Let's Knit Magazine - Your knitting, your style

I know how to do a purl stitch but how do you purl through the back of the loop.  (PTBL) ???

As it says.  If you are a tight knitter be prepared for a struggle!!!!. You do exactly as it says by putting the right hand pin from left to right at the BACK of the purl st. I HATE that st more than any of them. Try some of the knitting videos on the youtube knitting.

And WELCOME to the forum.

Hello and welcome too x Janet

Hi and to the forum,try this link and follow the page down to ptbl.

http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knitting-glossary

I would explain it like this (hope it makes sense)

Purl into stitch but do not pass the stitch off the left hand needle. Manoeuvre the right needle around the back of the left hand needle and purl through the back of the same stitch. Pass the two stitches off onto right hand needle.

Hope it helps.

hello and welcome to the forum!

Welcome to the forum, yup thats a nasty stitch and one I’v only mastered in the last few months despite knitting on and off for around 30 years. I couldn’t try and explain it even though I have to talk myself through still everytime I do it. It would be easier to watch the video I think.

Welcome to the forum Ena...hope you are managing your ptbl now....

That’s one of the reasons I abandoned one of my patterns and haven’t gone back to it yet - I had to purl 2 together through the back of the loop!  NIGHTMARE!!!!