• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • SHOP
    • Upcoming Release Gallery Photos
    • Free Classes/Workshops on Teachable
    • Special Offers on New Releases!
    • Why Jill Wolcott Knits Patterns are Expensive
  • BLOG
  • LEARNING
    • Free Classes/Workshops on Teachable
    • What Is An Action Chart?
    • Menu of Techniques
    • Techniques Library : What’s In There?
    • Abbreviations
    • Sizing Tables / Charts / Guidelines & Croquis
    • Pattern Difficulty Levels / Type of Knitting
    • Why Jill Wolcott Knits Patterns are Expensive
    • Inside a Jill Wolcott Knits Pattern
    • How-To Videos: Learn from Jill
      • Why I Love . . . Techniques
    • Jill Wolcott Knits: A Fit Background
    • 2021-2022 Workshops With Jill Wolcott Knits
    • Overview of ASOG – A System of Grading
  • ABOUT
    • Designer’s Story
    • Calendar Events Schedule
    • Inside Scoop Subscribe & Newsletter Archives
    • Fundraising Projects
    • Jill Wolcott Knits
      • Jill Wolcott curriculum vitae
    • Techniques Library : What’s In There?
    • Abbreviations
    • Errata
    • Privacy Notice for Jill Wolcott Knits
  • CONTACT
  • My Account
  • Press

Jill Wolcott Knits logo

December 28, 2015

P Purl : Definition of purl

P or Purl

P or purl specifies purl stitches. It is used in different contexts in patterns:

p# (ex. p3) – purl the specified number of stitches, regardless of which side of the fabric you are working on.

purl – purl all stitches in row/round

To Make a Purl Stitch

Put the right needle into the stitch on the left needle going from right to left. Wrap the yarn* and pull the yarn wrapped around the right needle out of the stitch on the left needle, moving the right needle toward the right and creating a new purl stitch on the right needle.

A purl is the reverse of a knit stitch. When the knitter makes a knit stitch, the reverse side is a purl stitch. To get a purl stitch on the side of the fabric facing the knitter, a purl stitch is executed.

Knitters generally prefer working the knit stitch, which is easier to execute. If you are a new knitter, you can expect to need practice for the purl stitch, even after you have mastered the knit stitch.

*There are several methods of executing purl stitches, and as long as the end result is correct, the knitter should choose the method they prefer.

P Purl in Charts

In Jill Wolcott Knits’ Action Charts the purl is represented as a dot in the center of the chart box whenever a purl stitch occurs, on the right side and the wrong side. If there are more than two consecutive purl stitches, they are represented by a green box, in which the number of purl stitches to be executed consecutively is specified.

In Standard Charting the purl stitch is represented as a dot or dash in the center of the chart box when it is executed on the right side. When it is on the wrong side, it will be shown as a box (knit stitch) because it is taken to be the reverse of the knit stitch on the right side. The instruction will say: k on RS; p on WS or when purled on the right side: purl on RS, knit on WS.

See also: knit

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Primary Sidebar

Jill’s Story

Teacher, Designer, with expertise to lead you where you want to go as a knitter/designer. Read More…

Blog Archive

Don’t Miss these Techniques!

drawing of how a button link is put together. design, writing, technique

Button Links

most of the shelves on the yarn wall

Color Play in Yarn

Photo of Jill's Rowena Iron and her Reliable Steamer Iron

Steam Block

lovely hand-wound center pull ball in Fingering 101, yarn, yarn ball, center-pull, technique

Hand Wound Center-Pull Ball

Popular in the Shop

  • Smallest Number of Stitches to Cast On A Moebius Suggested price: $3.00
  • Tulle Collar on dress form with taupe side out, a view of tope and bottom Latvian braid, and 3 vintage button links. Tulle Collar $12.00
  • Half-size dress form wearing dk version in pink and purple from Oink Pigments Clapham Trio: Junction, Road, & Common $20.00
  • ASOG 2023 Deposit-in-Full: Gou Pei Dress ASOG 2023 Registration Deposit-in-Full $100.00
  • ASOG 2023 Deposit-in-Payment: Gou Pei Dress with wings ASOG 2023 Registration Deposit-in-Payments $100.00 / 7 days

Stay Updated

Footer

About Jill

Teacher, Designer, with expertise to lead you where you want to go as a knitter/designer.

Pattern Availability

If you live outside of the US and Canada you can now purchase Jill Wolcott Knits PDF patterns directly through Payhip.

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Ravelry

© 2023 Jill Wolcott Knits