Teach yourself the basic knitting and purling stitches with these step-by-step instructions

See also: casting on and off

How to knit

A knit stitch is the most basic type of stitch.

1. With the main working yarn at the back of the work, insert the right-hand needle through the bottom of the first stitch and to the back of the left-hand needle, making a cross with the needles. Take the main working yarn around the back of the right-hand needle and then between both needles.

2. Slide the right-hand needle down through the top of the loop on the left-hand needle and under, pulling the yarn lying over the right-hand needle through the loop. Pull the yarn tight.

3. Slip the original stitch off the left-hand needle.

4. Repeat these steps until all the stitches on the left needle have been knitted. This is called a row.

How to purl

A purl stitch is the second-most basic type of stitch and is the reverse of the knit stitch.

1. With the working yarn at the front of the work, insert the right-hand needle in through the top of the first stitch on the left-hand needle and to the front, making a cross with the needles.

2. Take the main working yarn around the back of the right-hand needle to the front.

3. Slide the right-hand needle down through the bottom of the loop on the left-hand needle, pulling the yarn through the loop and pull tight.

4. Slip the original stitch off the left-hand needle. Repeat these steps until all the stitches on the left-hand needle have been purled.

Exctract taken from I love knitting by Rachel Henderson with artwork by Roberta Boyce, priced £12.99, published by Kyle Cathie Ltd.