Knit the purls, purl the knits

Melody Botts · 03-12-2007, 10:19 AM

When you say knit the purls and purl the knits does this mean my first row is k,p and my second row is p,k?

brendajos · 03-12-2007, 03:33 PM

This one is a concept that killed me for a while and I won't get into why because it will send me into a state again... suffice it to say i was over thinking it a lot...lol

When you turn your work and are ready to start the next row look at the stitch you are about to work... is it a V? then it is a knit stitch so you knit it. if it is a bump then it is a purl and you purl it.

Jan in CA · 03-12-2007, 05:29 PM

Just learn what the stitches look like and you won't have to over think this. Whether you would k or p or the second row depends on whether you have an even or odd number of stitches so it's not a foolproof method.

Knit the knits and purl the purls as they face you when you have the knitting in your left hand and ready to go again if you want ribbing.

Another hint.. the stitches are opposite on each side. In other words a knit stitch has a purl on one side and knit on the other.

Melody Botts · 03-12-2007, 10:06 PM

Thanks so much, I think I finally understand.

redwitch · 03-13-2007, 12:37 AM

I think the reason people get confused is that when you look at your knitting about to start a new row, with full needle in your left hand, if you 'see a purl', that stitch was actually knitted, so many people would think 'I just knitted that, that makes it a knit'.
When it's in your left hand, you're knitting onto the right hand needle, if you are looking at the purl side of that stitch (the bump), that's what they call a purl. Regardless of how you made it, if the purl side is facing you, it's a purl, so knit it. That's what they mean.

Sarah

suzeeq · 03-13-2007, 04:44 AM

Originally Posted by redwitch

I think the reason people get confused is that when you look at your knitting about to start a new row, with full needle in your left hand, if you 'see a purl', that stitch was actually knitted, so many people would think 'I just knitted that, that makes it a knit'.
When it's in your left hand, you're knitting onto the right hand needle, if you are looking at the purl side of that stitch (the bump), that's what they call a purl. Regardless of how you made it, if the purl side is facing you, it's a purl, so knit it. That's what they mean.
Sarah

You knit the purl facing you if you're doing seed stitch. If you're doing ribbing, you'd knit it....

sue

redwitch · 03-13-2007, 01:00 PM

The confusing instruction is 'knit the purls, purl the knits'.
Melody, if you have an uneven number of stitches, EVERY row will be the same - like k1, p1 to end, every row.
If you have an even number of stitches, one row will be k1, p1 to end, next row p1, k1 to end, repeat these two rows.
That's to get seed/moss stitch.
kpkpkpk
pkpkpkp
kpkpkpk
pkpkpkp when you're looking at the one side.

Suzeeq meant if you were ribbing, you would PURL the purl bump (facing you as you work the row).

Sarah

suzeeq · 03-13-2007, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Suzeeq meant if you were ribbing, you would PURL the purl bump (facing you as you work the row).

Oops, yes I did. I was posting after work again....

sue

knitasha · 03-13-2007, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by redwitch

The confusing instruction is 'knit the purls, purl the knits'.
Sarah

This instruction is a lot less confusing when written as it is in some patterns:
"Knit the purls, purl the knits as they are facing you."
Or, for ribbing,
"Knit the knit stitches, purl the purl stitches as they are facing you."

There is really only one stitch. If you look at it from one side, it's a knit; if you look at it from the other side, it's a purl. It all depends on which side hou are looking at.

teresachinnock · 06-05-2013, 10:25 PM

Brenda you totally just made this as clear as can be, why don't they include this description in patterns....then it would be easy lol! Thank you for clearing up my confusion!!