Knitting Stitches Explained

There’s a boatload of many different abbreviations and terms used in knitting patterns. Depending on your level of skill, you might be privy to what certain abbreviations stand for.

This does not, however, mean that you will be immediately aware of what procedures the instructions need you to carry out. And that is where you will need Knitting stitches explained in detail.

Master Your Knitting Stitches With Practice

In your endeavor to become a knitting guru, you will come across such terms as moss stitches, purls. Repeat stitches, garter stitch, stocking stitch, rows, and increases.

It is a whole world of terms and stitching abbreviations out there. To master the art of knitting. And to qualify to be called the Zen master of the knitting arts, you will need to learn all the stitches and their intricacies.

It isn’t entirely an easy task, but there’s loads of fun involved, a lot of experimenting and eventually, you’ll get there. Having Knitting stitches explained will open up a whole new exciting world of endless possibilities.

How To Purl Knit Written and Video Tutorial

gloves Knitting Stitches Explained October 17, 2018August 7, 2020How To Knit Purl Stitch, What Is Purl Stitch

Our step by step tutorial will guide you through learning how to purl knit.

By learning the purl stitch, you will be able to knit many more pieces and learn even more stitches.

Keep reading to learn how to knit the purl stitch!

After learning the knit stitch, the most basic stitch for knitting, the purl stitch is an absolute must. You have to know how to purl in order to learn every other stitch (other than the knit garter stitch) and work any patterns.

What Is The Purl Stitch?

The purl stitch is one of the most basic and key stitches a beginning knitter must learn. It is considered knitting from back to front.

An important thing to remember is to keep track of the number of stitches on your needle, as it can be easy to accidentally increase or decrease when learning.

The stitches of knit and purl are what create a knitted pieces distinctive pattern and texture.

Learning how to purl knit does feel awkward at first, but just keep practicing and you will get it!

A good idea to practice learning the purl stitch is to alternate a row of knit stitch and a row of purl stitch, for several rows.

This creates another basic stitch that is ideal to learn soon, the stockinette stitch. For a tutorial on the stockinette stitch, click here.

Or you can just keep practicing row after row of purl stitch to create a purl garter stitch, which is also very handy to learn.

These two stitches are the key to all knitting patterns! One of the reasons why people find learning knitting to be more enjoyable than crochet is due to this!

Knitting Skill Level

Difficulty: Beginner

How to Purl Knit

As with knit stitch, your working (empty) needle is in the right hand and the left-hand needle has the cast on stitches. Keeping the yarn in the front of the work and working the yarn with your right hand.

Step 1: Begin by inserting the right-hand needle from the back to the front into the first stitch on the left-hand needle. At this point the right-hand needle should be at the front of the left-hand needle and the yarn should have moved to the front of the work.

Step 2: Wrap the yarn COUNTERCLOCKWISE around the needle, with your right hand.

Step 3: Pull the right-hand needle through the stitch on the left-hand needle, which should form a loop on the right-hand needle.

Step 4: Pull the stitch off of the left-hand needle, completing the purl stitch.

To end the purl stitch, you cast off just as you would with the knit stitch.

How to Increase Purl Stitch

Step 1: Begin by inserting the right-hand needle from the back to the front into the first stitch on the left-hand needle. At this point the right-hand needle should be at the front of the left-hand needle. The yarn should have moved to the front of the work.

Step 2: Wrap the yarn COUNTERCLOCKWISE around the needle, with your right hand.

Step 3: Pull the right-hand needle through the stitch on the left-hand needle, which should form a loop on the right-hand needle.

Step 4: Don’t pull the stitch off of the left-hand needle. Twist the right-hand needle to the front of the stitch again. Insert the right-hand needle from the back to the front into that same stitch on the left-hand needle.

Step 5: Wrap the yarn counterclockwise again around the needle, with your right hand.

Step 6: Pull the stitch off of the left-hand needle, completing the purl stitch and the increase at the same time.

There you have it! How to create one of the most important beginner stitches in knitting, the purl stitch!

Now that you know how to purl knit, it’s time for a great pattern to practice on. Check out our pattern for a purl stitch scarf here!

Need more help? Take a look at this video tutorial of how to purl knit here!

How To Knit Stockinette Stitch Free Tutorial

gloves Knitting Stitches Explained August 17, 2018August 7, 2020Cool Knitting Stitches, How To Knit Stockinette Stitch

Our pattern for the stockinette stitch will teach you each step in learning one of the most important stitches in knitting.

Learning the stockinette stitch is essential to help you become a great knitter.

Read on for about our pattern and tips and tricks!

As a beginning knitter, I was so happy to learn that I could make many things with just two stitches, knit and purl. I happily knitted away for quite some time before learning to purl.

Then I learned to alternate the two. Little did I know, as I played with stitches, that I managed to happen upon a very important part of knitting, the stockinette stitch!

What Is The Stockinette Stitch?

One of the most basic, and most important, stitches that you need to know for kitting is the stockinette stitch.

Sometimes called the stocking stitch, it is such a basic part of knitting that it can be difficult to even find patterns or explanations of what it is exactly and how to knit it.

In fact, it is so basic, you likely already use it without even realizing it! But, we’re going to break it down here, just to make sure you know it, because you will be using it for as long as you knit.

The first thing anyone learns to do when learning to knit is the knit stitch. When you repeat just the knit stitch row after row, you have what is called the garter stitch.

After mastering the knit stitch, beginners learn the purl stitch. Purling row after row also results in the garter stitch.

It’s what happens when you alternate rows of the knit and purl stitches that we’re talking about here-the stockinette stitch!

Photo: Lion Brand

So Simple And Versatile

The stockinette stitch is used for just about any project you can think of making. And even though you will likely learn and use other stitches along the way, you will always come back to the stockinette stitch, simply because of its versatility!

In fact, check out our pattern for a stockinette stitch hat!

More than that though, you can knit washcloths/dishcloths, afghans, scarves, socks! Because it is so easy to work, you can easily adapt it to whatever project you’re working on, or want to work on.

Because you only need to know basic knit and purl stitches, the stockinette stitch is considered basic, beginner skill level.

Stockinette Stitch Curling

One fact you simply cannot get away from with the stockinette stitch, is its tendency to curl as you knit along. It will happen.

You can use other stitches to counteract the curling, such as the garter stitch, or you can use the curling to your advantage with certain patterns. Sometimes the arms of sweaters or hems look great with a slight roll!

Photo: Spruce Crafts

But even with that issue, the overwhelming number of possibilities with this stitch is why you will keep using it. The end result is a nice and simple look that resembles a machine knit fabric, with rows of “V’s.”

The “wrong” side, or reverse stockinette, creates a bumpy, ridged look instead. Either end result can work, depending on the look you are going for!

You can embellish with beading or embroidery, change up the colors of the yard and much more to keep it interesting.

How to Knit the Stockinette Stitch

The pattern for this stitch is super simple and easy.

Cast on. Any number of stitches will do.

Knit 1 row.

Purl 1 row.

Repeat.

To end-simply end the row and bind off.

How To Knit Stockinette Stitch In The Round

To create the stockinette stitch in the round, you simply knit each row. It works out differently here, due to the nature of working in the round.