The purl stitch is the same as the knit stitch except that the yarn is held at the front. It is used in combination with the knit stitch to form a pattern called stockinette stitch, or to form a ribbing with some elasticity to it.
1. At the beginning of a row, keep the yarn at the front of your work. Insert the right needle into the first loop and put the yarn between the needles as shown in the second and third pictures. Next, you will use the right needle to form a new loop, just as you did when you had the yarn at the back of your work. This is a purl stitch.
2. The first two pictures below show the next stages of a row of purl stitches.
3. After completing a row of purl stitches. Knit the next row. Continue to alternate a knit row and a purl row. On the knit side your work will begin to look like the picture at the right. This pattern is called stockinette stitch. Stockinette stitch is widely used in sweaters, hats and other garments. Look at machine knitted fabrics like T shirts. You will see this same pattern on a much smaller scale.