I’ve just gotten into knitting. I’d learned when I was MUCH younger but found my old needles and decided to get back into it. Seems SO much harder then it used to! I’m not quiet sure the difference between a knit and a purl are what they are. Help? Or should I just hang up those old needles?
Also I did watch the videos and that left me even more confused.
With a knit st, the yarn is at the back of your work, insert the needle from the front to the back, wrap and bring it through. With a purl, the yarn is in front, insert the needle from the back to the front, wrap the yarn and pull it through.
What confused you on the videos?
Well, I have the Knit part down. The purl is what I don’t get. So it’s the same thing but upside down? Does it matter which way you wrap?
Not upside down… poke the needle into the st from back to the front; wrap the yarn the same direction you do for the purl. Do you knit with your yarn in the R hand or L hand?
Oh okay. I think I have it. I’m right handed.
That’s good, the purls are easier to do that way. You move the yarn around the needle with the same motion as the knit st, the difference is where the yarn is and how the R needle is poked into the stitch.
THANK YOU! I think I am starting to get the hang of it. In your opinion what is a good first project?
Just practice. CO about 20 -30 sts and practice knitting a few rows, then do a couple inches of alternating knit and purl rows. Try some decreases, then increases, look at the Tips page for ribbing and seed stitch. Mix up these ideas and you’ll end up with a sampler scarf if you keep going long enough.