A knit (Tutorial Series: Knit or Tink) or a purl (Tutorial Series: Purl or Un-Purl) stitch is created through the front loop of the stitch. A variation of the the knit or purl stitch is created through the back loop of the stitch. Knitting or purling through the back loop (K1tbl/Ktbl or P1tbl/Ptbl) twists the stitches. It looks quite different from the knit and purl stitch. K1tbl and P1tbl makes the knitted fabric more dense and is sometimes used in ribbing or as a design element.

The video and written instructions below show how to K1tbl and P1tbl for right-hand knitting.

Knit 1 through the Back Loop (K1tbl):

Written Instructions for Knit 1 through the Back Loop (K1tbl):

• Insert the right knitting needle front to back through the back loop of the stitch on the left knitting needle.
• Take the working yarn around the top of the right needle and wrap it between the two needles on top of the first stitch
• Catch and pick up the working yarn loop (the new stitch) with and onto the right needle
• Slip the remaining stitch off the left needle

Purl 1 through the Back Loop (P1tbl):

Written Instructions for Purl 1 through the Back Loop (P1tbl):

• Insert the right needle from back to front through the back loop of the stitch on the left knitting needle
• Wrap the working yarn around the inserted right needle
• Catch the loop made made by the working yarn (the new stitch) with the right needle
• Slip the loop (the new stitch) onto the right needle and the old stitch off the left needle