What are crochet stitch markers?

Crochet stitch markers are small rings, clips, or locking pins that you place into a stitch to mark its position. They help you keep track of the start of a round, the first and last stitch of a row, increases, the right side, and more.

How do you use stitch markers in crochet?

Clip or slip a marker into a stitch you want to remember, such as the first stitch of a round, then move it up as you go. When you reach the marked stitch again, you know you have completed a round or found the stitch you needed to track.

What type of stitch marker is best for crochet?

Locking stitch markers, which open and close like tiny safety pins, are the most useful for crochet because they can be clipped into and removed from completed stitches without slipping out. Avoid fixed rings, which only sit on the hook.

How do I mark the start of a round?

Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of the round, then work around. When you get back to the marker, move it up into the new first stitch of the next round. This keeps your rounds and increases correctly placed in spiral crochet.

Can I use something instead of a stitch marker?

Yes. A small safety pin, a paper clip, a loop of contrasting scrap yarn, or a bobby pin can all work as a stitch marker in a pinch. The key is that it can be attached to a stitch and removed easily.

Why are stitch markers useful?

They solve common problems like losing your place in a spiral round, missing edge stitches, misplacing increases, and forgetting the right side. A cheap set of markers prevents many mistakes and makes crochet far less stressful.

Crochet Techniques

How to Use Crochet Stitch Markers (Every Way They Help)

Published June 20, 2026

Stitch markers are small, cheap, and easy to overlook, yet they solve more crochet problems than almost any other tool. They keep your place in a round, stop you missing edge stitches, help you place increases correctly, and remind you which side is the front. Learning how to use crochet stitch markers well will make your crochet neater and far less stressful. This guide covers the types of markers and every way they help. It is part of the essential crochet techniques.

What Are Stitch Markers?

Stitch markers are small rings, clips, or locking pins that you attach to a stitch to mark its position. By putting a marker into a particular stitch, you give yourself a clear reference point you can find again, which is invaluable in situations where all the stitches look alike. They are used to mark the beginning of a round, the first or last stitch of a row, the spot for an increase or decrease, and the right side of the work, among other things. A cheap pack of markers lasts for years.

The Best Type for Crochet

For crochet, the most useful markers are locking stitch markers, which open and close like tiny safety pins. Because they lock, you can clip them into a completed stitch and remove them later without them slipping out, which is exactly what crochet needs. Avoid fixed ring markers, the closed rings used in knitting, because they only sit on the hook and cannot be clipped into a finished stitch. If you do not have proper markers, a small safety pin, a paper clip, or a loop of contrasting scrap yarn works well as a substitute.

Marking the Start of a Round

The most important use of a stitch marker is keeping your place when working in a spiral round, as in amigurumi and many shapes. Because a spiral has no join, it is impossible to see where one round ends and the next begins without a marker. Place a marker in the first stitch of the round, work all the way around, and when you reach the marker again you have completed a round. Move the marker up into the new first stitch each round. This is essential for keeping increases correctly placed, as explained in working in the round.

Marking the First and Last Stitch of a Row

When working in rows, markers in the first and last stitch of each row prevent the two most common edge mistakes: missing the last stitch and adding an extra at the start. The marker in the last stitch makes it easy to find on the return row, so you do not stop short and lose a stitch. The marker in the first stitch shows you where your first stitch goes, so you do not add one by mistake. This simple habit keeps your edges straight, and there is more on it in why are my crochet edges not straight.

Marking Increases and Pattern Points

Stitch markers are also great for marking the spots where you increase or decrease, and any key points in a stitch pattern. In a flat circle or a shaped piece, marking each increase point helps you keep them evenly spaced and stacked correctly. In a repeating stitch pattern, a marker at the start of each repeat helps you catch a miscount early. Wherever a pattern has a spot you need to find again, a marker makes it visible, saving you from counting and recounting.

Marking the Right Side

A marker placed on the front of your work is the easiest way to keep track of the right side, the face that will be seen. Once you can tell which side is the front, clip a marker there and leave it, and you will always know which side is which when you pick the project up. This is especially helpful for textured stitches and colorwork that must show on the right side. There is more on identifying the front in how to tell the right side of crochet.

Simple Tips for Using Markers

Keep a small pot of locking markers with your project so they are always to hand. Move round markers up promptly, before you forget, so you never lose your place. Use different colored markers for different jobs, such as one color for the start of a round and another for increases, so you can tell them apart at a glance. And do not be afraid to use plenty, since markers are cheap and prevent expensive mistakes. With markers working for you, crochet in the round and neat edges become much easier, which supports the projects in the beginner pattern hub.