Purl Stitch - Beginner Needs Help, Please!

[redhairedlady]

Hello,

I'm a very new knitter (have been crocheting for two years, but just learned how to knit a week ago). When I purl a row of stitches, I have a terrible time working into the stitches on the next row. No matter how loosely I try to purl, the stitches come out too tight, and I cannot get my needle into the stitch to work the next row. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong, and can't find any information about this online anywhere. Am I the only person who has this problem? Please help!

[MrsWildchild]

When I started knitting, I did everything really tightly (still have a tendency to do that). But I can't say I had that problem. Did you view the videos on this website? http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/purl-stitch

What you are doing when knitting or purling, really, is putting the needle through a loop, grabbing a loop of working yarn, then pulling it back through where you just went in.

[Ingrid]

Usually, when you have trouble working the next row, it means that you either worked the previous row in a twisted manner, or are trying to work the present row twisted. Make sure that you're inserting your needle into the front leg of the loop--from right to left for purling and from left to right for knitting. You can check out the videos to be sure.

Also, as was pointed out, don't tug or snug up your stitches. Just keep them relaxed.