How to purl one below

A step-by-step tutorial on purling into the row below – including a video

A lot of patterns require you to knit one below. But what happens if the next stitch is a purl stitch? If you are knitting the fisherman’s rib stitch in two colors, you will certainly come across the problem. So in this tutorial, I want to show you how to purl one below (typically abbreviated as p1b).

Let’s dive right into it!

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Instructions: How to purl one below

someone showing how to purl one below with green yarn

Knit one below is a simple variation of the purl stitch. Instead of going through the next loop, you enter through a stitch one or more rows below. As a result, the rows above will partially unravel and create interesting structures.

Active Time 1 minute
Total Time 1 minute

Instructions

  1. Insert your knitting needle into the loop/eyelet right below the first stitch on your left needle coming in from behind.

    entering the stitch one row below from behind with yarn in front
  2. Wrap the yarn around your needle counter-clockwise (use the middle finger to tension the yarn).

    wrapping the yarn around the needle counter-clockwise (using the middle finger as help)
  3. Pull the yarn through towards the back.

    pulling the yarn through towards the back
  4. Drop the resulting stitch off the left needle.

    dropping the resulting stitch off the needles to finish purl one below

You can use the very same principles to purl two, three, or even four rows below. Just enter the respective stitch from behind and purl through it. It’s that simple! And the best part, if you mastered this technique, then knit one below will be just as easy!

Anyway, that’s how to purl one below. Comment below in case you still have any questions.

how to purl one below - a step by step tutorial for beginners with slow motion video

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