Today I published a page to list purl stitches based on the 4 main basic stitches. To be consistent, I added a photo to illustrate each stitch listed, but to be honest, the sky is grey and I have no light today… So the photos are not tremendous. I’ll change them later in spring.
The Tunisian purl simple stitch is the best known of purl stitches. So well known that it is often just called “purl stitch” without any reference to the kind of basic stitch that is supposed to be “purled”. I think that when a variation of a stitch does not mention what kind of basic stitch it is worked upon, then by default we should understand simple. That’s just my assumption.
Personally I do not find purl knit and full stitches particularly beautiful. Used in combination with other stitches, they are useful to keep in mind. They are a bit lacy without being very lacy. Stretchy and flexible.
The purl stitch that I like best is the purl reverse stitch. Go to the page on purl stitches and have a look at the photo at the bottom of the page. I compare the purl reverse stitch with the twisted up stitch. Make a sample, give it a try and alternate these 2 stitches one after the other. You’ll get a nice reversible fabric, ideal for a scarf.
I tried these two stitches alternating but it does not look like this photo! I love this look but mine looks more like wide ribbing not flat like this photo. Any help?
Mmmm… difficult to say without a look at your sample. If you have more texture, it could be from the yarn type you selected. But you mention wide ribbing, which makes me think that you alternate these 2 stitches and align them from one row to the next. Start one row with a twisted up stitch (followed by a purl reverse stitch). Then start the following row with a purl reverse stitch (followed by a twisted up).
Oh thank you! That could be. So not only alternate stitches, but alternate which one starts the first of the row. I will try that!