise, and red.

I had read about stitch markers as jewelry for my knitting.  I was in the process of trying to keep track of the pattern in a peacock feathers shawl for my future daughter in law to wear at her wedding.  I thought the jewelry idea was great!  I went on line and ordered rings decorated with different colored beads.  Now I'm spoiled, the plastic and rubber ones just don't do it anymore, if I'm going to carry around a piece of art (in progress), it feels good to have it look classy on the needles, too.

For lace knitting, stitch markers are wonderful!  I don't care for the real fancy ones with "stuff" instead of beads though, the "stuff" (cute little things that hang off the marker ring) gets caught up in the knitting - no fun.

The best marker for me is small loops of a thin yarn,  like sock yarn, in a bright color like red, so they are easy to see and find in my bag.  I tie a loop around the needle, knot it, leaving some yarn hanging to make it easier to handle.  I reuse them again and again. And those fancy charm markers seem to me to make the work that much heavier  to hold..

I use those plastic safety pin markers as temporary cable holders when I'm crossing stitches.

I use stitch markers  to define the repeats in a lace work pattern.  

Also, when knitting a project that the the right and wrong side look the same, I put a bright green (for go) marker at the beginning of the right side and a bright red (for stop) at the end of the right side.

What I like to do is instead of knitting back and forth on a sleeve, I join in  a round and use a stitch marker to note the beginning/end of row.  I then make my increases on each side of the stitch marker so that I do not get a bulky seam.  Hope this makes sense!

I use a marker that can be opened and place it on the right side of a project to keep me organized when the style of knitting makes it difficult to always keep track of that.

What I normally use is just a scrap of yarn tied into a knot leaving a big loop ( usually contrasting color)  but I do have charms (big metal loop with beads at the ends). For most cable work I just drop the stitches off the needle as they are easy to pick up again.

I make stitch markers w/beadalon wire which means there are no snags possible, and then I design them with letter beads for specific instructions, like K2T, or M1. That way I can remember what I'm supposed to do at that point without referring back to the pattern every row!

I like to use little girl pony tail holders, the little ouchless rubber bands in the grocery store that you can buy for 250 for a few dollars, for marking my decreases/increases on the side of knitting, then, when I'm finished with them, I can cut them out and throw them away.  They are very light, and do not weight my knitting down.  I've been known to use them in a pinch as a stitch marker on a really big needle too.

i use markers to pin edges together before i seam them ie: sweater sleeves/sides.  

I have 3 stitch markers that look like safety pins.  I use the large and medium ones when I am making cables. I slip the stitches onto a marker, close the end and the stitches stay in place.  

Eunny, as always, you are amazing! I miss your show. It used to be broadcast on Channel 25 in NYC. Haven't seen it in a year.

I like to use stitch markers when I have many stitches to cast on.  I place a marker every 20 stitches, that way I don't have to keep stopping to count and I only have to count 20 stitches at any one time.

I just use short 2-3 inch lengths of contrasting yarn - when I make a stitch, I wrap the knitting-yarn around and then loop the middle of the marker-yarn and knit both of them; in the next round I knit them as one and it leaves one specific stitch in the fabric with a V of colour. They come out when you want them to, leaving no trace, and I've never yet had one escape unplanned!

It makes it very easy to mark decreases, numbers of rounds, etc. At present, I'm cabling some socks and I just have a white round (white yarn marker) and then two rounds even and a red round (red yarn marker) - on the sock, I just have a vertical line of alternating red and white Vs every third round and can see at a glance whether I am on a round where I want to cable the first two back or cable the second two forward. the same for gusset decreases, a pink marker for where I've k2tog so I can see as soon as I come to it whether to decrease or not. Once I've got a few in place, I just start recycling earlier ones, so I don't need vast numbers of them, just a half-dozen or so.

Free, effective and kinda pretty!