I am new here as well as a new knitter so please bear with me if this has been answered many times before.
I am finding it’s tight to place my needle under the stitch to pull the yarn in a garter stitch after purling. I’ve read that this is common but haven’t found anywhere if there’s a simpler way than tugging on the stitch. Thank you for your help.
Well, the ultimate answer is, with time you will learn to loosen your tension a bit when you purl.
But, I do find this interesting because usually purl sts are looser and easier to work when you come back on the next row than knit sts, which are usually tighter when you come back on the next row.
Garter st by purling, I think, is considered more work by most knitters, as most people throw knit stitches faster than purls. Have you considered knitting every row to make your garter st, and see how that feels?
Is it possible your twisting the purl by wrapping the yarn incorrectly? Check the videos to see if that might be the problem. I sometimes do that intentiontionally after a knit stitch in ribbing to tighten it up.
I agree that garter is easier if you knit every row. Good to know if you’re doing the purl incorrectly though.
Yes, you may be wrapping the purl sts ‘backwards’ and that will make them tighter. Wrap the yarn around the needle the same direction for the purls as for the knits.
Yes …wrap them over the top of the needle. See video to clarify.
Thank you all for the responses. I did knit purl a row very loosely just an hour ago to see if it would help and it did - very much. Also, I am using bamboo needles whereas I was using aluminum last time I did the knit, purl, knit, purl and am thinking that could be a small part of it because I’m a beginner. I will review the video to make sure I’m doing it correctly. Thanks again!
Oh dear, I think I am wrapping the purl stitch backwards as I pull the yarn under the needle rather than over it. I tried both ways and then knitted and could tell the difference immediately. Well, I guess it’s time to learn how to purl again. I’m grateful for your responses… I could have done this for years.
The yarn goes counter-clockwise.