Uploaded August 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Conventional purl stitches (yarn rotated anticlockwise around the needle, when viewed from the tip) tend to use more yarn than the equivalent knits. The yarn path between purls runs on a diagonal, and between knits, it runs parallel to the needle. This is not an issue for me in flat single knit fabrics because I keep my stitches close together as I work the purls. (This can be spotted on the back of flat stocking stitch by tell tale two-row ridges, sometimes called rowing out.)
But I choose to use Alternative Rotation Purling when working most of my double knitting to more exactly match the amount of yarn used in a knit stitch as I cannot get my stitches close together because of the intervening stitches of the other layer. This means simply rotating the yarn the opposite way around the needle to usual. This results in the stitch mount being reversed and the resulting stitch now 'smiles' its front face towards the tip end of the needle. On the following row or round it is important to recognize the unusual mount and work the stitch so that it remains happy (not twisted). It's easy and doesn't require the stitches to be remounted. The video shows how to work into the unconventionally mounted stitches resulting from alternative-rotation purl in double-knit fabric.
An added benefit of the ARP is that it is much easier movement for most knitters.
Thanks for watching, please subscribe to see new videos. You can now find all my patterns and virtual knitting technique DVDs at their new home at LittleBarnStudio.ca. I'm Lucyknit on Instagram. Patterns and Cool Socks Warm Feet and Cool Knitters Finish in Style books are also available on Rav.
Happy stitches, Lucy
Conventional purl stitches (yarn rotated anticlockwise around the needle, when viewed from the tip) tend to use more yarn than the equivalent knits. The yarn path between purls runs on a diagonal, and between knits, it runs parallel to the needle. This is not an issue for me in flat single knit fabrics because I keep my stitches close together as I work the purls. (This can be spotted on the back of flat stocking stitch by tell tale two-row ridges, sometimes called rowing out.)
But I choose to use Alternative Rotation Purling when working most of my double knitting to more exactly match the amount of yarn used in a knit stitch as I cannot get my stitches close together because of the intervening stitches of the other layer. This means simply rotating the yarn the opposite way around the needle to usual. This results in the stitch mount being reversed and the resulting stitch now 'smiles' its front face towards the tip end of the needle. On the following row or round it is important to recognize the unusual mount and work the stitch so that it remains happy (not twisted). It's easy and doesn't require the stitches to be remounted. The video shows how to work into the unconventionally mounted stitches resulting from alternative-rotation purl in double-knit fabric.
An added benefit of the ARP is that it is much easier movement for most knitters.
Thanks for watching, please subscribe to see new videos. You can now find all my patterns and virtual knitting technique DVDs at their new home at LittleBarnStudio.ca. I'm Lucyknit on Instagram. Patterns and Cool Socks Warm Feet and Cool Knitters Finish in Style books are also available on Rav.
Happy stitches, Lucy
