beginners help

[viewpoint]

i've been doing a few swatches and i wanted a flat sticth so i did the knitt one row then purl one row.
with out counting the rows each time how can i tell if i'm on a purl row or a knit row because all the rows look the same to me and when the swatch is on one needle the yarn is at the back.
thanks for any help you can give

[suzeeq]

The knit sts and rows look like Vs and the purl sts and rows are bumpy. The sticky 'Knit the Knits and Purl the Purls' has some pictures and videos to help you learn which is which.