Knit and purl are the only two stitches you need to learn

Every knitted fabric is built from two stitches: the knit stitch and the purl stitch. The knit stitch pulls yarn through a loop from front to back. The purl stitch pulls yarn through from back to front. That difference in direction is the only real distinction between them — and it is the reason one creates a smooth V-shaped bump on the front of your work while the other creates a horizontal ridge. Once you can do both, you can make any pattern in any knitting book.

Most people learn the knit stitch first because the hand motion feels more natural. The purl stitch uses the same needles and yarn but requires your hands to work in the opposite direction. Neither is harder than the other once your hands understand the motion — it is just a matter of practice.

Key Takeaways

  • The knit stitch creates a smooth V-shaped bump on the front of your fabric and is usually learned first.
  • The purl stitch creates a horizontal ridge on the front and uses the exact opposite hand motion as the knit stitch.
  • Both stitches use the same basic steps: insert the needle, wrap the yarn, and pull a new loop through the old one.
  • Alternating knit and purl stitches in different patterns creates ribbing, garter stitch, stockinette, and every other fabric texture.
  • Your tension — how tightly you hold the yarn — matters more than speed when you are learning.

How to make a knit stitch, step by step

Hold your needles so the working yarn (the yarn attached to the ball) hangs from the right needle. Insert the right needle through the loop on the left needle from left to right, going in front of the left needle. The right needle should pass through the loop and come out on the other side, creating an X shape where the needles cross.

Wrap the working yarn around the right needle, moving it from back to front and then around the right needle in a clockwise direction. Pull the right needle backward and downward, drawing the new loop of yarn through the old loop on the left needle. Slide the old loop off the left needle. You now have one new knit stitch on the right needle.

Repeat this motion for every stitch on the left needle until all stitches have moved to the right needle. Then switch the needles so the full needle becomes your left needle, and the empty needle becomes your right needle. This completes one row.

How to make a purl stitch, step by step

Hold your needles so the working yarn hangs in front of your work. Insert the right needle through the loop on the left needle from right to left, going behind the left needle. The right needle should pass through the loop and come out on the other side, creating an X shape where the needles cross — but this time the right needle is behind instead of in front.

Wrap the working yarn around the right needle, moving it from front to back and then around the right needle in a counterclockwise direction. Pull the right needle backward and downward, drawing the new loop of yarn through the old loop on the left needle. Slide the old loop off the left needle. You now have one new purl stitch on the right needle.

The purl motion is the knit motion in reverse. If you find yourself confused, remember that the yarn starts in front for purl and in back for knit. Everything else follows from that one difference.

What different stitch patterns look like and how to make them

A garter stitch is made by knitting every row. The front and back of the fabric look identical — both show horizontal ridges. This is the easiest pattern to learn because you do the same stitch over and over. A garter stitch scarf or dishcloth is a common first project.

Stockinette stitch is made by alternating one row of knits with one row of purls. The front shows smooth V-shaped bumps (the knit side), and the back shows horizontal ridges (the purl side). Most sweaters, hats, and fitted garments use stockinette because it drapes well and shows stitch definition clearly.

Ribbing is made by alternating knit and purl stitches within the same row — for example, knit one stitch, purl one stitch, knit one stitch, purl one stitch, all the way across. The result is vertical columns that stretch and contract. Ribbing is used on cuffs, necklines, and the bottom edges of sweaters because it hugs the body without being tight.

Once you understand how knit and purl stitches look and feel, you can read a knitting pattern and see what it is asking you to do. Patterns use abbreviations like K for knit and P for purl, followed by a number telling you how many stitches to make.

How to hold your yarn and needles for consistent tension

Tension means how tightly or loosely you hold the yarn as you knit. Uneven tension makes your stitches look bumpy and irregular. The goal is not to knit tightly — it is to knit consistently, so every stitch is the same size as the one before it.

Most people hold the yarn in their right hand (if they are right-handed) and let it flow through their fingers before wrapping it around the needle. The yarn should pass over your index finger, under your middle finger, and over your ring finger. This setup lets you control the yarn with small finger movements instead of moving your whole hand.

Hold the needle with the stitches in your left hand loosely, resting it on your fingers rather than gripping it. Your right hand does most of the work — inserting the needle and wrapping the yarn. If your hands get tired, you are probably gripping too hard. Knitting should feel relaxed, not tense.

Common mistakes beginners make and how to fix them

The most common mistake is dropping stitches without noticing. A dropped stitch looks like a hole in your fabric and unravels downward if you do not catch it. Check your stitch count at the end of each row — count the loops on your left needle before you start a new row. If the number is lower than it should be, you dropped a stitch. Use a crochet hook to pick it back up by inserting the hook through the dropped loop and pulling the horizontal strand of yarn above it through the loop.

The second mistake is twisting stitches. This happens when you insert the needle through a stitch in the wrong direction or wrap the yarn the wrong way. A twisted stitch looks tilted instead of straight. It does not ruin your work, but it makes the fabric look uneven. Focus on the direction your needle enters the stitch — for knit, it goes left to right; for purl, it goes right to left.

The third mistake is inconsistent tension, which makes some rows look loose and others tight. This usually happens when you are learning because your hands are still figuring out the motion. The fix is to slow down and pay attention to how much yarn you are letting flow through your fingers with each stitch. After a few hours of practice, your hands will remember the motion and your tension will even out on its own.

How to practice without committing to a full project

Before you start a real project, make a practice swatch. Cast on 20 stitches using the long-tail cast-on or another method you have learned. Knit 10 rows of garter stitch (all knits). Then knit 10 rows of stockinette stitch (alternating knit and purl rows). Then knit 10 rows of ribbing (alternating knit and purl within each row). Bind off and keep the swatch.

A practice swatch teaches your hands the motion without the pressure of making something you have to wear or give away. You can also unravel it and use the yarn again. Many knitters keep their first swatches as a record of how much their tension and technique improved over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a knit stitch and a purl stitch?

The knit stitch pulls yarn through a loop from front to back, creating a smooth V-shaped bump on the front of your fabric. The purl stitch pulls yarn through from back to front, creating a horizontal ridge on the front. They are the same motion in opposite directions.

Do I have to learn purl if I only want to knit garter stitch?

No. Garter stitch uses only knit stitches, so you can make scarves, blankets, and dishcloths without ever learning to purl. However, learning purl opens up stockinette and ribbing, which are used in most fitted garments and sweaters.

Why do my stitches look uneven?

Uneven stitches are usually caused by inconsistent tension — holding the yarn too tightly on some stitches and too loosely on others. Slow down and focus on letting the yarn flow through your fingers at the same speed for every stitch. Your tension will improve with practice.

What should I do if I drop a stitch?

Use a crochet hook to pick it back up. Insert the hook through the dropped loop and pull the horizontal strand of yarn above it through the loop. Repeat this for each row the stitch has dropped, then place the stitch back on your left needle and keep knitting.

Can I fix a mistake several rows back?

Yes, but it requires unraveling. Count how many rows back the mistake is, then carefully pull the working yarn to unravel your work back to that row. Pick up the stitches on your needle and keep going. This is why many knitters prefer to catch mistakes as they happen rather than discovering them later.