The Purl Stitch.
Two ways of purling it.

The PURL STITCH is one of the two major stitches in knitting. There are a few different ways of purling this stitch. Let's consider two major of them:

• Variant #1. Should be used for the knit stitch knitted through the front loop This combination of the purl and knit stitch is a classical and the most often used way of knitting.
• Variant #2 (or Granny"s PURL STITCH) should be combined with a knit stitch knitted through the back loop . This variant is recommended for knitting of stockinette fabric since it comes out more dense and better quality to compare to Variant # 1. Not recommended for lacy patterns.

What will happen if you blend the methods you knit and purl not the way recommended above? Nothing terrible actually. It will still be knitting/purling, but quality of fabric will be slightly different. It is still not a bad idea to follow recommendations given above, if you really care about good quality of fabric for your project.

So, for a looking neat fabric, remember to follow this rule:

1. BOTH knit and purl stitch have to be made either according to Variant #1 or Variant #2 (Granny's way)
2. As a rule, Variant #2 purl and knit stitches produce a better quality stockinet fabric.

Variant # 1. Purling a Stitch.

1. Yarn is on the front side of the left needle. 2. Insert the right needle from right to left in the first loop on the left needle behind the working yarn. 3. Wrap the yarn counterclockwise, and draw the new loop in through to the back. 4. Drop off the old loop.

Here is a video which demonstrates Variant #1 of purling a stitch. A knitter uses continental style of knitting. For American / English style of knitting everything will EXACTLY be the same, but a working yarn has to be supplied by the right hand.

Variant # 2. (Granny's Purl Stitch). Purling a Stitch.

This variant of purling is simpler to perform than Variant # 1.

1. Yarn is on the front side of the left needle. 2. Insert the right needle from right to left in the first loop on the left needle behind the working yarn. 3. By the end of the right needle pool the working yarn through the loop. 4. Drop off the old loop.

The more knitting experience you gain, the more methods of making a purl and a knit stitch you will learn. But two Variants described here is a good start. Sometimes blending both these Variants creates very interesting practical effects.

For example, a twisted stitch produced by blending these two Variants is a way to avoid the holes along the raglan lines while knitting a top-down seamless sweater.

A library of knitting videos can be found at Needlework Video page.

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