Cat Bordhi - How to tighten up your purl stitches

If you purl more loosely than you knit (most knitters do), this causes problems when you work the heel of a sock. Learn a way of purling which guarantees nice snug purl stitches - also idea for ribbing and for defining the background for cables.

• Category

  Howto & Style

[jessicahasit]

that's a video Norwegian Purl by Hsailormoon on youtube....just wanted to be clear...

[jessicahasit]

I really like this method, I'm just having an hard time with the twisted knit stitch. However, if you look at Norwegian Purl by Hsailormoon, you'll see the difference that bonobobabe mentions. This will not twist the knit stitch.

Thanks again for all the great tips!!

[lennypearl]

"Knitter's shame"... I love Cat's quirkiness! :-)

[Thomas Mc]

Why not just purl "Combined" method, and get perfectly even stitches? It's easier.

[yolo22]

"knitter's shame" LOL. oh i know that feeling well!

[MsKathy07]

I've tried the Norwegian Purl and found that it didn't give me a tighter purl stitch, this looks very similar. I couldn't figure out from the comments, is it correct, that you must knit through the back loop when you use the knit stitch for the next row?

[mersylla]

So basically with this technique you need to knit the stitches by inserting the needle in the back of the loop instead of the front ?

[chloe kincaid]

How do I tighten up stitches when I hold the yarn in my right hand?

[Jenny Lory]

(continued reply) I have not yet figured out what you mean , without knitting in front of me, but i can say this -

combo knitting is bascially :

Knit: eastern mount, western wrap

Purl: Western mount, eastern wrap

In other words. you knit TBL wrap counter clockwise, Purl TFL, wrap clockwise.

DId that make sense?? Have you been combo knitting long? i find i do eastern, western, or combo depending on the project. SO it is an ongoing learning process.

[Jenny Lory]

I have learned over the past several months, this:

combination knitting is where you knit through the back leg of the stitch, wrapping counter clockwise, just as a western knitter would "Knit TBL".

THen You purl through the front leg of the stitch, but wrap it clockwise (this is the opposite wrap a western knitter would use. It IS the wrap an eastern knitter would use, but an eastern knitter would purl through the back of the stitch)

[pheonixphire]

i will have to practice this stitch. my purl stitches are SIGNIFICANTLY looser then my knit stitch which leaves my projects a lil wonky..it works in my lace patterns though oddly enough.