56 Knit and Purl Stitches:  
How to Make Them...What to Do With Them?

Knit and Purl Stitches   by Janice Jones    

If you are just getting started with knitting, you'll be glad to know that there are truly only two stitches that you must master before you can make beautiful projects for the home or for yourself.  What are they?  

Knit Stitches and Purl Stitches are the fundamental building blocks of knitting.  Once you've master them, there's no stopping you.

A collage of small knit and purl stitch swatchesIndex of Knit and Purl Stitches

In this article, I will be reviewing both the knit and purl stitch and then showing you how to combine them to make interesting textured fabrics such as ribbing, cables, lace and textured stitches.  

Knit and Purl Stitches:  Directory

If you'd like to jump right into the stitches, here are the ones currently available on this site, or, continue scrolling and reading for a complete tutorial about all knit and purl stitches.

Andalusian knit stitch worked in whiteAndalusian Stitch
Knit bamboo stitch closeup (350-234 px)Bamboo Stitch
The bamboo rib knit stitch pattern worked in a green 100% wool, thumbnail 350-234 px Bamboo Rib Knit Stitch Pattern
Knit basketweave stitch (350 px by 234 px) closeup viewBasketweave Stitch
Right side showing of the beaded rib stitch swatch, thumbnailBeaded Knit Rib Stitch
Box knit stitch swatch in read yarn, thumbnail imageBox Check Stitch
Broken rib swatch worked in white yarn (right side)Broken Rib knit Stitch
Knit bumpy stitch pattern worked in tealBumpy Stitch
Thumbnail image of the chevron rib knit stitch swatch worked in orange yarn.Chevron Rib Stitch
Knit close check pattern worked in greenClose Check Knit Stitch
A thumbnail image of the cut diagonals worked in purple.Cut Diagonals
A thumbnail image of the diagonal rib stitchDiagonal Rib Stitch
Thumbnail image of the Diagonal spiral rib stitch worked in pink Diagonal Spiral Rib Stitch
Diagonal seed stitch thumbnail image worked in greenDiagonal Seed Stitch
Diamond brocade knit stitch pattern worked in purple thumbnail imageDiamond Brocade Stitch
Thumbnail image of the double alternate andalou knit stitch in yellowDouble Alternate Andalou Stitch
A thumbnail image of the Double Andalusian knit stitch worked in blue yarnDouble Andalusian Knit Stitch
A thumbnail image of the double basket stitch knitting.Double Basket Stitch
Moss stitch worked in whiteDouble Moss Knit Stitch
Knit drop stitch pattern Drop Stitch Garter Knit Stitch
Farrow Knit Rib Stitch, Thumbnail image 350-234pxFarrow Rib Knit Stitch
Fisherman's rib worked in pinkFisherman's Rib Stitch
Thumbnail photo of the Knit Flag Stitch worked in orange yarnFlag Stitch Knit Pattern
Fleck knit stitch pattern worked in an off white cotton yarn.Fleck Stitch
The knit Flying Geese pattern worked in dark tealFlying Geese Knit Stitch
A swatch of the giant diamond worked in blue yarn, thumb imageGiant Diamonds
Thumbnail image of the granite lace knit stitch worked in a beige colored yarnGranite Lace Knit Stitch
Grid stitch closeup 350x234pxGrid Stitch
Horizontal Knit Welt Stitch worked in a deep purl yarn 350px-234-pxHorizontal Welt Stitch
The knit hurdle stitch pattern made with pink yarn.Hurdle Stitch
Interrupted Rib Knit Stitch, Thumbnail image, 350-234pxInterrupted Rib Knit Stitch
A thumbnail photo of the King Charles BrocadeKing Charles Brocade
The knit linen stitch worked in a cream-colored yarnLinen Knit Stitch Pattern
Knit moss stitch pattern worked in blueMoss Knit Stitch
a parallogram knit stitch thumbnailParallogram
The knit pique stitch pattern closeup viewPique Stitch
Thumbnail image of the knit pyramid stitch worked in tealPyramid Knit Stitch
Knit Iron Stitch worked in dark pinkIron Stitch
Long Raindrop Knit Stitch thumbnail imageLong Raindrop Knit Stitch
Mistake rib knit stitch thumb 350 x 234 px.Mistake Rib Knit Stitch
Mock Ribbing Slip Stitch Knit Stitch Thumbnail, 350-234Mock Ribbing Slip Knit Stitch
Thumbnail photo of the pinwheel knit stitch patternPinwheel Knit Stitch
Purl ridge knit pattern thumb size 350-234Purl Ridge Knit Pattern
The pythagorean knit stitch thumbnailPythagorean
Rice StitchRice Stitch
Roman knit rib stitch thumbnail 350-234pxRoman Knit Rib Stitch
A thumbnail of the seed stitch chevron knit stitch.Seed Stitch Chevron Stitch
Thumbnail of the seeded rib worked in whiteSeeded Rib Knit Stitch
Stockinette stitch closeup worked in blue yarnStockinette Stitch
Thermal knit stitch pattern thumbnail image 359-234pxThermal Knit Stitch Pattern
Ridged rib knit stitch pattern thumbnail 350-234pxRidged Rib Stitch Pattern
Knit sand stitch pattern worked in greenSand Stitch
Knit seed stitch worked in white close up viewSeed Stitch
Seersucker knit stitch pattern worked in a thumbnail size 350-234 pxSeersucker Knit Stitch Pattern
Thumbnail of the Knit Tile Stitch worked in blueTile Knit Stitch
Twin Rib Knit Stitch ThumbnailTwin Rib Stitch
Twisted rib stitch pattern thumbnail, 350-234pxTwisted Rib Knit Stitch
Knit waffle stitch Waffle Stitch
Waved welt stitch worked in green yarnWaved Welt
1 x 1 Rib worked in white yarn, close up view1x1 Ribbing
a 2x2 rib stitch worked in blue and thumbprint as 350-234 image2x2 Ribbing

Knit and Purl Stitches:  Endless Possibilities Await You When You Combine the Knit and Purl Stitches

Thumbnail images of knit and purl stitches in a collage worked into a pin imageKnit and Purl Stitches

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