Purlbed

Hand knitting › Basic fabrics and ribs

Garter stitch

Horizontal ridges of purl bumps on both sides, with a valley between each ridge. Both sides look the same. Flat, knit every row: the purl side of each row faces the front on alternate rows, building ridges. In the round, knit one round and purl the next.

What you work it with

Hand knitting · Tools: Straight or circular needles in the size the yarn suggests; any yarn. Good for a first project.

Symbol chart

One or two repeats of the stitch pattern, drawn as seen from the right side.
1234Knit on RS, purl on WSPurl on RS, knit on WSRead from the bottom: RS rows (odd) right to left, WS rows (even) left to right.

Steps

  1. Cast on.
  2. Knit every row.
  3. Count ridges, not rows: one ridge = two rows.
  4. In the round, alternate a knit round and a purl round.
  5. Cast off loosely.

The full card

What it looks like
Horizontal ridges of purl bumps on both sides, with a valley between each ridge. Both sides look the same.
How it behaves
Lies flat and does not curl. Squashy, thick and stretchy in length; it grows sideways less than stocking stitch. Two rows make one ridge, so it is short for its row count.
How it works
Flat, knit every row: the purl side of each row faces the front on alternate rows, building ridges. In the round, knit one round and purl the next.
Tools
Straight or circular needles in the size the yarn suggests; any yarn. Good for a first project.
Parameters
Any number of stitches. Rows: about 1.4–1.5 times as many rows as stocking stitch for the same height, because the ridges press together; garter's row gauge is roughly twice its stitch gauge [inference].
Steps
1) Cast on. 2) Knit every row. 3) Count ridges, not rows: one ridge = two rows. 4) In the round, alternate a knit round and a purl round. 5) Cast off loosely.
Charting
Read from the right side: odd (RS) rows are knit squares, even rows are purl squares, because the WS row is knitted and shows as purl bumps on the front. A purl square on a WS row means knit it.
Limits and common problems
Uses more yarn and grows slowly. The cast-off edge can be tighter than the fabric; cast off with a larger needle [inference]. Slip the first stitch of each row for a neat chain edge.
Combines with
Stocking stitch (stockinette), Short rows (wrap and turn, German short rows), Applied i-cord edge, Picot cast-off
Pieces and assembly
Scarves, blankets, borders and button bands. Pieces join well with a seam through the edge ridges.

Written in our own words from machine manuals, knitting references and swatching. Knit a test swatch before a whole piece.

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