To form a fundamental knitting stitch where the working yarn is held in front of the needles. The knitter inserts the right needle from right to left into the front loop of the stitch on the left needle, wraps the yarn, and pulls the new loop backward through the old stitch. It produces a horizontal bump on the fabric surface.
Just knit the right side rows and purl the wrong side rows to get stockinette.
A purl stitch is structurally identical to a knit stitch viewed from the opposite side; the back of a knit is a purl, and the back of a purl is a knit.
Related terms
Garter stitch
A basic, reversible knitting pattern that creates horizontal ridges.
St st
The abbreviation for stocking stitch or stockinette stitch in knitting patterns.
Rev st st
An abbreviation for reverse stockinette stitch or reverse stocking stitch.
Rib
A raised ridge in knitted material or woven cloth.