purled

Purled is the past tense and past participle of the verb purl in knitting and, less commonly, in crochet contexts. It describes stitches, edges, or fabrics formed by the purl technique. In knitting, the purl stitch is made with the working yarn held in front and generally produces a texture that contrasts with the knit stitch. A fabric described as purled has purl stitches as part of its structure, and purled edges or borders are commonly used to create defined outlines or subtle texture.

In pattern writing, purled sections may appear as rows worked entirely in purl stitches or as alternating rows of purled and knitted stitches to achieve textures such as ribbing, seed stitch, or garter-like surfaces. The term helps distinguish these areas from those worked in knit stitches and from sections that are simply finished with a standard edge.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from the knitting term purl. Purled has been used in English-language knitting patterns and instructional texts since the early modern period, though it remains chiefly a descriptive term within craft contexts. The concept is widely understood among knitters as indicating the specific texture or row orientation produced by purl stitches.

Notes: Purled is a technical term tied to stitch technique and is not a general descriptor of non-textile objects. In everyday language, it is primarily encountered in knitting patterns and instructional manuals.