What's the difference between knit and purl stitches?

In knitting, the knit and purl stitches are essentially two sides of the same coin. They are the foundation of all knitting, and the difference lies in the direction the stitch is formed.

• The Knit Stitch: Think of this as the "standard" stitch. When you knit, you insert your needle into the loop from front to back. This creates a stitch that looks like a small "V" on the front of your work. If you knit every row, you create Garter Stitch, which is bumpy and stretchy.
• The Purl Stitch: This is essentially the knit stitch in reverse. You insert your needle into the loop from back to front. This creates a stitch that looks like a small horizontal bump or dash on the front of your work.

Key visual differences:

• Stockinette Stitch: If you knit one row and purl the next row, you get the classic, smooth fabric seen on most sweaters, where the "V" shapes appear on one side and the bumps appear on the other.
• The "Mirror" Effect: A knit stitch seen from the back of the work looks exactly like a purl stitch, and a purl stitch seen from the back looks like a knit stitch.

If you are just starting out, remember that the "V" is the knit side and the "bump" is the purl side—learning to recognize these shapes will make it much easier to keep track of your patterns!