Sunday, February 17, 2008

How To Make Stitch Holders

My stitch holders mysteriously disappeared(hmm...) so I had to buy some new ones. After I purchased them it occurred to me that they would be easy to make. I used craft wire purchased at Daiso to make these. It cost $1.50 for the wire and yields about 20 stitch holders. If you don't have a Daiso near you, try the hardware store. Directions Below.

Supplies: wire, needle nose pliers, wire cutters

click on the directions to get a better view
* stitch holders come in different shapes and sizes so you might want to check some out online if you've never used them before

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30 comments:

  1. AnonymousFebruary 17, 2008 at 4:13 PM

    Interesting. I have to let my mom read your post. She will love it.

    Alexander
    Alex's World! - http://www.kakinan.com/alex

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  2. OiyiFebruary 17, 2008 at 6:10 PM

    Wonderful idea. I am always searching for mine.

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  3. Diane LovellFebruary 17, 2008 at 11:40 PM

    Thanks for the tutorial!

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  4. LindaFebruary 18, 2008 at 4:19 AM

    What a great idea. You can never have enough stitch holders.
    The Crafty Side

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  5. Indigo BlueFebruary 18, 2008 at 2:19 PM

    Very simple but clever! love the colour wire that you found and the cable knitting in the background is perfect. Did you knit it?

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  6. zakkalifeFebruary 18, 2008 at 4:01 PM

    I didn't knit the cable knit, I just thought it would make a nice background

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  7. Knit - R - DoneFebruary 18, 2008 at 6:29 PM

    Super smart. I always end up using waste yarn.

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  8. zakkalifeFebruary 19, 2008 at 7:45 AM

    knit-r-done,

    before I bought my first set of stitch holders I would use paper clips

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  9. YellowNestFebruary 19, 2008 at 10:28 AM

    Any suggestions for the ends of the wire? I am afraid of snagging.

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  10. zakkalifeFebruary 19, 2008 at 10:49 AM

    You know, I thought about this too. I should have mentioned there is a rough edge where you clip off the wire. Perhaps applying a tiny amount of polymer clay to the edge would work.

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  11. zakkalifeFebruary 19, 2008 at 10:56 AM

    another idea, can you sand metal? if any one knows, please share

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  12. felicakesFebruary 19, 2008 at 4:21 PM

    Wow thanks for sharing this will make a great gift for a friend of mine who knits.

    I was just wondering what gauge wire did you use?

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  13. zakkalifeFebruary 19, 2008 at 7:41 PM

    I think the gauge is 1.5mm. The package is written in Japanese so I'm not positive.

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  14. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2008 at 5:20 AM

    You can definitely sand metal, lots of jewelers use a nail file or something similar to round off edges of clipped wire :) This wire's usually copper with a coating, so it's pretty soft. Great idea! I've got lots of 3/32" welding rod, I think I'll try it with that! Thanks for the tutorial- great pictures :D

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  15. FaithFebruary 20, 2008 at 8:28 AM

    These are great! Good thinking.

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  16. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2008 at 10:43 AM

    Great idea...I have used paper clips, diaper pins and stitch holders and yes, hey always disappear when you have cats

    Carol

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  17. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2008 at 10:44 PM

    Ooh, thanks! I never knew it could be that easy and inexpensive to make those! And they're cuter with the colored wire too.

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  18. AnnaFebruary 21, 2008 at 4:24 AM

    Great idea! Thanks for the tutorial

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  19. NanFebruary 21, 2008 at 9:34 AM

    Well. I'm not going to say anything new that someone else hasn't already said, but I'm gonna do it anyway!!! LOL, This is a great idea [see the repetition don't ya?] but it IS, so it's worth re-saying! Thanks for sharing how you did this. I WILL be making some, I have only 2 of these things and always am using odd things like paper clips and bits of cut contrasting yarn.

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  20. willynillywaterlilyFebruary 26, 2008 at 1:46 AM

    This is a a great idea! Thank you for sharing it. I will give it a try ASAP. So clever!

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  21. Christine @ Serenity How?March 2, 2008 at 2:18 PM

    I didn't know anything about Daiso until we had some Japanese students stay with us over the summer. What a great place! :-)

    Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. I like yours a lot and I LOVE your little knit bunnies. I wish I was more crafty (in that way LOL!)

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  22. SewDelishMarch 27, 2008 at 5:40 AM

    That is a great, thanks!

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  23. AnonymousMay 2, 2008 at 8:28 PM

    THANKS for this tip! LOVE IT! Hmmm....I would use a bit of hot glue on the cut ends. SHould hold realy good and be rather smooth. -- Arachne

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  24. zakkalifeMay 3, 2008 at 7:01 PM

    hot glue, I would have never thought of that, I just might give it a try

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  25. ZazMay 6, 2008 at 6:39 AM

    that's funny :)
    when i learned knitting as a kid from mom and we needed a stitch holder i'd get a hair pin for buns and i'd twist it almost ur way, very fast.
    we always had those pins at home.

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  26. noricumJune 2, 2008 at 1:05 PM

    I would file the ends, then finish them off with some of that really fine grit black sandpaper.

    I would think that nail polish would make a really nice finish... better than hot glue.

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  27. noricumJune 2, 2008 at 1:06 PM

    PS: To apply the nail polish, after filing the worst of the burrs & roughness off, just dip the very tips in the nail polish jar, and let dry before folding. (Don't apply the polish all the way down to the part where the fold is, because then it will chip off.)

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  28. zakkalifeJune 2, 2008 at 2:02 PM

    Noricum - thanks for sharing another good way to finish the ends, sounds easy to do as well.

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  29. UnknownJune 3, 2008 at 7:01 AM

    What an excellent idea. You're a genius. Thanks!

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  30. Michal (Skeletons Out of Closet)February 28, 2009 at 10:30 AM

    That is a great idea! I would like to try this one instead of putting a scrap of yarn.
    Does the sharp edges doesn't disturb and stick-in the yarn while crocheting?

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