- CraftKnitting
- US abbreviationp
- UK abbreviationp
- TypeMain stitches
What is purl stitch?
The other basic knitting stitch. It is the back of a knit stitch and looks like a small bump. Mix knits and purls and you get ribbing, seed stitch and stockinette.
In a pattern you will see it written as p in both US and UK patterns.
How to do it, step by step
- With the yarn in front, put the right needle into the front of the stitch, right to left.
- Wrap the yarn around the right needle counterclockwise.
- Push the new loop out through the back.
- Slide the old stitch off.
The mistake to watch for
Wrapping clockwise twists the stitch. Counterclockwise every time.
If you are left-handed
Most left-handed knitters knit the usual way, since both hands work. If you prefer, you can knit mirrored: stitches move from the right needle to the left. Swap "left" and "right" in the steps.
Practise it on a free pattern
These patterns from Crochet Counter use purl stitch:
Related stitches
Questions
What is the most common mistake with purl stitch?
Wrapping clockwise twists the stitch. Counterclockwise every time.
Keep count with Crochet Counter
The app has this stitch and 31 more in its stitch dictionary, in US or UK terms, with a row counter for every project. The core app is free, has no ads and needs no account. Pro is optional.
