How to Add a Knit Lifeline

How to Add Knit Lifeline - small

How to Add a Lifeline to your Knitting Project

We’re currently in the middle of the Wisteria Mystery Create-A-Long, and there’s been a lot of talk about knit lifelines!  In simple terms, a lifeline is a thin piece of thread, floss, or yarn you can add to your project so if you make a mistake a few rows later, you can rip your project back to that point and know you haven’t lost any stitches in the process.  If you don’t make any mistakes, you just pull it out when you’re ready to add another lifeline farther into your project.  It’s a great way to make sure you won’t ever need to start back at the beginning.

Adding a lifeline to a knitting project is actually a totally new concept to me….but I LOVE it!  So I thought I’d share this quick video in case you’re interested in using the technique too.

Leave me a comment and let me know – is this trick something you’ll try?

7 Comments On “How to Add a Knit Lifeline”

  1. Sliding stitches on circular needle to the cable section can make it easier to insert even with the large plastic sewing needle. I have also done it after I found a mistake by just going to a row below mistake that I know is right and slide the floss thru as it is easy to follow the row across. In the wisteria pattern the knit row that goes across would be the easiest.

  2. You can also thread the life line through the hole on circular needle when you come to a plain row and then when you get to the end cut leaving a generous length for stretching. I do this when doing quite intricate knitted lace and find it works well.

  3. Also be careful not to go through stitch markers as they will no move if locked into the lifeline! I learned that one the hard way!! ?

  4. Wow, what a great concept, and idea. Being a new knitter (I am learning how to knit as I do the Wisteria Mystery Create-A-Long) and as I have made a few mistakes along the way (GASP! I know…)this idea really interests me as I can’t tell you how frustrated I got (I’m a perfectionist most times when I crochet so I am finding out I am also one when I knit), when I discovered I missed a stitch or purled instead of knitted… Anyway, I plan on using this as I have plenty of dental floss. What is the easiest way to wind it through the stitches when knitting? Thanks.

  5. Awesome! I never thought of this. Thank you so much!

  6. I learned about life lines while doing Jennika, which I’ve yet to finish. I’m in the really really slow turtle club, but I will finish. I love it.

Comments are closed.