Knit vs Purl: Beginner’s Guide With Photos
THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS THAT SUPPORT HANDY LITTLE ME CONTENT AND FREE PATTERNS.If you’re learning how to knit, one of the first things you’ll need to understand is the difference between knit and purl stitches.
Knit and purl are the two basic stitches used to create many knitting patterns.
Once you know how to spot them, you’ll find it much easier to read your knitting, fix mistakes, follow stitch patterns, and understand what your work should look like.
In this beginner-friendly guide, you’ll learn how to tell the difference between knit and purl stitches, what each stitch looks like, what purl means in knitting, and how both stitches are used to create common stitch patterns.
Quick Answer: Knit vs Purl
The main difference between knit and purl is the texture they create.
A knit stitch looks like a smooth little V on the front of the fabric.
A purl stitch looks like a small bump or ridge.
In stockinette stitch, the knit side is usually the smooth right side, while the purl side is the bumpy wrong side.
A simple way to remember it is this:
Knits are Vs, and purls are bumps.
Knit vs Purl Comparison Chart
Use this quick comparison chart to help you spot the difference between knit and purl stitches.
| Feature | Knit Stitch | Purl Stitch |
| Appearance | Smooth V shape | Small bump or ridge |
| Texture | Flat and smooth | Raised and bumpy |
| Yarn position | Yarn is held at the back | Yarn is held at the front |
| Needle movement | The right needle goes into the front of the stitch from left to right | The right needle goes into the front of the stitch from right to left |
| Stockinette fabric | Creates the smooth side | Creates the bumpy side |
| Commonly used in | Garter stitch, stockinette stitch, ribbing, seed stitch | Stockinette stitch, ribbing, seed stitch, textured stitch patterns |
| Easy way to remember | V shape | Bump |
How To Spot Knit And Purl Stitches
Learning how to read your knitting is one of the most useful skills you can build as a beginner knitter.
- To spot a knit stitch, look for a smooth V shape. Knit stitches sit neatly in columns and look flat on the front of the fabric.
- To spot a purl stitch, look for a small bump or pearl-like ridge. Purl stitches create more texture and often appear on the reverse side of stockinette stitch.
- If you’re not sure what you are looking at, turn your work over. A knit stitch on one side will look like a purl stitch on the other side.
- This is why knit and purl are often called opposite stitches.
Knit Stitches Look Like Vs
A knit stitch has a smooth V shape.
When several knit stitches are worked above each other, they create neat vertical columns.
This is the smooth side you usually see on the front of stockinette stitch.
Purl Stitches Look Like Bumps
A purl stitch has a raised bump or ridge.
When several purl stitches are worked together, the fabric looks more textured and bumpy.
This is the reverse side of stockinette stitch.
What Is A Knit Stitch?
The knit stitch is one of the two basic knitting stitches.
When you knit a stitch, the working yarn is held at the back of the work. The right needle is inserted into the stitch on the left needle, then the yarn is wrapped around the needle and pulled through to create a new stitch.
On the front of the fabric, knit stitches look smooth and form little V shapes.
Knit stitches are used in many beginner knitting patterns and stitch patterns, including garter stitch, stockinette stitch, ribbing, seed stitch, moss stitch, and many more.
If you knit every row, you create garter stitch.
If you knit one row and purl the next row, you create stockinette stitch.
What Is A Purl Stitch?
The purl stitch is the other basic knitting stitch.
When you purl a stitch, the working yarn is held at the front of the work.
The right needle is inserted into the front of the stitch, then the yarn is wrapped around the needle and pulled through to create a new stitch.
On the front of the fabric, purl stitches look like small bumps or ridges.
The purl stitch is the reverse of the knit stitch.
This means that when you purl on one side of your knitting, it creates a knit-looking stitch on the other side.
Purl stitches are used in stockinette stitch, ribbing, seed stitch, moss stitch, textured stitch patterns, cables, and many beginner knitting patterns.
What Does Purl Mean In Knitting?
In knitting, purl means working a stitch with the yarn held at the front of the work.
The purl stitch is the reverse of the knit stitch.
When you work a purl stitch on one side of the fabric, the opposite side will show a knit stitch.
This is why knit and purl are often described as mirror-image stitches.
You can think of purling as creating the bumpy side of the fabric, while knitting creates the smooth V-shaped side.
Once you understand this, it becomes much easier to read your knitting and follow patterns.
Knit Side vs Purl Side
In stockinette stitch, the knit side is usually the smooth side with V-shaped stitches.
This is often called the right side of the fabric.
The purl side is the bumpy side.
This is often called the wrong side of the fabric.
However, not every knitting pattern uses stockinette stitch in the same way.
For example, garter stitch looks bumpy on both sides, and ribbing has knit and purl columns on both sides.
So, while the smooth stockinette side is often the right side, always check your pattern to see which side should face out.
How Knit And Purl Create Stitch Patterns
Knit and purl stitches are the foundation of many knitting stitch patterns.
By changing the order of knit and purl stitches, you can create smooth fabric, bumpy fabric, stretchy ribbing, textured patterns, and more.
Here are a few common examples.
Garter Stitch
Garter stitch is usually created by knitting every row when working flat.
It creates a squishy, textured fabric with ridges on both sides.
Because it uses only the knit stitch, garter stitch is often one of the first stitch patterns beginners learn.
Stockinette Stitch
Stockinette stitch is created by knitting one row, then purling the next row when working flat.
This creates a smooth knit side and a bumpy purl side.
The smooth side is often used as the right side of the fabric.
