Last night I had to "pull out" about 7 rows of a baby blanket with 187 stitches across (187 x 7 = :frog:)
- and by "pull out" I mean slowly unknit every stitch because it was a complicated pattern with a lot of YOs, K2togs, etc. and I was afraid I would mess up the entire thing.

so I read that Amy had used her Boye's interchangeables to automatically insert a lifeline as she knit - unfortunately I wasn't using interchangeables, and mine are Denise's anyway, so I'm not sure if they would do it -
ANYWAYs - instead I taped my life line to the part of the circ where it gets a little thinner, and then knit as usual and it worked! at the end of the row I had successfully inserted the line which made me feel a little better after making the mistake in the first place.
The only thing to be careful of is that your stitch markers will automatically get threaded onto the life line if you aren't carefull - you should probably take them out as you knit with the life line and replace them on the next row - or use the kind that open - I should probably get those.
I'm sure the super smarty knitters have done this before but I though I would share my minor moment of glory.

Happy knitting

That's a good tip!

I think when Amy does a lifeline with her interchangeables (and it WOULD work with Denises) She knits a row, removes the needle tips and replaces them with the "stoppers", and uses a different cord with the needle tips to continue knitting. that way, if you have to frog, you can put the needle tips back on the lifeline cord and rip on out to there!

Another way to use a lifeline is to thread your tapestry needle with a contrasting yarn and insert it through the sts on your needle.

Another way to use a lifeline is to thread your tapestry needle with a contrasting yarn and insert it through the sts on your needle.

This is the only way I've done it! I didn't know you could do it any other way. I hope to get interchangeables at some point so this was a good tip!

I was thinking about doing that with the Denise's but I was afraid the cord would be too thick to knit off of with size 7 needles - would it still work? has anyone tried it?

Kelly - I knew about the tapestry needle but didn't have one with me! so I went rummaging through my junk draw for a thin piece of wire, tried one of those garbage bag twisty ties (would NEVER have worked) and then saw the scotch tape!

I felt like MacGyver ... hehe

You wouldnt be knitting off of the cord....you would re-attach the needles.

You ARE like MacGuyver!! 8-)

but would you use the cord as the life line? wouldn't that be a thick piece of material in the knit - i would be afraid it would stretch the stitches or something - I used a really thin piece of cotton

Yup...the cord becomes the lifeline. It wont be too thick...it sits in your knitting while you are working on a row, right??

I knew about the tapestry needle but didn't have one with me! so I went rummaging through my junk draw for a thin piece of wire, tried one of those garbage bag twisty ties (would NEVER have worked) and then saw the scotch tape!

I felt like MacGyver ... hehe

I know how you feel! I've been know to use paperclips as tapestry needles. My dad thinks it's hilarious. :oops:

I always tape my lifeline to my needle too -- much less of a hassle than threading a tapestry needle, IMHO! I use dental floss....which reminds me, I really need to get some more....

next time I'm using the interchangeables I will have to try the lifeline with those -

Cate - I could have used your mind last night - I never thought of a paper clip!

Julie - great idea about the dental floss too - i should buy some without the flavoring so my piece isn't minty fresh

My problem is that I DON"T ever think of using a life line--as MUCH as I have to rip things out!! I'm gonna have to make myself think of it!!! Sorry you had to rip back like that--it's such a bother--I had to do a sock like that recently=--UGH! :shock:

Not only is it a pain to unknit - I always think that I could have been that many rows ahead if I hadn't spent time pulling out stitches ...

socks must be a nightmare to pull out!

I am a new believer in the lifeline