Knit and Purl Stitches Guide for Beginners

The Knit Stitch

Reads "K" in a pattern

The following is more of a definition of the stitches. I'm going to presume you have someone to show you the actual stitches. This will just be a refresher of what you've learned.

Knitting is a succession of yarn making "waves" and interlocking. The trough of each wave is interlocked with the top of the previous wave, leaving the top of the new wave free. To do this, a needle is used, and a second needle helps to interlock the next wave.

Each loop that is, or has been on a needle, is a stitch. A basic stitch has two sides. The knit side is smooth and looks like a "V." The purl side is rugged and bumpy. The purl side clearly shows how the two waves interlock.

GARTER STITCH

When you work rows of just knit in succession, you create a garter stitch fabric. This fabric has a lot of texture, is sturdy, and looks the same on both sides of the material. The garter stitch will not roll, so it is excellent for scarves and easy to count. Each ridge is 2 knit rows.

STOCKINETTE (STITCH)

The resulting fabric from knitting on one side (or row) and purling on the next are what we commonly refer to as knit. The material will be different on both sides and has a "right side," "wrong side," or a "front" and "back." Often in a pattern, the side using the knit stitch is the right side. It will be smooth, and you will see that the stitches create a zig-zag design (or heart if you're a romantic!). The "wrong side" is bumpy and looks similar to the garter stitch.

DECREASE

You can also interlock two or more stitches with one new loop (a decrease) or make two or more new loops in one stitch (an increase). You can also make new loops without interlocking them with a previous stitch (yarnovers). While I've simplified it here, you can create thousands of stitch patterns with these 3 stitches, making fabrics of various textures and designs.

♥ Right side - the side you want to show. AKA front of work and right side rows

♥ Wrong side - the side you don't want to show! Although some patterns look good on both sides, you want to mark the wrong side to keep your pattern directions straight. AKA back of work

Four Basic Steps

The basic movements of knitting can be summed up in 4 words and repeated to yourself until it becomes muscle memory.

INSERT the right needle into the stitch on the left needle.

WRAP the yarn around the right needle.

PULL through a loop of yarn.

SLIDE the loop on the left needle off, leaving a complete stitch on the right needle.

REPEAT to the end of the row.

Insert, wrap, pull, slide.