Stitch holders are tools that are used by knitters

Knitting

Knitting is a method by which thread or yarn may be turned into cloth or other fine crafts. Knitted fabric consists of consecutive rows of loops, called stitches. As each row progresses, a new loop is pulled through an existing loop. The active stitches are held on a needle until another loop can...

 to hold open stitches when not being used by the needles

Knitting needle

A knitting needle or knitting pin is a tool in hand-knitting to produce knitted fabrics. They generally have a long shaft and taper at their end, but they are not nearly as sharp as sewing needles. Their purpose is two-fold...

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They can be used when finishing a side of an item, such as a sweater, and preparing for the kitchener stitch.

Then can be used on stitches separated from the needle when splitting the piece. For example, when shaping the neckhole of a sweater, the stitch holder is placed on the group of stitches used to make the neckhole, and the needles are used to continue to make the stitches on either side.

Stitch holders are also used at the ends of sleeves of a sweater before they are attached to the body of the sweater.