Purl stitch (p)

Purl stitch (p)
May 07, 2020

Purling a stitch in the English style

The English needle position

Insert the tip of the right needle into the next stitch, from right to left. The right needle should cross in front of the left needle. The yarn is held in front of the work.

Step one of the English purl stitch

With your right hand, loop the yarn counter-clockwise around the front (right) needle. This loop will become the new knit stitch.

Step two fo the English purl stitch

Drag the tip of the right needle back through the stitch on the left needle, pulling the looped yarn through.

Step three of the English purl stitch

Allowing the worked stitch to fall off the tip of the left needle. A new loop now sits on your right needle; this is a new purl stitch!

Purling a stitch in the Continental style

There are many ways to purl — this is is just my preferred method. A lot of knitters (and especially Continental knitters) have difficulty getting the hang of purling quickly. Give this method a try for a few rows, but if it doesn’t feel like it’s clicking for you feel free to experiment with the way you wrap the yarn. Remember, there’s no 100% right or wrong way!
The Continental needle position

Insert the tip of the right needle into the next stitch, from right to left. The right needle should cross in front of the left needle. The yarn is held in front of the work, looped over the left index finger.

Step one of the Continental purl stitch

With your left index finger, pull the yarn back and down, so that the yarn wraps around the right needle.

Step two of the Continental purl stitch

Pull the right needle back through the working stitch, bringing the looped yarn with it.

Step three of the Continental purl stitch

Allow the worked stitch to fall off the tip of the left needle. A new loop now sits on your right needle; this is a new purl stitch!

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