Stitch and Unwind

  • About
    • Find Us Online
  • Knitting
  • Crochet
    • Afghans
  • Full Patterns
  • Videos
  • Newsletters
  • Giveaways

Tutorial: How to Add a Knitting Lifeline to Your Projects

April 6, 2014 by AllFreeKnitting 12 Comments

Special thanks to Mark Rougeux for this guest blog post. 

knitting-lifeline-blog

Let’s say you have started a project that has a few new stitches in it about which you aren’t quite sure.  I know I have done that many times just to challenge myself.  Adding a lifeline to your knitting is a very easy way of ensuring that what you have knit perfectly, won’t have to be ripped out because later on down the length of a sleeve, or a hat, or a scarf, you discover you have dropped a stitch, forgot to increase or decrease, or some other error that you made because you were watching a good movie while knitting. Yep, we’ve all been there.

The easiest way is to simply thread some thin, slippery yarn, usually a bit smaller gauge than what you are using for this project, through the current live loops on your knitting needle with a blunt darning needle.  If I am using a circular needle, I like to slide as many stitches as I can onto the cable, so that threading the yarn into the live loops is easier to manage. Actually the flat ribbon dental floss works very well too as it slides very easily when you need to pull it out. The minty fresh scent comes out in the wash.

Live loops on cable with needle being threaded through

There’s a neat trick with stockinette stitch that you can do so you don’t want to go too far when ripping out a section. Before you begin ripping, identify the row where you want to stop, usually just before the error you are fixing.  Using a blunt darning needle and your yarn or floss, you can pick up either leg of the V (or chevron) that is made with each stitch. Just make sure that you are picking up the same leg of the chevron each time. For example, if you pick up the right-hand leg of the stitch for the first stitch, then you will need to pick up the right-hand leg of all the remaining stitches. This takes a bit of practice and a good light source, especially if you are working with darker, smaller gauges of yarn.

Threading the lifeline through the legs of the chevrons

There are also circular needles on the market that have holes in the cable that attaches to the needle. You simply slide your lifeline yarn into the eye of the cord and knit away as usual. Once you have a round or row done, you have your lifeline in place.

One thing you should be very careful of is no matter which method you choose, when threading the lifeline through your stitches, make sure you don’t split the yarn with the needle and run your lifeline through a piece of yarn. It makes pulling it out more tedious and you may not get the desired result.

lifeline splitting a leg

Keep in mind that the first and last stitch may be a bit hard to find, but it’s there. Count your stitches so you don’t overlook them.

hidden last stitch

how to knit the hidden stitch correctly

how to knit the hidden stitch correctly

Lifelines are great when trying a new stitch. If it is a disaster, just rip back to the lifeline and try again.

 

What other sorts of tips and tricks would you like to see on the blog?

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Follow Us
AllFreeKnitting
Editor at AllFreeKnitting
AllFreeKnitting is dedicated to the best free knitting patterns, tutorials, tips and articles on knitting. From easy knitted afghan patterns to complex lace knitting patterns, we find and deliver the best free knitting patterns from all over the web. Plus, we feature free product reviews and giveaways of all the latest and greatest products including yarn, knitting books, totes, and more. AllFreeKnitting is a wonderful online resource for knitters of all skill levels.
Follow Us
Latest posts by AllFreeKnitting (see all)
  • How to Knit a Baby Blanket for Any Nursery - January 14, 2021
  • For the Lazy Knitters: 25 Simple Knitting Patterns - January 13, 2021
  • Free Pattern: Knit Throw Pattern from Yarnspirations - January 12, 2021

Share and Enjoy !

0Shares
0 0

Filed Under: Knitting Tutorials Tagged With: allfreeknitting, beginner, how to, tutorial

Comments

  1. Diama R. says

    April 6, 2014 at 8:53 pm

    If you are using a kni picks needle you can use an extra cable then if you have to rip back you simply replace needle tip waaahoooo.

    Reply
    • Mark Rougeux says

      April 7, 2014 at 4:41 pm

      Hi Diama,
      I hadn’t thought of using an extra cable. If you do, put the smallest needle you have on the cable when threading through the loops, so that the stitches don’t stretch out too much. Good idea!

