Knitting:
How To Purl

You want to learn how to purl? Or at least brush up on your skills, or maybe you just learned how to knit. You have come to the right place!

Here, you will find FREE and EASY instructions with pictures on how to execute the basic purl stitch.

In knitting, there are only two stitches to learn - the knit stitch (k) and the the purl stitch (p). These two stitches are the foundation of all knitted fabrics.

You may find that the purl stitch is a little harder to learn than the knit stitch but really it is just the reverse of a knit stitch. For example, when you purl every row you would produce garter stitch. This is the same as if you knitted every row. So don't be scared and learn how to purl with me!

Remember, once you have mastered these two EASY stitches the possibilities in your knitting are endless! By combining them in different ways you will soon be able to knit ribbing, textures, cables, and much, much more! Not to mention create a variety of original design bags and purses!

Let's begin: How to purl English Method

1. With the yarn held to the front of the work.



2. Hold needle with cast on stitches in your left hand, and insert the right hand needle into the front of the first stitch from right to left.



3. "throw" the yarn counter clockwise around the right needle



4. Pull the new loop (the yarn you just "threw") through the stitch on the left hand needle.



5. Now, slip the stitch off the left hand needle. You should be left with your remaining unworked or live stitches on the left hand needle and one stitch on the righthand needle.

Repeat these steps for each stitch on the left hand needle. When all the stitches are transferred to the right hand needle (where the new row is formed) you are at the end of the row.

Swap the needle with the stitches into your left hand and the now empty needle into your right hand. Now, start to work the stitches on the left hand needle the same way as you did to start.

Let's begin: How to purl Continental Method

1. Hold the yarn in your left hand and hold needle with cast on stitches in your left hand. I use the right needle to help me move the yarn from the back to the front of the left needle.



2. With the yarn in front of the left hand needle, insert the right hand needle into the front of the first stitch from right to left.



3. "pick" the yarn counter clockwise around the right needle. I usually will pull my left forefinger down in front of the work to keep a good tension.



4. Pull the new loop (the yarn you just "picked") through the stitch on the left hand needle. Use the right forefinger to hold new loop if needed.



5. Now, slip the stitch off the left hand needle. You should be left with your remaining unworked or live stitches on the left hand needle and one stitch on the right hand needle.

Repeat these steps for each stitch on the left hand needle. When all the stitches are transferred to the right hand needle (where the new row is formed) you are at the end of the row. Swap the needle with the stitches into your left hand and the now empty needle into your right hand. Now, start to work the stitches on the left hand needle the same way as you did to start.

Little Tip: When you combine one row of knit stitches and the next row purl stitches you will produce stockinette (stocking) stitch. Stockinette is the most widely used fabric in knitting.

Okay, now that you know how to purl and you know how to knit let's see how to finish our work and learn how to bind off

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