Lesson 3 of 8

The Knit & Purl Stitch

The Knit Stitch

The knit stitch is the foundation of knitting. When looking at the right side of the fabric, knit stitches appear as neat V shapes stacked vertically.

English Method (Throwing)

  1. Hold the needle with stitches in your left hand, empty needle in your right.
  2. Insert the right needle into the first stitch from left to right, through the front of the stitch.
  3. With your right hand, wrap the working yarn counterclockwise around the right needle tip.
  4. Pull the right needle back through the stitch, bringing the new loop with it.
  5. Slide the original stitch off the left needle. One knit stitch made.

Continental Method (Picking)

Continental knitters hold the working yarn in their left hand and "pick" it through each stitch with the right needle — rather than "throwing" it with the right hand. Many knitters find it faster, especially those who learned to crochet first.

  1. Hold the working yarn taut over your left index finger.
  2. Insert the right needle into the stitch from left to right.
  3. Use the right needle tip to pick the yarn from behind and pull it through the stitch.
  4. Slide the old stitch off. One knit stitch made.
Neither method is better — both produce identical results. Try both and use whichever feels more natural.

The Purl Stitch

The purl stitch is essentially the knit stitch worked in reverse. On the right side, purl stitches appear as horizontal bumps. A row of purls on the wrong side creates a row of knit V's on the right side.

English Method

  1. Bring the working yarn to the front of the work (between the needles).
  2. Insert the right needle into the first stitch from right to left, through the front of the stitch.
  3. Wrap the yarn counterclockwise around the right needle tip.
  4. Pull the right needle back through the stitch, drawing the new loop through.
  5. Slide the original stitch off the left needle. One purl stitch made.

Continental Method

  1. Hold yarn in front of the work.
  2. Insert the right needle into the stitch from right to left.
  3. Swing the right needle down and use it to pick the yarn from the front.
  4. Pull the loop through and slide the stitch off.

Reading Your Fabric

Learning to identify stitches by sight is a crucial skill. Knit stitches look like a V — the two legs of the V sit on the needle. Purl stitches look like a bump or horizontal bar sitting in front of the stitch below.

Garter Stitch

Garter stitch is the simplest knitted fabric — you knit every single stitch on every row (or purl every stitch on every row). The result is a reversible, ridged fabric that lies flat and doesn't curl.

Pattern

Flat: Knit every stitch on every row.
In the round: Alternate knit rounds and purl rounds.

Characteristics

  • Completely reversible — looks the same on both sides
  • Lies flat without blocking (no curling edges)
  • More elastic vertically than stockinette
  • Two garter rows = one visible ridge

Garter stitch is great for borders, scarves, dishcloths, and any project where you don't want the edges to curl. Many beginner projects are worked entirely in garter stitch.

🔧 Browse the Stitch Dictionary for more knitted fabric patterns. Open Dictionary →

Stockinette Stitch

Stockinette (also written stocking stitch or St st) is the most common knitted fabric. It has smooth V's on the right side and bumpy rows on the wrong side (reverse stockinette).

Pattern

Flat: Row 1 (RS): Knit all stitches. Row 2 (WS): Purl all stitches. Repeat.
In the round: Knit every round.

Characteristics

  • Smooth, stretchy fabric — ideal for garments
  • Has a right side (knit) and wrong side (purl)
  • Curls at the edges — stockinette needs borders or seaming to lie flat
  • Easier to see and fix mistakes

The knit side (smooth V's) is usually the right side of garments. The purl side (bumps) is sometimes used deliberately as "reverse stockinette" for texture or decorative contrast.

Seed Stitch

Seed stitch (also called moss stitch in some countries) alternates knit and purl stitches within each row, and also alternates them between rows — so each stitch is always worked the opposite way to the one below. The result is a pebbly, textured fabric that lies flat.

Pattern (odd stitch count)

Every row: *K1, P1; repeat from *, end K1.

Pattern (even stitch count)

Row 1: *K1, P1; repeat from *.
Row 2: *P1, K1; repeat from *.

Characteristics

  • Reversible — both sides look the same
  • Lies flat without curling
  • Good for borders, button bands, and entire garments
  • Slower to work than garter or stockinette but highly elastic
The key to seed stitch: always knit the purl stitches and purl the knit stitches. When you can identify each stitch by its appearance (V vs bump), seed stitch becomes easy.
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