What the purl stitch is and why you need it
The purl stitch is the reverse of the knit stitch. Where a knit stitch pulls the yarn from the back of your work toward the front, a purl stitch pulls it from the front toward the back. On its own, a purl stitch creates a bumpy texture that looks like the back of a knit stitch. When you alternate knit and purl stitches in the same row or in different rows, you create patterns—the most basic being ribbing, which is stretchy and used for cuffs and waistbands.
You cannot make most knitting projects without learning to purl. Even a straightforward garter stitch scarf (which looks the same on both sides) requires you to knit every row, but the moment you want texture, color, or structure, purl stitches become essential. Learning purl now means you will not hit a wall halfway through your first real project.
Key Takeaways
- The purl stitch begins with your yarn held in front of the needles, unlike the knit stitch where yarn stays in back.
- You insert the right needle from right to left through the stitch on the left needle, wrap the yarn, and pull through to create one purl stitch.
- The most common beginner mistake is pulling the yarn too tight after each purl, which makes the next stitch hard to work and distorts your fabric.
- Practicing purl rows on their own before mixing them with knit rows helps you build muscle memory and spot tension problems early.
How to hold your yarn for a purl stitch
The main difference between knit and purl is where your yarn sits. For a purl stitch, bring your yarn to the front of your work before you insert the needle. If you just finished a knit row, your yarn is already in the back; bring it forward between the two needles, passing it over the right needle or under it—either way works, but be consistent so you do not accidentally create extra stitches.
Once your yarn is in front, keep it there for the entire purl row. Your left hand (if you are a right-handed thrower) holds the working yarn loosely in your fingers, the same way you do for knit stitches. The yarn should be close enough to control but loose enough that you can wrap it around the needle without tension. If you are a continental knitter (yarn held in your left hand), the motion is slightly different, but the principle is the same: yarn in front, controlled but not tight.
The four steps to complete one purl stitch
Step 1: Insert the right needle. Hold the left needle with the stitches in your left hand. Take the right needle and push it through the stitch closest to the tip of the left needle. Unlike a knit stitch, where you go left to right, you go right to left for purl—the right needle enters from the right side of the stitch and comes out the left side. The needles will form an X shape, with the right needle in front.
Step 2: Wrap the yarn. With your yarn already in front, bring it around the right needle from right to left, going underneath and then over the top. You are wrapping the yarn the same direction as you do for knit, just with the needle positioned differently. The wrap should be snug but not tight.
Step 3: Pull the new stitch through. Push the tip of the right needle backward (away from you) and pull the wrapped yarn through the original stitch. You will feel the new loop slide onto the right needle. This is your new purl stitch.
Step 4: Drop the old stitch. Slide the original stitch off the left needle. You now have one purl stitch on the right needle and one fewer stitch on the left needle. Repeat these four steps until all stitches have moved from the left needle to the right needle. That is one complete purl row.
Common tension mistakes and how to fix them
The most frequent problem beginners face is pulling the yarn too tight after completing each purl stitch. When you pull hard, the next stitch becomes difficult to insert the needle through, and your finished fabric looks bunched and uneven. The solution is to loosen your grip slightly after you pull the new stitch through. Your stitches should slide easily onto the needle without resistance.
A second mistake is inconsistent tension—some stitches tight, some loose. This happens when you are thinking about the motion instead of letting your hands find a rhythm. The fix is to practice purl rows on scrap yarn without stopping. Knit a few rows of purl stitches in a row, one after another, without pausing to check your work. After five or six rows, your hands will settle into a natural pace and your tension will even out.
If your stitches look twisted (like they are spiraling around the needle), you may have wrapped the yarn in the wrong direction. Check that you are wrapping from right to left, underneath and over the top of the needle. A twisted stitch is not a disaster—you can keep going—but it will look sloppy in the finished piece.
Practicing purl rows before mixing them with knit
Do not jump straight into alternating knit and purl rows. Instead, cast on 20 stitches and knit 4 rows using the knit stitch. Then switch to purl and knit 4 rows of pure purl stitches. Repeat this pattern—4 rows knit, 4 rows purl—for at least 20 rows total. This gives you a chance to build the muscle memory for purl without the distraction of switching between two stitches.
When you look at your practice piece, you will see horizontal stripes. The knit rows look smooth on one side and bumpy on the other. The purl rows look bumpy on the side facing you and smooth on the back. This is normal and correct. Once you feel comfortable with purl rows, try alternating one knit row with one purl row. This creates ribbing, which is the foundation for most beginner projects.
What to do if you drop a purl stitch
A dropped stitch is a stitch that slips off the needle by accident. If you notice it right away (in the same row), you can pick it back up with a crochet hook. Insert the hook through the dropped stitch from front to back, catch the horizontal strand of yarn above it, and pull it through the stitch. Repeat this for each row the stitch has dropped, working your way up until the stitch is back on the needle. Then place it back on your left needle and keep going.
If you do not notice the dropped stitch until several rows later, the same method works, but you will have more strands to pull through. This is why checking your work every few rows is worth the time. A dropped purl stitch is easier to fix than a dropped knit stitch because the bumpy texture makes it more visible, so you are less likely to miss it.
When to call in help
If your purl stitches look drastically different from your knit stitches—much tighter or much looser—and loosening your grip does not help, ask an experienced knitter to watch you work for a few minutes. Sometimes a small adjustment to how you hold the yarn or position your hands makes all the difference. Many yarn shops offer free or low-cost drop-in help sessions, and online knitting communities are full of people willing to troubleshoot over video or photos.
If you are struggling with the needle insertion (the right-to-left motion), do not force it. Slow down, watch a video of the motion in real time, and practice the insertion without yarn first, just moving the needles through the air. Your hands need to learn the pattern before speed matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my purl stitch look different from my knit stitch?
Purl and knit create opposite textures by design. A knit stitch shows a smooth V on the front and a bump on the back. A purl stitch shows a bump on the front and a smooth V on the back. If your purl stitches look twisted or distorted compared to your knit stitches, check that you are wrapping the yarn in the correct direction (right to left, underneath and over the needle) and that your tension is consistent.
Can I knit an entire project using only purl stitches?
Yes. A project made entirely of purl stitches will look bumpy on one side and smooth on the other, similar to garter stitch (all knit). It will be less stretchy than ribbing and may curl at the edges, but it is a valid texture. Most projects mix knit and purl for structure and appearance, but purl-only fabric is perfectly usable for scarves, blankets, or textured pieces.
What if I accidentally knit a row when I meant to purl?
Your fabric will show a row of smooth V's instead of bumps. If you catch it when ready, you can drop back and fix it with a crochet hook, or you can keep going and accept the mistake as part of your learning. Most beginners do this at least once. After a few projects, muscle memory takes over and you will automatically bring your yarn to the front for purl rows without thinking.
How tight should my purl stitches be?
Your purl stitches should be snug enough that they do not slip off the needle, but loose enough that you can insert the right needle through the next stitch without forcing it. If you have to wiggle the needle or use extra pressure, your tension is too tight. Practice on scrap yarn and aim for stitches that slide smoothly onto the needle with gentle pressure.