place marker

Thanks...

I have a Diamond Pattern Throw with the following instructions:
Row 1: *p1, (k1,p1) twice, k6, p1, k6, pM, rep from *
I have never seen this type of abbreviation (pM) and have no idea what it means. Can you help decipher it?

Place marker

I never heard of it either and have never seen it but now I'm armed with good info thanks

Ummm, I understand (now, thanks to your answers here in the forum) that it means place marker; however, in the pattern I am about to start it has in the first row:
Row 1 (RS): K5, pM, k7, *k2tog, yo, k8, rep from * across to last 8 sts, end k2tog, yo, k1, pM, K5
and then no further reference to the place marker in the entire pattern. I don't understand it's purpose? Yes, I am relatively new to knitting so please overlook the possible dumb question...

Once the markers are placed you simply slip them on subsequent rows. Their purpose, most likely, is to separate repeats. It makes it easier to keep your place when there are many stitches.

Thanks Donna!
Hugs and Happy Holidays,
Beth P

When you're knitting "in the round" using either a circular needle or a set of double pointed needles (also shown as dpn) you always want to place a marker at the beginning of the round so you'll know where to start any change in the pattern -- such as when you're knitting a hat and you need to start decreasing for the crown.

And, as Donna said, it's easier to keep track of repeats when you use markers.

in the pattern that BethP58 posted, it looks to me like the markers are there to designate the borders of what she's making (a shawl or afghan?).