The Complete Beginner's Guide to Knitting: Part 3

Once you have the desired number of cast on stitches, you can begin to knit or purl.

Knitting- When knitting, you insert the right needle into the cast on stitches on the left needle from front to back. In other words, the right needle will be behind the left needle after inserting into the first stitch. Once inserted, wrap the yarn around the right needle to form a loop and slowly pull this loop through the cast on stitch on the left needle. With your first knit stitch on the right needle, slip the “old” stitch off the left needle. The stitch should have a V shape with a smooth front. Here is an instructional video for the basic knit stitch.

Purling- You can think of purling as the opposite of knitting because the yarn is kept in the front and stitch is worked from back to front, instead of front to back as in knitting. You insert the right needle into the stitch on the left needle from back to front so that the right needle is in front of the left needle. The yarn, which is in front, is brought in a loop around the top of the right needle. You then bring the right needle under the left needle and pull the loop through the stitch as in knitting. Slip the old purl stitch off the tip of the left needle. The purl stitch makes a bumpy stitch. Here is a video for the purl stitch (with beautiful yarn and a wonderful accent in the voice!).

Stockinette Stitch- Although it sounds difficult, this stitch simply means to alternate rows of knitting and purling. Here are some great pictures of each side of a stockinette stitch.

Good luck!