Stitch Marker and Round Counter for Crochet Amigurumi style...

Hi, Mandy here again...

I love making toys and decorative items in a continuous crochet spiral,  BUT it's beyond important to use a stitch marker with this Amigurumi style crochet.  Recently I have been working on a pattern for a crochet egg (which is turning out to be harder than I first thought).  It's very easy to lose your place in a pattern and if you haven't marked the rounds then it's hard to go back and find where you were.  Really hard (I've learnt this the hard way with much gnashing of teeth).  So, up until recently I always tied a piece of contrasting cotton thread into the crochet as a stitch marker.  This worked OK but it takes time to tie it in and untie it every round.  I decided to make myself a  crochet stitch marker with a built-in round counter.  My dd had made the beadling bee for me a few years ago and decided to use it.  Next, I threaded some pretty glass beads and a round counter onto the bee's wire and connected a teeny silver lobster clasp which I got here at Yadanabeads on Etsy. 

However,  I got carried away making it cute and personal and lost sight of it's function as a stitch marker and that it would be attatched to the crochet while I worked.  The teeny lobster clasp held it's place wonderfully in the crochet and was quite quick to use BUT this cute new tool was so annoying to work with.  Back to the bead box I went and came across an old amber drop earing which I used to wear and love until I lost one.  The amber bead was lightweight, smooth and dangled freely.  I just added a small jump-ring and connected it straight to a lobster clasp.  A 30 second job and it works wonderfully!

 

 

I still use the round counter and the bee stops it rolling off the arm of the settee, so all's well.

 

I haven't given up on 'the ultimate crochet egg' and will share the pattern once I've worked out the kinks.

From Mandy.

 

Comments

[Lynne V]

Great idea, I've used those plastic circle things with a split in but yours sound more fun.
Good luck with your crochet egg.

[alexa]

What a great idea with the amber earring! Sorry the bee took a back seat and glad it still has its uses - and looking forward to seeing the crochet egg ...

[jayne]

Very posh markers & counters :)

[caz]

Cool idea!! I love the little bee!! Shame you lost the other one of those earrings though...very pretty!!

[PepPop]

What a clever idea... I may borrow it if you don't mind. :) Jaqui x

[Eleanor]

I feel embarrassed to admit to the variety of things I've used as place markers in knitting, your earring drop looks perfectly at home there.
I eagerly await the crochet egg, now I'm getting the hang of this hooking malarkey (kind of anyway).
E
xx

[Claireliz]

That is pretty, I need a couple of crochet markers so may have a go at this. TFS
C
xx

[Debbie Roberts]

I didnt realise how important the markers were but I have a book on arigumi and its a project for the holidays. Think I need a lobster clasp before I get in a pickle.

Shame the bee got in the way x