From Bridal Veils to Stitch Markers?
My goal is to design and make a stitch marker that is high quality, well balanced for ease of use and of course, snag free. I dedicate the same detail to order and quality to Serendipity Stitch Markers as I have given to my Damselfly Studio bridal clients.
Like many, I knit for relaxation and to get away from the world. I am most inspired by lace knitting. That I knit lace is rather a miracle, all things considered. Anyway.
In another life, I designed Bridal Headpieces and Accessories. I still design and sell Bridal Accessories in another shop I have here on Etsy, DamselflyStudio. Because I designed bridal headpieces and have had an established jewelry line for almost 20 years, I had a LOT of beads.
As a knitter, and one who loves knitting lace, you need a lot of stitch markers to help separate the pattern repeats of your project. A large shawl that has over 400 stitches can use a lot of markers, easily 25 - 30 depending on how many stitches are in each pattern repeat! The stitch markers that you generally find at the store are just plain ugly. Serviceable yes, but ugly. Then it hit me...why not make them? So, I got my pliers, wire and beads and started "fiddling" as they say where I am from. Eventually, I discovered that using my jewelry findings made wonderful, snag free bases to put on any drop that I could want. I had plenty of inspiration in my bead stash to get me started! I took the time to perfect which bead size, shapes and types worked the best for a stitch marker that handled easily with lace or other patterned knitting and that would not snag. My markers have had some testing by my knitting friends, as anyone in the knitting night group that lost a marker could depend that I had a few extra with me to come to the rescue!
It was suggested that I sell these markers so after some final design finalization, organization, Knitting Serendipity has been born.
In addition to markers, I plan to add Shawl Pins, Jewelry (so you can match your knitting, these are pretty enough to wear!), Felted Floral brooches and who knows? I don't know all of the future yet. It is coming with Serendipity, to be sure.