In knitting, a “lifeline” is a row marker you can return to, whether to neatly pick up your stitches or to fix a mistake. To add a lifeline, you weave a length of yarn through your stitches across a single row or round. A lifeline in knitting provides a clear point to return to, often placed before working complex shaping or in a simple stockinette row within a lace pattern. It can also help you pick up stitches cleanly for details like hems. Our Adding A Lifeline tutorial will show you how to add one!

How To Add A Lifeline

Thread a tapestry needle with a strand of yarn about 1.5 times the length of your piece, and orient the piece with the wrong side facing you.

Adding A Lifeline | Purl Soho

Beginning at the first stitch of the last row worked, insert the tip of the tapestry needle from top to bottom through the first purl bump and pull through, leaving a long tail.

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Repeat this step through each purl bump to the end of the row.

Adding A Lifeline | Purl Soho

That’s it, and when you don’t need the lifeline anymore, just unpick the lifeline and save the scrap yarn for next time!

Try Adding A Lifeline

Adding A Lifeline | Purl Soho

Our free Lightweight Raglan Pullover pattern uses a lifeline for the Cording Stitch, which creates a simple rolled hem and a beautiful detail (shown above). Or try adding a lifeline with our Essential Knit Tee (shown below) and its Knit Hem With Crochet Bind Off, another lovely way to finish a knit edge!

Adding A Lifeline | Purl Soho

Tutorial written by Andrea Lotz for Purl Soho.

Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our knitting patterns (including tons of free knitting patterns) and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!