Knotty Knitters

08/24/2026

08/19/2026

Monday Projects
All the beautiful backpacks were made by Colleen, pretty baby afghan was made Kate, cute socks by Ginny, Janine made the beautiful blue and green afghan, Linda made the adorable baby top, beanie and shawl and ester made the cool washcloths and coasters

08/18/2026

Why do so many knitters dislike purling? Psychology may help explain it…⁣

1. Purling can feel less intuitive to some knitters.

Our brains become more efficient at movements we repeat. If the knit stitch is the movement you use most often, it can become increasingly automatic, leaving purling feeling just that little bit less natural.

2. Switching between knit and purl might actually be the problem.

Research into task switching suggests that moving between actions comes with a small cognitive cost. Constantly switching (as we do in ribbing) can interrupt our rhythm and make the process feel more demanding.

3. The knit stitch gets a head start.

For many of us, knitting is the first stitch we learn. That means our hands and brains have had more time to practise the movement before purling is even introduced. In motor learning, repetition helps movements become more familiar and automatic.

4. The 'purling is awful' story might be keeping it alive.

Purling has had a bad reputation among knitters for years. Psychology tells us that expectations can influence our experiences, so hearing that purling is difficult, slow, or less enjoyable may shape how we approach it.

Of course, plenty of knitters are perfectly happy to purl, but psychology may help explain why the stitch may have earned such a reputation.⁣⁣

Tell us your thoughts on purl below.

⁣⁣Sources:⁣⁣
Research on motor learning and automaticity⁣
American Psychological Association, research on task switching⁣
Self-Determination Theory, competence, motivation and enjoyment⁣
Research on expectations and perceived effort

07/15/2026

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Daj4senR2uZ/?igsh=MWdxMDR5eWxlYXhxMg==

07/14/2026

Monday Projects. Linda W made the adorable backpack, Kate made all the cute flowers and Adrienne made the beautiful scarf.