I’m sure I am only struggling with this because I am so new to knitting but I am having a heck of a time trying to figure out whether I purl or knit when I return to my knitting. I have to put it down for one reason or another and it’s always a 50/50 toss up when I start again (and I am ALWAYS on the losing end of a 50/50). So I have to take my row out and start again.
How do you remember or mark it?
Well, I guess it would depend if you stop in the middle of a row or not and what pattern you’re doing. I always finish a row before I put my knitting down. No matter what! I’ve lost too much knitting in my life to leave it in the middle of the row. Lesson learned for me. :teehee: And I usually have the pattern and a row counter at all times or I write the pattern out I’m using. That way you know what row to start next and you won’t be wondering whether to knit or purl.
It just takes time learning a new craft, but well worth it in the end. Good luck!
I have a two year old so knitting gets dropped at any point in a row:poke: 
. But I find even if I stop at the end of a row, I can’t remember what I last did.
I’m making a scarf right now where the pattern alternates between knit and purls and each row is different so I think writing out the pattern won’t help. Thanks for the suggestions though!
Anyone else?
It helps to mark the pattern somehow. Either put a tick mark beside the row number you’ve just finished, or use a stickynote and move it along row by row.
For cases of children, where marking patterns or placing stitch markers often make it impossible, you could just “read” your knitted work.
Look at the row you’re on. Look for bumps or “nooses.” Those are purls. If you see a V or something that looks like it’s wearing a scarf, that’s a knit.
I’m really good at seeing purls. So when I’m forced to put the knitting down, I read the last row. I count the purls (and I know if it’s not a purl, it has to be a knit) and then go back to pattern and see which line it matches up with.
Hope this helps!
Sticky notes on the pattern, and a pen in your knitting bag. Always write down where you are when you leave your knitting! So much easier than thinking and remembering…
I think this might work for this pattern!! I’ve tried to ‘read’ my knitting a couple of times tonight and so far I’ve been doing alright. Now that I know what to look for, I can tell the difference. Thanks so much!!!
Watersprite, it’s good that you’re learning how to read knits and purls. That will also help you if you drop a stitch several rows back because you can use a crochet hook to grab it and bring it up through the rows. For picking up a purl, you place the bar in front of the dropped loop and pull it through the loop to the back and do the opposite when picking up a knit. I’ve actually brought a dropped stitch up through 10 rows or so. Sure beats either tinking or frogging just for one stitch!!
[COLOR=“DarkOrchid”]Hi Watersprite… What always works for me is that I’m always writing myself notes. I just don’t expect myself to remember and sometimes figuring out what that last stitch was is hard for someone just starting out…
When I have to put my knitting down, I always leave myself a little note on the pattern… start with knit row… or go to step 2 or knit 2, purl 2…
TEMA:knitting:
WIP: One huge ugly sock
One sweetie pie baby sweater - blue and grey[/COLOR]
yea at 1st mee 2 got this problem to distinguish the purl n knit side or following the pattern or charts but since knitting for so long time, its easy for me to know where i am with my works…
this is what i do too… although it took me a while to get to the point of being able to do it, in the beginning, I wasnt sure how to “read” the stitches, but after a few projects, it just dawned on me one day that I tell which stitches were which!