Stitch markers are necessary to denote special stitch panels, to mark armholes when making drop-shoulder garments or to mark the beginning or end of a round in circular knitting. Plastic markers can be purchased or you can make your own using contrasting yarn. Some stitch markers are small circles; this is also the type you create when you use a piece of contrasting yarn. Other stitch markers may have a small slot in them, called split-lock stitch markers. A third type looks like small safety pins without a coil, called locking stitch markers. All of these types of stitch markers may be used for knitting. The split-lock markers and the locking stitch markers may be put onto a piece of knitting at a different place than where you are working, and removed later. For example, you may put a stitch marker on a piece of knitting as you work to indicate the right side of the work. Round stitch markers with no gap may only be removed when you get to that place in the row or round, and stay in place on the needle. If you drop a stitch and cannot fix it immediately, a locking stitch marker can be placed on the loop of the dropped stitch so it doesn't unravel further. Make a slip knot in a short piece of contrasting yarn to form a loop. Place marker on needle. On the following rows or rounds, slip the marker from needle to needle on every row. For circular knitting, insert the marker between the first and last stitches before joining and move it up with each completed round
