What is the Difference Between Knit and Purl?

The difference between knit and purl stitches lies in the way they are created and the appearance of the resulting stitches. Here are the main differences:

• Knit Stitch: This stitch is formed by pulling yarn through a loop from the back of the work to the front. The resulting stitch appears to have a 'V' at its base. Knit stitches are the most important stitch for the right side of a project.
• Purl Stitch: This stitch is formed by pulling yarn through a loop from the front of the work to the back. The resulting stitch appears to have a little bump at its base. Purl stitches are the most popular stitch for the wrong side of a project.

Both knit and purl stitches create a bump in the knitting, but they mirror each other: in the knit stitch, the bump is made on the back, while in the purl stitch, the bump is made on the front. To identify a knit stitch and a purl stitch in your work, you can look for the 'V' at the base of a knit stitch and the bump at the base of a purl stitch. By combining the order of knit and purl stitches, you can create different knitted fabrics using just these two stitches.

Comparative Table: Knit vs Purl

The main difference between knit and purl stitches lies in the position of the yarn and the structure of the stitches. Here is a table summarizing the differences:

Toidentifyknitandpurlstitches,youcanlookfortheshapeonyourknitting.Knitstitcheswillhavea"V"shape,whilepurlstitcheswillhaveahorizontalbump.