How To Knit Stockinette Stitch
Rib Stitch
Rib stitch is created by alternating knit and purl stitches in the same row.
For example, K1, P1 ribbing creates a stretchy fabric with columns of knit and purl stitches.
Ribbing is often used for cuffs, hems, hat brims, sweater bands, and necklines.
Seed Stitch
Seed stitch is made by alternating knit and purl stitches, then switching their placement on the next row.
This creates a bumpy, textured fabric that looks similar on both sides.
It’s a great stitch pattern to practice reading knit and purl stitches.
Easy Way To Remember Knit vs Purl
The easiest way to remember the difference between knit and purl is:
Knits are Vs. Purls are bumps.
If the stitch looks smooth and flat, it is probably a knit stitch.
If the stitch looks raised or bumpy, it is probably a purl stitch.
Another helpful tip is to look at where your working yarn is before you make the stitch.
For a knit stitch, the yarn is held at the back.
For a purl stitch, the yarn is held at the front.
Once you start to recognize the shapes, you’ll be able to look at your knitting and tell what stitch comes next much more easily.
Knit vs Purl FAQs
What is the difference between knit and purl?
The difference between knit and purl is the texture they create.
A knit stitch looks like a smooth V on the front of the fabric, while a purl stitch looks like a small bump or ridge.
The two stitches are opposites.
A knit stitch on one side of the fabric looks like a purl stitch on the other side.
What does a knit stitch look like?
A knit stitch looks like a smooth V shape.
When several knit stitches are worked in columns, they create the smooth side of stockinette stitch.
If you are reading your knitting, look for those V shapes to identify knit stitches.
What does a purl stitch look like?
A purl stitch looks like a small bump or ridge.
The purl side of stockinette stitch is textured and bumpy, while the knit side is smooth.
If you are trying to spot a purl stitch, look for the bump sitting at the front of the fabric.
What does purl mean in knitting?
Purl means working a stitch with the yarn held at the front of the work.
The purl stitch creates a bumpy texture on the side facing you and a knit-looking stitch on the opposite side.
Purling is one of the two basic knitting techniques, along with knitting.
Is purl the opposite of knit?
Yes, purl is the opposite of knit.
A knit stitch on one side of the fabric appears as a purl stitch on the other side.
Likewise, a purl stitch on one side appears as a knit stitch on the other side.
This relationship is what allows knitters to create patterns like stockinette stitch, ribbing, seed stitch, and textured fabrics.
How do you tell if you’re on a knit or purl row?
Look at the stitches facing you.
If you see smooth V shapes, you are looking at the knit side.
If you see bumps or ridges, you are looking at the purl side.
In stockinette stitch, the knit row usually appears on the smooth right side, while the purl row appears on the bumpy wrong side.
However, always follow your pattern, as some stitch patterns use knit and purl rows differently.
Which side is the knit side?
The knit side is usually the side with smooth V-shaped stitches.
In stockinette stitch, this is often the right side of the fabric.
However, in other stitch patterns, such as garter stitch or ribbing, both sides may include visible knit and purl stitches.
Which side is the purl side?
The purl side is usually the side with bumps or ridges.
In stockinette stitch, this is often the wrong side of the fabric.
However, some patterns use the purl side as a design feature, so the bumpy side may sometimes be the right side depending on the pattern.
Can you knit and purl in the same row?
Yes, you can knit and purl in the same row.
Many stitch patterns use both knit and purl stitches in one row.
For example, ribbing alternates knit and purl stitches, while seed stitch changes the placement of knits and purls to create texture.
Should beginners learn knit or purl first?
Most beginners learn the knit stitch first because it is often easier to practice and is used to create garter stitch.
After that, learning the purl stitch is the next step.
Once you know both knit and purl, you can make many more stitch patterns, including stockinette stitch, ribbing, seed stitch, moss stitch, and simple textured patterns.
Helpful Beginner Knitting Tutorials
If you are new to knitting, these tutorials will help you build your skills:
- Knitting cast-on methods
- Knitting Lessons
- How to cast on knitting
- How to cast off knitting for total beginners (step by step)
- How to knit garter stitch
- How to knit the purl stitch (for beginners + a video tutorial)
- How to knit stockinette stitch (for beginners)
- How to read knitting patterns for beginners
- Knitting abbreviations and terms (US and UK)
- How to knit rib stitch
- How to substitute yarn in a knitting pattern
- Knitting Skill Levels Explained
- How To Knit – A Complete Beginner’s Guide
More Stitch Patterns To Try
Once you can tell the difference between knit and purl stitches, you can try more beginner-friendly stitch patterns.
Here are a few good ones to practice next:
- How To Knit Rib Stitch Patterns (1×1 and 2×2 ribbing)
- Double Moss Stitch (Free Knitting Pattern For Beginners)
- How To Knit Lace Leaves (Free Pattern + Tutorial)
- 8 Cable Stitch Knitting Patterns
- Broken Rib Stitch Knitting Pattern For Beginners
- How To Knit The Linen Stitch (Tutorial + Pattern)
- How To Knit The Basket Weave Stitch – Easy Tutorial
- Waffle Stitch Knitting Pattern (Simple Knit Tutorial)
- Hurdle Stitch Knitting Pattern (Easy For Beginners)
Final Thoughts
Learning the difference between knit and purl stitches is one of the most important steps when you are learning how to knit.
At first, the stitches can look confusing, but the more you practice, the easier they become to spot.
Remember: knits are Vs, and purls are bumps.
Once that clicks, reading your knitting becomes so much easier — and you’ll feel far more confident following patterns, fixing mistakes, and trying new stitch designs.
Happy knitting!