      Mark

      Reply
  2. Joan says

    April 7, 2014 at 5:34 am

    Very informative thanks

    Reply
  3. Lorraine Willis says

    April 7, 2014 at 11:34 am

    You’re missing one ‘t’ in knitting,
    in the photo!

    Reply
  4. Andie Bernard says

    April 8, 2014 at 9:16 pm

    I recently taught myself how to knit using various videos available online. I have found that missing a stitch or dropping a stitch are my most common errors and cause me the most frustration. I have never seen this method but I think it would be extremely helpful and time saving. Can’t wait to try it out. Thanks!

    Reply
  5. Katelin Burke says

    May 31, 2014 at 11:37 am

    I just turned my first-ever sock heel (short rows), and it looks… a little special. No mistakes that will actually cause it to unravel, but it’s got some funky gaps I’d like to go back and get rid of. Looks like I’ve found a good way to go back and do it all over without worrying about dropped stitches – thanks for the tip!

    (Incidentally, do you have any advice or recommended video tutorials on sock heels?)

    Reply
    • Mark Rougeux says

      June 7, 2014 at 11:47 pm

      I really like Staci at VeryPinks.com. Check out her YouTube video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAR2USuQ16M

      Enjoy.

      Mark

      Reply
  6. Mary Lynn says

    April 13, 2015 at 12:36 pm

    Thanks for the idea of using dental floss. I’ve already ripped out part of a lace shawl and knew I needed a lifeline but didn’t know what I’d use for thinner yarn. Now I know!

    Reply
  7. jeff says

    April 13, 2015 at 12:58 pm

    you don’t even need a darning needle if you have knitpicks or the like. Thread dental floss through the tightening hole. Tie off. Knit. When the row is finished you will have completed a life-lined row.

    Reply
  8. Lynn says

    April 13, 2015 at 1:36 pm

    i have dropped a stitch and noticed it after several rows…can you create a video on how to pick up a stitch?

    Reply
  9. Judy F says

    April 13, 2015 at 2:13 pm

    I am following the Yarnspiration Mystery Afghan for both Knit and Crochet. I know alot about Crochet but am really liking this project to teach me all about knitting. I have learned alot. There is one block that I have had to pull out twice now because I made mistakes and the final pattern does not look right. I am now going to use this technique to mark specific rows 10 and 20 so I will know what row I am pulling back to if I need to do it again. I have not learned yet how to accurately count rows when there are different stitches like cables or ssk and the like. Thank you so much for the ideas.

    Reply
  10. Marylou Morris says

    April 13, 2015 at 5:39 pm

    I have always heard NEVER use dental floss as it tears the yarn when pulling it out.
    I use #10 crochet thread and it works well.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email Email Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube RSS

Subscribe to the Stitch and Unwind Newsletter.

Categories

Knit & Crochet Magazines

I Like Crochet: Five Glam Projects that Dazzle

How to Crochet a Bavarian Rectangle from I Like Crochet

Free eBook Download

Homemade Mother's Day Gifts eBook

Homemade Mother’s Day Gifts: Free eBook!

The weather is starting to get consistently warmer, the birds are chirping more and more, and the flowers are starting to bloom - spring has sprung, … [Read More...]

Tutorials

You Knit That with What? + 9 Free Patterns

When I first heard about arm knitting, I was a little confused. For one, I wasn't sure how the logistics of using your arms as knitting needles would … [Read More...]

Archives

Afghan Tutorials

19 Jaw Dropping Crochet Afghans

Crochet Tutorials

The Cutest Kitchen: 12 Kitchen Crochet Patterns

Knitting Tutorials

How to Knit a Baby Blanket for Any Nursery

Holiday Projects

Twelve Crochet Christmas Carol Patterns

Yarn Stash Organization

Get Organized: Tips to Sort Your Stash

Free Full Patterns

Free Pattern: Crochet Wrap Pattern from Red Heart!

Prime Publishing Craft Group
Copyright © 2021 · Stitch & Unwind - A Prime Publishing LLC property. All rights reserved.

About Us Advertise Contact Us FAQs Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Personal Information Subscribe Terms of Service Unsubscribe

Copyright © 2021 · Tidy Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in