Knit Stitches Vs. Purl Stitches: Knitting Basics for Beginners

Knitting, a universal language spoken throughout the world. Different cultures come at the action in different ways but the results will all be the same. Universal. So why is that? 

While we’ve all seen intricate lace work, or cables, or even colorwork, they’re all sourced from the same common denominator. Two stitches, a knit or a purl. It’s the combination of knits and purls and the creative things we do to them that make the magic. It’s sorcery to take two sticks and some string and create. 

So let’s talk about these two stitches. Everybody’s making them these days. 

The Knit Stitch

The knit stitch, It’s the most popular stitch and usually what beginners learn first. Traditionally when we look at rows of knit stitches it’s what we consider to be the right, or correct side of the garment. They look like lots of letter V’s all lined next to each other. When there’s a grouping of knit stitches the effect will be a very finished look. 

The Purl Stitch

The purl stitch, just as essential as the knit, but lacking in popularity. New knitters often get so excited with having learned the knit stitch that it’s hard for them initially to develop a new muscle memory for purling. 

Knit Stitches & Purl Stitches: Simply Opposites of Each Other

While many knitters are opinionated about their stitch preferences, each stitch is just the reverse of the other. If you were to take a swatch, or sample piece, of knit stitches and turned it over, what you would have is a swatch of purl stitches. Groupings of purls will look like little nubs next to each other. We associate this with what we see on the wrong side, or underside of a finished piece. 

Proficiency in the knit and purl stitches will lay the foundation for anything you want to create. Like any skill, proficiency only comes with practice. Your first one hundred stitches will look far different from your thousandth stitch. 

Practice These Rhymes While You Knit

Here are some fun rhymes to help you remember the stick and string motions for knitting and purling.