Hello, I've been trying to read the manual but can't find what I'm looking for. I don't seem to know why my freehand lines switch modes between having the single red line in the center that allows you to edit the whole stroke, to the red line that outlines the whole line and edit the width of parts of the stroke (pictured here: http://s33.postimg.org/dppl64trz/outline.png ) I know it's something stupid but I can't seem to figure it out.

Hi.

The pencil tool's shape settings are preserved as live path effects; if you convert such a "freehand line" to a path, you will lose the core path and get to the result on your image.
(If you use the calligraphy tool to draw freehand lines, the core path is unkept, and there is no way changing it.)

Lazur URH wrote:Hi.

The pencil tool's shape settings are preserved as live path effects; if you convert such a "freehand line" to a path, you will lose the core path and get to the result on your image.
(If you use the calligraphy tool to draw freehand lines, the core path is unkept, and there is no way changing it.)

Thank you, is there a way to change it back or switch out the converted lines?

There is not an easy way.

By interpolating you can get close to the previous core path, after you split the start/end nodes (?), break path apart and reverse one of the path's direction.
Joins and corners where bending radius is smaller than the pattern you may need more manual editing too.
Then you would need to apply the path effect previously used.
If it was a pattern along path lpe it is easier; otherwise you may need to tweak handles of the powerstroke lpe.

Switch out?
My guess is you can select some way the objects with lpe-s and delete the rest.