New knitter, bad purls

[natave]

Hiya, I am a new knitter and I need some advice. I think I have the tension okay doing a garter stitch - no gaps, no holes. But trying a stockingette, I have lots of trouble. Purling is troublesome - I cannot get my hands to do the right thing and sort of hold the yarn oddly - it works to make the stitch, but I can't keep the tension straight. (I've watched the video, but my right hand won't do what it shows.) But with practice I'll get that, I suppose. The real problem is knitting the next row: I can't get the needle into the stitch - it seems backward? Does that make sense? I tried knitting into the back of the stitch, and that's helpful, but is that right? Am I doing this all too tightly?

the end product looks the way it ought to, but it is frustrating. please advise!!

[2girlsmom]

Hi, I'm a newbie too, but it might make you feel better to know that purling was so awkward for me at first. I kept trying and kept watching Amy's videos and it clicked. I got frustrated more than once and felt I was doing something wrong. Everything just kind of clicked one day and I thought "aha!" that is how it works! Just keep trying and I am sure someone else here can offer some help :XX:

[tab]

I don't know whether you knit English or Continental, (I wonder if it matters) but this is my take on your problem.
I knit English. I recently discovered that I've been purling 'the wrong way' for rather a long time. I was wrapping the yarn the wrong way, resulting in twisted stitches. Instead of wrapping from top to bottom (counterclockwise) I had been wrapping from bottom to top (clockwise). This made my purls insanely difficult to knit into. Pay close attention to the way you're wrapping the yarn, and take a look at Amy's short purl video - the one of a single stitch. That's what really got it into my head properly.
Good luck!

[Ingrid]

That's exactly what I was going to say. If you're having trouble knitting in the next row, it's because your purls are twisted, either because you're wrapping wrong or inserting your needle wrong.

Try some purls english style. It's easier that way, and you'll see how the purl is supposed to turn out. Once you get your mind around it, it will be easier to do.

[nade1958]

I have the same problem...that purling stuff is kinda clumsy for me...I do things the English way ...I guess we just need practice :crying:

[natave]

Watched the vid, figured it out, happily purling (awkwardly, but untwisted.)_Thanks!