Lifelines in Knitting: Your Safety Net

Knitting a complex pattern can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it’s not without its challenges.  

If you're a knitter, chances are you've experienced the frustration of discovering an error a few rows back, or realizing that a new technique isn't working quite as you hoped. Maybe you made a design change that didn't turn out as planned. Personally, I’m an experimental knitter and often like to go ‘off-script’ - which can be exciting but also disastrous! 

So, what do you do when things go wrong? If the mistake is big enough and you can’t keep going, it's time for the dreaded ‘frog’ (ripping back your stitches - ‘ribbit, ribbit’). Unraveling your work can feel like a nightmare—hoping you don’t go too far and praying you can pick up your stitches neatly (without dropping any!) when you restart. 

If you’ve ever been through this painful process, or if you’re new to the idea of frogging, let me introduce you to a game-changing concept: the ‘lifeline'. This simple tool can act as a safety net for your knitting, giving you peace of mind when things go awry. Keep reading to find out how it works! 

What is a Lifeline? 

A lifeline is a length of spare yarn, string, or even a needle cable that you thread through every stitch on a specific row of your knitting. 

Think of it as a safety net. If you need to unravel your work, the lifeline will catch your stitches at that row, preventing you from losing all your progress. When you pick up the stitches again, the lifeline keeps them neatly in place—no more dropping stitches or losing your spot. 

For those who enjoy video games, you might think of a lifeline as a save point. If something goes wrong, you can always return to that row and resume knitting without losing everything you've done up to that point! 

Why Use a Lifeline? 

Lifelines are incredibly useful in certain situations, particularly when you’re knitting something intricate, trying a new technique, or working on a pattern with complicated stitch patterns like lace or cables. Here are a few scenarios where a lifeline can be a lifesaver: 

• New Techniques: If you’re trying something unfamiliar (like lace or colorwork), a lifeline gives you confidence that you can always return to a safe spot if you make a mistake. 

• Unfamiliar Patterns: Trying out a pattern variation or a design change? A lifeline can help you make sure you can backtrack without starting over completely. 

• Furry Friends or Little Hands: If you have curious pets or children, a lifeline can provide extra security, ensuring your project doesn’t unravel when it’s inevitably knocked off the table! 

How to make a lifeline: 

Creating a lifeline is simple! Here’s how to do it: 

1. Choose Your Lifeline Material: The best lifelines are sturdy, smooth, and contrasting in color. Many knitters prefer to use yarn, but you can also use strong thread, dental floss, or even a spare interchangeable cable (if you use interchangeable needles). My favorite lifelines are made with Cotton 8 Ply—it's bright, strong, and silky enough to not distort your stitches even when working with fine knits in 4 ply. 
2. Thread the Lifeline: Use a tapestry or darning needle to thread your lifeline through every live stitch on the row you want to secure.
3. Secure the Lifeline: Make sure the lifeline is well-secured to prevent it from slipping out when you need it. Some knitters tie the ends of the lifeline together, while others attach it to stitch markers.
4. Keep Knitting: Once your lifeline is in place, continue knitting as normal. The lifeline won’t interfere with your stitches, and you’ll always have that row to fall back on if needed.

How to Use a Lifeline 

Hopefully, you won’t need to use your lifeline, but in case you do, here’s how to do it:   

1. Unraveling: If you make a mistake and need to frog your work, just remove your needles and begin unraveling. The lifeline will stop you from going beyond the row where you inserted it.
2. Pick Up the Stitches: When you reach your lifeline, carefully pick up each stitch with your working needle, making sure you don’t twist them incorrectly. 
3. Continue Knitting: Once your stitches are back on the needle, just keep knitting as usual. The lifeline can be ignored, and will stay in place in case you need to use it again (don’t ask me how many times I’ve come back to the same lifeline...).

Lifeline Tips & Tricks   

Want to level up your lifeline game? Here are some tips to make your lifeline even more effective: 

• Choose the Right Lifeline Material: For finer yarns (like 2, 3, or 4-ply), choose a lifeline that’s thin enough not to distort your stitches. Dental floss works beautifully for these projects—it’s strong, smooth, and fine. 
• Label Your Lifelines: Use a small tag or paper note to mark the row number where your lifeline is placed. This can be especially helpful if you have multiple lifelines in your project (e.g., one before a lace section and another before a decrease section). Simply attach the tag to the lifeline’s end to remind you where you are! 
• Color Code Your Lifelines: If your pattern has distinct sections (like lace or brioche), consider using different colored lifelines for each section or pattern repeat. This will help you easily identify which line corresponds to which part of the pattern. 
• Use Lifelines for Measurement: Lifelines aren’t just for frogging—they can also help with measurements. For example, if your pattern requires you to “knit for 15 cm from the last decrease,” insert a lifeline at the end of the decrease section to help you measure the distance accurately.
• Interchangeable Needle Cables: If you use interchangeable needles and have more than one cable, you can use the cable itself as a lifeline! Simply unscrew the needles at the end of the row, add a stopper to each end of the cable, and move your stitches onto a new cable to continue knitting. If you need to frog, just attach your needles to the lifeline cable and resume knitting. 
• Small-Scale Lifelines with Interchangeable Needles: For finer projects, use a small, strong thread and thread it through the hole in your interchangeable needle’s cable. This creates a delicate lifeline that won’t distort your stitches but will still hold your row securely. 

An Afterword about Afterthought Lifelines: 

While we’ve primarily discussed placing lifelines before tackling complicated sections, there’s also the option of using an afterthought lifeline. This is when you insert a lifeline into your work after you’ve already knit a few rows. This is a great option if you find an error a few rows back but didn’t have a lifeline in there already.  

To add an afterthought lifeline, simply identify the row where you want to secure your stitches and carefully thread a lifeline through each stitch. Make sure you catch all of them, including any that might be hidden at the back of your work. 

Conclusion: 

If you've never used a lifeline before, now’s the time to give it a try! Whether you're diving into an intricate lace shawl or trying a new stitch technique, a lifeline can give you the confidence to tackle any challenge in your knitting projects. It’s a simple step that can save you a lot of stress—and potentially save your project altogether! 

Give it a try on your next project—you might find it’s the safety net you didn’t know you needed, and that it gives you the confidence to try something new!