Purl
Amazing what a girl can find on the Internet. I’ve always wondered about the origin
of the word purl. I was curious if it came from pearl. Apparently not, but after some deep drilling here’s what I found on a website called
World Wide Words http://www.worldwidewords.org/index.htm:
From Margaret Sonmez: I wondered about the
origins of the following term which I have never come across outside knitting
patterns: purl (a type of stitch)
Purl is from an obsolete Scots
word pirl, which means a “twist”. It
was applied in the sixteenth century to a thread or cord made of twisted gold
or silver wire that was used for embroidery. It may be that it was then
transferred by analogy to the ribbed look of purl knitting, though the OED has
a note saying that the derivation is far from obvious. It is sometimes spelled pearl, which may be a mistake, but may
equally imply a different origin.
So I asked the good doctor Google and found it can also mean gently
rippling. This
definition is in two different Scottish Dictionaries (see screen shot above). I didn't imagine anything so poetic and I’m loving how aptly
this word describes the appearance of the purl side
of knitting.
A purl stitch is
really just a backward knit stitch; where the knit stitch is made by inserting
the needle in from front to back, a purl stitch is made by inserting the needle
from back to front.
Purling is the second stitch you learn and practice in Beginning Knitting. Once
you become comfortable "reading" your stitches you will combine the
knit and purl in multiple combinations to create textures like
ribbing.
Here’s a little purl rhyme I found on Bonne Marie Burns’ website Chic Knits, to help you remember the motion of the stitch.
Here’s a little purl rhyme I found on Bonne Marie Burns’ website Chic Knits, to help you remember the motion of the stitch.
How to Purl
Under the
fence
Catch the
sheep
Back we come
Off we leap
(Melanie
Falick)
We have Project Class for those who know how to knit and want to build on their skills or Beginning Knitting for those who want to learn all the basics.
Call 773-244-1646 or email info@knit1chgo if you have questions or to register for one of our ongoing classes.
Lynn
btw, does anyone remember a purl rhyme? The knitting rhyme is the one I remember. Didn't they teach us to purl??