How to PURL STITCH for Total Beginners, by Sheep & Stitch on YouTube. 8 min 7 s.
- Video length
- 8 min 7 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Cast on about 20 stitches with your usual cast-on method and hold the needle with the stitches in your left hand.
Hold the empty needle in your right hand and let the yarn feed from the ball behind your work.
Slide the right needle tip into the front of the first stitch, going from front to back and left to right.
Wrap the working yarn around the right needle tip, going over the top and around the back.
Pull the right needle back through the stitch, bringing the new loop with it toward the front.
Slide the old stitch off the left needle. The new loop now sits on the right needle.
Repeat steps 3 to 6 for every stitch until the row is done, then turn your work to start the next row.
Knit a few rows of purl only, or alternate knit and purl rows, to build the stockinette stitch.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep the yarn behind your work before you start each purl stitch, or the stitch will twist.
Don't pull the yarn tight after wrapping; snug loops keep the fabric even and easy to work.
Purl is the exact reverse of knit, so if you can knit you already know the motion.
Count your stitches at the end of each row so dropped stitches don't go unnoticed.
Questions
Do I need to know the knit stitch first?
It helps. Purl is the mirror of knit, so learn knit first and purl will feel familiar. You need to know how to cast on before either.
Why does my purl row look uneven?
Uneven tension is normal at first. Keep the yarn behind the work and avoid pulling each loop tight.
What can I make once I know knit and purl?
You can knit rib stitch, seed stitch and stockinette stitch, which are the base of scarves, hats and sweaters.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
