the English style purl stitch is one of the most common knitting stitches for the purl stitch the yarn hangs in front of the work and the needle is inserted from the back to the front of the stitch to get started use the longtail cast on method to cast on the number of stitches you need for your pattern to begin purling hold the needle with your cast on stitches in your left hand and the empty needle in your right hand insert the tip of the needle into the first stitch forming a t the empty needle should be in the front support both needles in your left hand using your right hand pick up the ball yarn and bring the yarn around the front needle and then down between the two needles keeping a slight tension on the yarn bring the needle with the wrap yarn through the loop on the left hand needle using your right index finger and thumb as a guide slide the left hand loop off the needle being careful not to let any of the other stitches fall off now you have a new purl stitch on the right hand needle if you need to do so pull gently on the ball yarn to tighten the new loop continue purling by inserting the tip of the needle into the next stitch bring the yarn around the front needle and then down between the two needles bring the needle with the wrapped yarn through the loop on the Left needle carefully slide the loop off the needle repeat these steps until you have pearled all the stitches on your needle start your next row based on your pattern if you're doing the stockinette stitch pattern you would knit the next row and purl the following row repeat the knit one row purl the next row pattern until you have finished your piece the knit side is flat and the purl side is bumpy you