Astraknots
  • How to Fix Knitting Mistakes
    • Get Knitting Help
  • Help Reading Knitting Patterns
    • Learn How to Read Knitting Patterns
    • Knitting Pattern Assumptions
    • Read Knitting Charts
  • Download Free Knitting Patterns
  • Take Knitting Lessons
    • Read That Pattern Knitting Class by Astraknots
    • Knitting Lessons Denver Co
    • Learn New Knitting Skills
  • Knitting Tips and Tricks
    • Beginning Knitting
    • Cast On Methods
    • Knit Purl English Continental
    • Garter Stitch Stockinette St
    • Identifying Knit Vs Purl Sts
    • Cast On Bind Off
    • K2tog Decrease Kfb Increase
    • Colorwork - Stepless Color Change in the Round
    • Tools - Slipping stitches to holders, barber cord
  • Astraknots Shop
    • Astraknots Shop Hats

How to identify Knit Stitches

Identifying Knit Stitches
The knit stitch looks like a 'V' in your work. When it is on your needles, there will not be any type of bump of yarn up against the needle, as in a purl stitch. 
It's important to know that a knit stitch, when you turn the needles around (like when you get to the end of a row) becomes a purl stitch. Similarly, a purl stitch, when turned around becomes a knit stitch. They are opposites of each other.

Learning to identify knit and purl stitches can help you avoid making common mistakes, like losing track of where you are in your pattern. If you can identify what knit stitches look like on a previous row, you can see where you need to 'knit into knits, and purl into purls' for ribbing. Familiarize yourself with purl stitches and what they look like by viewing the video on this page.

Identify Garter Stitch
identify garter st
Identify Garter Stitch
The garter stitch looks similar to the wrong side (purl side) of stockinette stitch fabric but is in fact different.
Next Step >
Alternate Step: Identify Purl Stitches
identify purl sts
Identify Purl Stitches
Learning to identify purl stitches can help you to identify where in a pattern you are.
Alternate Step >

How to Rib (english style)
rib englishHow to Rib (english style)
The rib stitch is often used to keep the brim of a hat or the cuffs of gloves laying flat.  It is created by alternating knit and purl stitches in the same row. 

< Previous Step

Advanced Step: How to YO (yarn over) english style
yo englishHow to YO (yarn over) english style
The yarn over (YO) stitch is the easiest stitch in knitting. It can be tricky to understand on the purl row, however.

Advanced Step >

More videos you might like...

fix incomplete stHow to fix an accidental increase that is an incomplete stitch
How to fix an accidental increase that is an incomplete stitch
An accidental increase that is an incomplete stitch is created when the yarn isn't pulled all the way through the loop on the needle.

Fix incomplete stitch
pick up dropped st knittingHow to pick up a dropped stitch using knitting needles
How to Pick up a dropped stitch using knitting needles
Dropped stitches happen and often you won't notice them until rows later. Learn to pick them up with your knitting needles.

Pick up dropped stitches

Our Services

Company

Support

Knitting Help Video Index
Knitting Lessons
Online Knitting Classes
Free Knitting Patterns
Community Knitting

Shop
​
Blog-o-knots
Newsletter

Calendar
About Astraknots
Team of Astraknots
Contact Astraknots

Privacy Policy
​Terms of Use
Astraknots Policies
Astraknitopology
© Astraknots LLC 2012-2023. All rights reserved.