Why yes, I am a beginner...

[angelikitten]

I started learning to knit late last year, but kinda forgot about it after a pre-xmas tidy up. During the (short!) time I did knit, I only learned how to cast on and do knit stitch.

I picked it back up again today. I can still cast on and knit stitch, so I thought I'd try the purl stitch (following this guide). Thing is, even though I'm 99% sure that I got it right, it felt like it was far too easy...

Should I be worried, or is it actually something that's just that easy, even for a beginner?

Comments

[sporky_rat]

Nope, it's that easy. Funny, isn't it?

[angelikitten]

Huh. I expected it to be harder than that.

[ames]

purling gets a bad rap - it's easy!

You know what else gets a bad rap but is easy as pie? grafting (aka kitchener stitch)! :D

[angelikitten]

I don't even know what that is! D:

[ames]

It's a method of joining two pieces of knitting together, usually used to do the toes of socks. Directions often start with things like "take a deep breath" or "omgGRAFTING", but it isn't that bad. I actually enjoy it. :D

[angelikitten]

... I haven't even thought as far ahead as socks O.O

[aedifica]

Actually for me grafting was hard for a long time--I'd do it exactly like the pictures (or video) said, but it always came out looking like a row of purl instead of a row of knit. It turned out it was because the way I learned to knit was really knitting through the back loops instead of standard knitting, and that changes the outcome of grafting!

[sedge]

Yep, easy!

Have you noticed this yet? Purling has the same structure as knitting, except from the opposite side.

[angelikitten]

The guide said something about that, which is probably why I picked it up so well :)

[seryn]

Most of the problem with purling is if you get told by someone that purling is hard, then your mind has been poisoned against it.

If the more experienced person tells you something they can do is hard, well then you have to be more impressed, see?

[angelikitten]

That's a good point :)

[evilawyer]

When you first start purling, the stitch can come out a little looser than knit, but it's really easy --- it only seems scary.

[angelikitten]

I'll have to watch out for that, I haven't noticed it much yet.

[evilawyer]

It's at its worst on the first stitch in a purl row. If it's a problem (usually on assembly of the garment when one side is more stretched out than the corresponding side) you can just slip the first stitch without working it onto the right hand needle.

[indywind]

It really is easy!
For me, purl is easier though knit is faster.

[angelikitten]

Purling is definitely taking longer for me right now, but I think that's because I'm having to think about it.

[starfish]

I'm glad you found it easy! I don't have issues with it, but I know a lot of people do.

(The pictures of the work are dreadful, I'm impressed that you could follow them with that dark yarn --- or maybe it's just my laptop screen. In any case, www.knitpicks.com is a good place to find explanations of other techniques -- they even have videos for some.)

[angelikitten]

If you think they're bad on your laptop, try looking at them on a phone screen (which is what I've got to do, it's the only internet connection I've got)!

[havocthecat]

I'll bet the other 13 comments tell you that purling is super easy and you don't need me to add to that, right?

[angelikitten]

You can if you want, I won't stop you :)

[heavenlyevil]

If you can watch videos online, check out http://www.knittinghelp.com.

There are tons of videos on there for almost any knitting technique you could want.

[angelikitten]

I wish I could, but my phone (which is my only source of internet) won't play videos :( But thanks anyway!