At our recent knit-and-natter, I was extolling the virtues of using a lifeline when working lace patterns …
Threading a piece of contrasting thread along the row every now and then (and leaving it there while you continue knitting) means that if you make a mistake later on, or drop a stitch, it will be easy to save your project and you can quickly pick up the correct stitches as they are all secure on the ‘lifeline’. Well worth the effort, especially when your project involves 365 stitches, like this one 🙂
I like to use dental floss for my lifelines, as it is smooth and doesn’t distort the fabric. Interchangeable needle tips make it easy to thread the floss through the row, as it can be secured in the screw section between the needle tip and the cable, and then pulled through as you knit the yarn. It doesn’t get in the way, and doesn’t involve any extra work!
On my way home after knitting-and-nattering with the gang, a tune kept going round my head… Memories of school and New Romantics … Hmm, I quickly realised the song was Lifeline by Spandau Ballet from the early 80s … I hadn’t consciously made the connection before, but my brain had been working in the background and had come up with an obvious link from years ago … My knitting lifelines will never look the same again!
Do you use lifelines in your knitting, and if so, what do you use to create them? Have they ever saved you from disaster? I’d love to know!
🙂
yarnsmithery 
Oh my goodness…!!!
I’ve never actually used one, though I acknowledge that I perhaps should – when I embark on a really complicated lace pattern, perhaps…
Meanwhile, I will make sure to use one while sailing 😉
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😀
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I’ve not heard of doing that before, but then I don’t wander into lace knitting very often or projects that involve that many stitches! I’m guessing it’s unscented floss?!
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Yes, unscented floss 😀 It’s like insurance … hopefully you won’t need to call on it, but it’s reassuring to have it, just in case 🙂 Thanks for commenting Nikki – I appreciate it. Happy knitting!
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Is there such a thing as lavender-scented floss??
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I’ve only ever seen mint flavoured but I imagine any scent is possible … I’ll take a closer look next time I’m buying! 🙂
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I don’t use them but I should, especially when attempting complicated patterns beyond my capabilities!
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I don’t use them all the time, but they can be useful and, if you use needles that have interchangeable tips, the floss is truly no trouble to insert. Quick and easy … and hopefully a back-up that you won’t need to fall back on! 🙂
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I’m after some of those interchangeable tip needles but I don’t knit enough to warrant buying any. (Not yet anyway!) Thanks for the tip. 😊
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