Purl Front and Back

Purl front and back is a common instruction in knitting patterns, so it is good to know how to do it. This instruction is usually abbreviated as pfb in patterns. If you know how to purl, then this stitch sequence will be easy for you to learn. If not, then you might want to learn how to purl first.

Steps

Working the Stitch Sequence

  1. Start with a work in progress. Purling front and back is not something that you would do as a stitch for an entire project. This stitch sequence is usually meant to increase the total number of stitches in a row. Make sure that you have your project in front of you and that you are at the right location where you want to make the increases.
  2. Bring the yarn to the front of your project. Whenever you are purling, your working yarn needs to be in front of your project.[1] Take a moment to bring the working yarn strand to the front of your work.[2]
  3. Insert your needle through the front of the project and purl. To do the purl front part of the stitch sequence, insert your needle in and through the front of the loop. Then, yarn over the stitch and pull through. However, do not allow the old stitch to slide off of the needle as you create a new loop. Leave it where it is for now.[3][2]
  4. Insert through the back and purl again. To do the second part of the stitch sequence, insert the needle through the back of the loop, yarn over the needle, and pull through. This time allow the old loop to slide off the end of the needle as you create the new loop.[2]
    • This completes one purl front and back sequence.
  5. Repeat the sequence whenever pfb is indicated. It is unlikely that your pattern only calls for a purl front and back stitch one time. You will likely have to do it multiple times in a row or over multiple rows to achieve the desired amount of increases. Look for purl front and back, or pfb, in your pattern and repeat the stitch sequence wherever it is indicated.[2]

Getting the Best Results

  1. Follow your pattern closely. Patterns that involve multiple increases and other stitch variations can be a bit harder to follow. Make sure that you pay attention to the differences between rows in the pattern and count your increases to ensure that you are doing the correct amount of pfb stitch sequences.
  2. Use stitch markers. Stitch markers are small plastic rings that you can place on your needles before a stitch to indicate where you need to increase for each round. These can be a great way to simplify your increases and reduce the chances that you will skip one, or do one too many.
    • If you need to increase by a certain amount in each row or round, then place a stitch marker before the location of each increase to remind yourself.
  3. Watch the tension. Using too much tension can cause purl stitches to pucker, especially when you are working two into the same stitch. However, not enough tension can result in a sloppy appearance. Check the tension on your working yarn as you do your pfb increases to make sure that the tension is not too tight or too loose.

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/mar06_purl.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 http://newstitchaday.com/how-to-knit-the-purl-front-and-back-increase/
  3. ↑ http://www.stitchdiva.com/tutorials/knitting/bar-increase

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