Cozy Crafting and Art

“I do know that there isn’t ever going to be a time when there aren’t any knitters…” ― Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Perhaps the most well known knitting stitch of all is the classic Stockinette Stitch. Most will recognize its iconic V-shaped pattern, smooth finish, and curling edges. It is the quintessential stitch for nearly all stitch patterns because even the most elegant and delicate lace and the most complicated, intricate cables will require a Stockinette Stitch foundation.

To achieve this stitch, one must know how to both Knit and Purl. In this tutorial, we will go over the basics of both stitches, including how to how your needles and yarn.

Materials Needed for Practice

• Yarn (use a medium to bulky weight)
• Knitting needles (size 8/4mm to 13/9mm)

Holding Your Needles and Yarn

• Hold the needle with the cast-on stitches in your left hand.
• Wrap the working yarn around your right or left index finger (depending on whether or not you’re knitting English or Continental style) to control the tension.
• Hold the empty needle in your right hand.

Knit Abbreviation: k

Making the Knit Stitch

1. Insert the Right Needle: Insert the right needle into the first stitch on the left needle, from front to back. The right needle should be behind the left needle.
2. Wrap the Yarn: Wrap the working yarn around the right needle, moving it counterclockwise.
3. Draw Through the Loop: Use the right needle to draw the wrapped yarn through the stitch on the left needle, creating a new loop on the right needle.
4. Slip the Old Stitch Off: Slip the old stitch off the left needle, leaving the new stitch on the right needle.
5. Repeat: Repeat steps 1-4 for each stitch on the left needle until you have worked all the stitches.

Continue Knitting

Once you have worked all the stitches from the left needle to the right needle, you have completed one row of knit stitches. Transfer the needle with the stitches to your left hand and the empty needle to your right hand to start the next row.

Purl Stitch

Purl Abbreviation: p

Making the Purl Stitch

1. Insert the Right Needle: Insert the right needle into the first stitch on the left needle, from back to front. The right needle should be in front of the left needle.
2. Pick the Yarn: Use the tip of the right needle to pick the working yarn, which is held in your left hand, by scooping it from right to left and front to back.
3. Draw Through the Loop: Use the right needle to draw the picked yarn through the stitch on the left needle, creating a new loop on the right needle.
4. Slip the Old Stitch Off: Slip the old stitch off the left needle, leaving the new stitch on the right needle.
5. Repeat: Repeat steps 1-4 for each stitch on the left needle until you have worked all the stitches.

Continue Purling

Once you have worked all the stitches from the left needle to the right needle, you have completed one row of purl stitches. Transfer the needle with the stitches to your left hand and the empty needle to your right hand to start the next row.

Practice

Practice knitting the Knit stitch on the Right Side of the work, and the Purl stitch on the Wrong Side of the work until you feel comfortable. As you become more confident, you can start experimenting with different yarns and needle sizes.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Tension: If your stitches are too tight, try purling more loosely. If they’re too loose, try tightening your grip on the yarn.
• Dropped Stitches: If you drop a stitch, use a crochet hook to pick it up and place it back on the needle.
• Consistent Size: Aim for consistent stitch size. This will come with practice.

Pattern

Row 1: K from the beginning to the end of the row.

Row 2: P from the beginning to the end of the row.

Repeat these 2 rows to form the pattern.

Video Tutorial