Knitting · Beginner · 30-45 minutes of practice

The Purl Stitch

The purl stitch is the knit stitch done backward. The yarn stays in front, and the needle goes into the front of the stitch from right to left. Once you can knit and purl, you can make almost any pattern.

Knit one row, purl the next: the front is smooth Vs and the back is all bumps.

You'll need

Needles with stitches on them
Yarn

Step by step

Tick each step as you go if you like; ticks stay on this device.

Yarn to the frontBring the yarn between the needles to the front of your work.
In from right to leftPush the right needle into the front of the first stitch from right to left, so it sits in front of the left needle.
WrapWrap the yarn counterclockwise around the right needle tip: over the top, then down between the needles.
Push throughMove the right needle back and down through the old stitch, carrying the new loop with it.
Slide offSlide the old stitch off the left needle. Repeat across the row.

Tips

Always move the yarn to the front before a purl and to the back before a knit. Move it between the needles, not over the top.
Knit one row and purl the next to make stockinette stitch.

If something goes wrong

Problem	Fix
A new loop appeared out of nowhere.	The yarn went over the needle when you switched between knit and purl. That makes an extra stitch. Pull it off on the next row or unknit back to it.

See it in the old books

Pictures and lessons from sewing and knitting books published more than a hundred years ago, free at the Internet Archive.

Sources

These are free how-to guides for families. There's nothing to earn, pass or send in.