This is for those of you who wish to learn to knit and for anyone who wants a refresher course as it has been so long since they did any.
There are many ways to cast on but for simplicity, I am only going to show you one which gives a nice firm and tidy edge and is easy to do.
Likewise, I am not going to tell you how to hold your needles as you will find the way that is most comfortable for you as you learn.
The pictures are taken from a face on perspective so that you can sit in front of your screen and copy as you read - in theory Laughing

PURL STITCH

In knit stitch the loops lie at the back of the work and in purl stitch they lie at the front. Therefore, if you alternate between rows of purl stitch and rows of knit you get a pattern known as Stocking stitch which has a smooth side and a textured side.
Purl stitch is a bit more fiddly to do but persevere with it because these two stitches form the basis of all knitting stitches and patterns.

Insert the right hand needle into the first stitch on the left hand needle but this time the right hand needle will be in front of the lefthand one.

Wrap the yarn around only the righthand needle as before

Use the righthand needle to make the first purl stitch by pulling the yarn through towards the back

and carefully slide the stitch just worked off the lefthand needle

You now have one purl stitch on the righthand needle

Insert righthand needle into next stitch on lefthand needle

Yarn around righthand needle as before

Take the yarn through to the back and make the next purl stitch

Two purl stitches on righthand needle

Insert righthand needle into next stitch on lefthand needle

Continue making purl stitches until the end of the row.

This tuition was submitted by Julie