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the
purl stitch
Purl stitch works the opposite of a
knit. Make sure the yarn is in front of your work before
starting any purl stitch. Slip right needle into
first stitch from right to left. This time your
working needle (the right needle) ends up in front of the
holding needle (the left needle).
The secret to the purl stitch is
wrapping the yarn correctly around the working needle. It
goes up over the needle, around to the back, and then up
the front. The first few purl stitches may feel awkward,
but with a little practice you will be flipping the yarn
quickly over the needle, around and up. End up with the
working yarn nice and smug between the two needles, ready
to actually slip the stitch in the next step.
Use your working needle to pull the new
yarn through that loop; it will be pulled from front to
back. The slip the used stitch off the holding needle.
Repeat purls across the row to end.
If you *knit one row, then purl one
row*, repeating from * to *, you will make a nice knit
fabric that is smooth on one side, and bumpy on the other.
This is called stockinette stitch.
Congratulations! You are now a great
knitter. All knit garments, no matter how fancy (lace,
cables, color, entrelac) are made with nothing more than
combinations of knit and purl stitches. You are ready for
your first project. Follow this link
and select skill level "easy start."
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