knitandpurl

Knit and purl are the two foundational stitches used in hand knitting. These basic stitches form the building blocks of most knitted fabrics and patterns, and learning how to execute them is typically the first step for beginners. In patterns, the terms knit and purl indicate which stitch to work on a given row or round, and they are often abbreviated as k and p.

The knit stitch creates a series of V-shaped stitches on the right side of the fabric. To perform a knit stitch, the knitter inserts the right needle into the stitch on the left needle, wraps the working yarn around the right needle, and draws a new loop through, transferring the stitch to the right needle. The resulting fabric face has a smooth appearance, with the purl side appearing as a bumpy texture.

The purl stitch produces a texture opposite the knit stitch. With the yarn positioned in front, the knitter inserts the right needle into the stitch from right to left, wraps the yarn, and draws through a new loop. The purl stitch creates bumps on the fabric’s right side and a smooth appearance on the reverse side.

Common fabric textures arise from combining knit and purl in different ways. Stockinette fabric typically results from knitting one row and purling the next, producing a smooth knit face and a curled purl back. Garment edges often use ribbing, which alternates knit and purl stitches within the same row to create elasticity. Knitting patterns rely on these two stitches to convey structure, texture, and pattern.