Stitch markers

[untonuggan]

I realize I'm probably opening up a whole kettle of fish by asking this, but I am new to knitting and wonder whether it's worth it to bother buying stitch markers. Right now I'm just using a loop of a contrasting scrap yarn as a stitch marker. It can be a little cumbersome, but I don't have to worry about losing it (can always get more small bits of yarn). Annoyingly, the acrylic yarns tend to fray a bit.

I've read that it's much smoother and faster to use the commercially made stitch markers, but I do wonder (a) if that is just slick marketing, (b) about the wasted plastic/shipping/processing costs to the environment, (c) about what happens when I lose the expensive little things.

Thoughts?

UPDATE: Thanks for all the suggestions and input, folks! I think I will go crazy if I try to respond to every reply, so I'll just say thanks here!

Comments

[sailorcoruscant]

I've done all of the above. If it's a quick and not that complicated pattern I'll just throw on a loop of contrasting yarn, but if it's a big lacy project that is going to remain on needles for months I'm likely to use pretty stitch markers. I make my own jewellery, and it's very easy to throw some beads on a loop of wire and crimp it closed.

Before I took up beading, I used to use earrings as stitch markers (obviously they need to be closed loops or you end up losing your place - learned that one the hard way). They're a nice free alternative for your inner poor student.

Actually, in the spirit of community and all the rest, I'd be happy to make you some bead stitch markers in this style (not my store) and post them to you so you can play around and experiment. PM me with a postal address if you'd like to do that.