Which Do You Prefer?
When it comes to knitted fabric, which do you prefer? The knit side or the purl side? Do stripes affect your choice?
Knitters and Non-Knitters – Which Do You Prefer?
For striped garments, my experience has been that most knitters prefer to see the knit-side of plain knitting. And non-knitters prefer the purl-side.
Purl Soho put out a simple cowl pattern called the Newsprint Cowl. It’s a circularly knit tube with two rows of light color yarn and one row of dark color. And they seem to show that the reverse stockinette side (or the purl-side) is the correct public-facing side.
First of all, I think the colors that they chose make both sides look like newsprint. Especially with the 2:1 ratio of stripes.
Further, the garment is loose and long enough that both sides show when it’s worn anyway. And they also tag this as a reversible garment.
Finally, the 2:1 ratio of light-to-dark stripes also evens out the distribution of purl-bump rows on the purl-side.
It appears as though there is a single row of each color when viewed on the purl-side. Which blends the colors. Even though these colors are relatively high-contrast. Note how the striping is evident on the knit-side of the fabric.
Jamie McCanless brought this pattern to my attention in a Zoom meetup. He also modified the pattern by doing i-cord edging at the top and bottom. Finally, he striped using helical knitting instead of jog/carrying unused yarn up the inside (or the outside if you wear it as indicated). Both adjustments were very useful.
So choose people. Knit-side or purl-side.
To be fair, knitters already call this “stockinette” and “reverse stockinette.” Or even more biased language as the “right-side” and the “wrong-side” of their knitting. Whereas non-knitters are unfettered by semantics. They only evaluate based on visual aesthetics.
Current Knitting
Latest knitting is based on comments from Amy about making child-sized gaitors or cowls.
The Snug Cowl-Gaitor is a simple tube of striped stockinette with i-cord edging on top. I used the concept of the Newsprint Cowl and stole both of Jamie’s great ideas on making it better.
It’s also done in worsted-weight instead of fingering-weight. And it’s only knit on 88 stitches instead of hundreds.
I definitely prefer the knit side
Hmm. I always have had a fondness for the purl side because I felt it was underrated. Kind of like rooting for the underdog. This is cool how the 2:1 stripe ratio evens out on the purl side. But oddly with these colors I think I like the knit side better. Also, pray tell, what is helical knitting?
Thanks for asking…I meant to link to my YouTube tutorial about it! – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iujRy6z2EXs
Honestly, I think the purl side has more depth-and general interest. Also having the smooth side against the skin is an advantage. 65 years of knitting experience. Dange, when you realize when I learned to knit, that means I am …old
I like both! I will mix it depending on what the item is
First of all Joe, thank you for acknowledging the child size gaitor/cowl from my suggestion. I’m humbled 😉
I like the I-cord idea and thank you for the helical tutorial. Both those ideas are helpful as I struggle to expand my skills.
I agree with Marion about the purl side being more interesting to look at, but ultimately I like the knit side best. The best of both choices in apparent in your finished piece where you’re able to see a little of each.
The 2:1 ratio is great, too.
I prefer the knit side. It has a more defined looking stitch.
Reverse side is more interesting and textural.
My vote goes to the knitted side (right side)!
Helical is definitely the way to go – of course I’m prejudiced because I use it whenever I do 1 or 2 row stripes. Insofar as which side – in this case and with these colors I’m on the reverse stockinette team.
I like the knit side best.