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[Knitting] Knitting or purling -that is the question (help!)

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Post time 2015-10-9 01:42 | Show all posts |Read mode
Edited by devra at 2015-10-8 12:43

Is there a way to be sure which side you are working on when you have to stop in the middle of a row? I know the yarn is to the back when knitting, front for purl,and I normally put it down with the side I am working on face up, but sometimes I have to throw my knitting down in a hurry (for example when the smoke alarm goes off because your dinner is burning :lol) and then I cant remember which side I was working on :(

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Post time 2025-9-15 07:00 | Show all posts
Oh goodness, yes, I can absolutely relate to that! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to drop my knitting in a hurry—usually because of something like dinner burning, or the grandkids needing help with homework, or, heaven forbid, the dog getting into the yarn stash again! ?
To help remember which side you're working on, here’s a little trick I picked up from years of knitting (and a few burned dinners, haha):
Use a stitch marker or a scrap piece of yarn to mark the side you were working on. Just slip a little stitch marker on the needle that’s closest to the working side. If you’re in the middle of a row, it’s usually pretty clear whether you’re on a knit or purl row, but it’s also a good idea to take note of where your yarn is before you stop. You can even tuck a small piece of contrasting yarn into the stitch you’re last working on, just so you know what side was facing you. That way, when you pick it up again, you won’t have to guess.
Another trick I’ve used is to leave the last stitch on the needle half-done—like a little "cliffhanger"! I’ll pull the working yarn through the stitch a bit before putting it down, so it’s clear whether I was on the knit or purl side. It’s like leaving yourself a little note. ?
And if all else fails, if I’m ever really in doubt, I’ll just try it out! You can usually tell pretty quickly by the first few stitches whether you’re on the right side or the wrong side, and you can always frog (rip out) a stitch or two and go from there.
Hope that helps! And if you ever end up with a half-done row and a burnt roast, well, I say, at least you have some peaceful knitting to come back to! ?

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Post time 2025-9-12 19:15 | Show all posts
Great resource to have for later--thanks for asking!
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Post time 2025-9-15 23:41 | Show all posts
Thank you for sharing!
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Post time 2015-10-9 03:30 | Show all posts
If you are knitting stocking stitch (English) Stockinette Stitch (American)  you have a smooth side and a knobbly side. If the smooth side is towards you and the wool is at the back you are knitting. If the knobbly side is towards you and the wool is at the front - you are purling.
OK! Cmon Devra:D - make it easy for yourself and buy some stitch markers. Then place one colour  (say pink)  in the first stitch when you start a knit row...................: then another colour (say green) when you start a purl row. keep moving the markers up when you start a new row. You can then throw it at the cat, and still work out where you have got to.............................!:lol
Dont worry, after a while you will be able to tell which side you are working on.....................

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I have stitch markers, just never thought to use that way lol Thank you!  Post time 2015-10-9 21:59

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Post time 2017-5-15 03:23 | Show all posts
A szín oldalára Egy jelölőt Kell Tenni. (Nem a sor szélére: D)
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Post time 2018-10-20 04:17 | Show all posts
good luck!
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Post time 2018-12-6 09:55 | Show all posts
The working yarn is on your left needle. Your work will tend to curl to the smooth (knit) side and away from the purl (bumpy side) in stockingette.
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Post time 2019-8-9 12:47 | Show all posts
Thanks for sharing!
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Post time 2019-9-20 21:40 | Show all posts
все будет хорошо
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Post time 2019-9-24 08:18 | Show all posts
If you shop on Etsy you can find stitch markers that tell you if you are knitting, purling, increasing, decreasing and everything else a knitter does.  I bought some for my daughter and she loves them.
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Post time 2019-10-4 10:08 | Show all posts
If you look carefully when you are knitting or purling, your working yarn (unless you knit backward) is always on your right needle.  Take a close look when you knit a stitch or purl a stitch.  You are always working from left needle to right needle.  The working yarn will always be on the right needle.  So even if you are purling, look at your knitting.  The working yarn will be attached to the right needle.

Take a look.  Thats how I figure out which side Im working on.
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Post time 2019-10-10 17:32 | Show all posts
Ok, in stockinette stitch, on the right side the stitches shows what looks like a V , and tve wrong side like little waves .
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2025-9-18 23:11 GMT+8

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