Best Tips on How to Knit Purl

knit purl
Best Tips on How to Knit Purl

Summary

Step 1: Knit a purl stitch

Step 2: Knit the next stitches purl

Tips for beginners on how to knit purl

To learn how to knit, you need to start with the basics. After knitting the stitches, learn how to knit the purl stitch, which is used to obtain a mossy stitch when the work is knitted right side up in each row on straight needles.

Then, we learn the purl stitch, which allows realizing the purl stitch when the work rows are knitted by alternating a row on the right side and a row on the left side. Purl stitch is achieved by knitting alternately a purl row and a purl row. Knowing these two stitches is necessary and will allow you to do many other more elaborate stitches, such as ribbing.

Here are the steps to follow to learn how to knit purl.

1. Knit a purl stitch

Knit the desired number of stitches, making sure not to overcrowd your stitches. It will be more challenging to knit purl if the work is too tight.

Hold your needle with your cast-on stitches in your left hand, holding the stitches with your fingers to avoid losing them. Hold the other needle in your right hand.

Then:

Stitch your right needle into the first stitch, from right to left. The right needle will be between the two strands and in front of the left needle. The yarn connected to the ball is in front of the work.

Take the yarn connected to the ball and wrap it around the right needle, passing it over and under the right needle. While holding the thread between your thumb and forefinger, tightly pull the thread back along the right needle.

Pass your right needle through the loop of the left needle stitch and bring the right needle under the left needle.

Drop the stitch from the left needle by pulling the needle back. This will create a purl stitch on the right needle.

2. Knit the following purl stitches

knit purl

Knit the next stitches, in the same way, repeating steps 1 to 4. Note that the yarn connected to the ball should always be in front of the work.

You will complete the first row once all the stitches on the left needle are knitted.

Turn the work over and pick up the needle from the knitted row in the left hand to knit the next row.

Note: Always finish your row before putting your work aside; this will prevent your stitches from expanding and making your knitting uneven.

Tips for beginners on how to knit purl

knit purl

There are a few things to keep in mind to get correct results faster when starting to knit. It is also advisable to practice several times to reach satisfactory work.

Use the suitable material to start knitting.

knit purl

When practicing purl knitting, use at least 4.5 or 5 mm needles, as you will have a better grip, and the knitted stitches will be more visible. Choose a yarn size that matches the size of your needles or is slightly thicker.

Prevent the right needle from falling off

To prevent the right needle from falling off while knitting your stitches, you can lock the right needle under your arm and hold it against you, so there is no risk of the needle falling off and less chance of losing your stitches.

Catch a lost stitch

If you lose a stitch, the stitch may unravel. You can catch it with an auxiliary needle or hook, preferably using a size smaller than your needle size. You will need to place the hook in the stitch loop and bring the horizontal thread corresponding to the lost stitch in the same direction as the other stitches in the row.

Keep your knitting even

knit purl

To achieve even work, practice knitting several rows the same way and keeping the same tension on the yarn connected to the ball when you knit your stitch purl. Hold the yarn connected to the ball over your right index finger and slide it under your ring finger for more consistency. The work will keep the same tension throughout the knitting.

Finding your way around your knitting

To knit a piece of work in stockinette, stitch right side up or the wrong side down, count your rows by writing them on a sheet of paper with a bar or a cross, or slip a row counter on the right needle. The row counter will need to be reinserted once the needle is changed. You will also need to count your stitches regularly at the end of a row to ensure that none are missing from your work. This way, you will not lose track of your work and know exactly where you are.

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