There is much being said about lifelines in knitting. Always one to grab hold of help, I have been trying it, researching it, hating it, and loving it.
I just hate it when I must avoid that line with my working needle while making a stitch. That's no problem after the first row.
The most interesting tip I found was to use interchangeable circular needles and tie the (thinner, contrasting) thread to the needle through the holes of each needle. You will find the hole near where the needle tip screws into the cable. I thought, sounds good, BUT...so I tried it. I was right about the 'but.'
If you tie the thread to both needles, you need double the amount of thread, because the line will go through your knitting twice. Instead, try tying the thread to your working needle, and not cutting it off the ball until you're at the end of the row. Be sure to leave a nice long tail and tie the ends to a "non-opening" marker. I imagine the person making the suggestion was thinking of a lifeline as you cast-on, but I see no point in that. If I am going to rip out to the cast on, I may as well start over.
The bad thing about doing it this way, is the thread will go through all your markers. That's OK if you have plenty of lifeline. Otherwise, after a row or two your markers will bind your knitting. To get around that, cut one end of the lifeline and add to it using a "Magic Knot" - I learned how to do that from Laura Nelkin. The 'Magic knot' really does work. If it doesn't, then you haven't made the knot correctly. If you use opening markers it would work - but who wants to "fix" all those markers? I have used the nearly spiral markers with the sharp little ends. They hurt my hands, and are easy to lose.
Additionally, you need twice as many markers, or more, in the event that each row changes the position of the marker on the cable/needle.
Another way to add a lifeline is to thread your lifeline string into a tapestry needle and thread the line through the loops on the needle (or cable). The advantage of this way is you can avoid going through your markers.
The disadvantage is you can accidentally miss a stitch, which is no big deal, unless you just happen to miss that stitch with your needle as well. If you are ripping back to the lifeline, you could possibly lose the stitch.
"Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures!" ~Anon.
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