How to identify Purl Stitches

Identifying Purl 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 Stockinette St
identify st st
How to identify stockinette stitch
Stockinette stitch is the stitch most often used for knitting a gauge swatch, which is the first step to starting a new knitting project.
Alternate Step: Identify Knit Stitches
identify knit sts
How to identify knit stitches
Learning to identify knit stitches helps you when you need to figure out where you are in a row when following a pattern.
How to measure gauge on a swatch
measure gaugeHow to measure gauge on a stockinette stitch swatch
Measuring gauge is the most important thing to do before starting to knit a pattern to ensure that what you create will fit or be the right size.
Advanced Step: How to pick up dropped stitches using knitting needles
pick up dropped stsHow to pick up dropped stitches using knitting needles
Using knitting needles to pick up dropped stitches is what most knitters do. It can take a bit to get the hang of but is indispensable.

More videos you might like...

garter stHow to identify garter stitch
Identify Garter Stitch
Garter stitch is created by knitting every row or purling every row. It creates a ripple that looks similar to the purl side of stockinette knitting.
 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 incomplete stitch is created when a knit stitch isn't quite completed but the yarn isn't fully dropped off the needle (which would create a dropped stitch).