It has happened to every knitter at some point…you’re happily knitting away when you realize that you dropped a stitch several rows back. For experienced knitters, if you are working in garter or stocking stitch, it’s not the end of the world. But if you’re a new knitter, that can be terrifying. And what if you are an experienced knitter and you’re doing lace or any other detailed pattern? A dropped stitch can be devastating. Lifelines are a simple solution that allow knitters, both beginner and experienced, to knit with confidence.
A lifeline is a strand of contrast yarn that is threaded through the stitches on the needle so that if you ever need to take out your knitting to fix a mistake or retrieve a dropped stitch, you won’t lose any stitches, nor will your stitches be twisted. It only takes a minute of your time to set up, and in the end could save you hours.
Lifelines are easy to insert when you use interchangeable needles such as ChiaoGoo. You simply draw a contrast yarn through the tightening hole on the cable and work your next row. Choose a contrasting yarn that is smooth and thinner than the yarn you are working with. Using a needle threader, or my personal favourite, a dental floss threader, thread your contrast yarn through the hole on the cable of your right-hand needle and pull it through, leaving a tail of five to six inches.
You will now begin working your next row and the lifeline will thread through the stitches as you knit. You can relax knowing that your stitches cannot fall below the lifeline and any mistakes made can be easily rectified without pulling your hair out.
When you get to the end of the row, pull the lifeline yarn through the last stitch and leave long ends hanging and resume your knitting with confidence.
In the image below I’ve inserted my lifeline on the last plain row before my lace pattern begins. I’m working a very simple lace pattern, but you can clearly see how lifelines can be beneficial when working detailed patterns. New knitters often find it helpful to insert lifelines in the most basic of stitches just as added assurance.
Whatever your reasons for using a lifeline, you can be guaranteed that the days of holding your breath and crossing your fingers are over. You can fearlessly tackle any challenging pattern that may have once intimidated you knowing that your stitches are safe and sound thanks to this quick and handy tip.
Great tip, never even thought of that and so easy!
Thanks Trish
Thanks, Trish. I should have known (but didn’t) that dental floss could be used that way. I already use it in sewing on buttons; now I have to put some in my knitting bag!