Teaching our knitting class has made me really think about the
whole knitting process, the knit and purl stitches, the knitted fabric.  I think it was the “right side and wrong side”
discussions that led me to the existential-esque questions that, in turn, made
me really see the humble yet elegant
loop that is the knit stitch for the first time.

It was Monday evening (the evening after knitting class)
that I was sitting up in bed knitting away on the Gull Pi Shawl pondering the
day’s events (including the “right and wrong side” discussion) that I suddenly
thought: what is the purl bump?  I knew what it looked like, of course, but I
did not know what it was (I have used
more italics tonight than I have all month – but I digress).  So, as I had the knit side of the shawl
facing me, I carefully turned the work over and peered at a purl bump and…

It was the top of the knit stitch loop bent gracefully
backward and tucked under the needle!

The lower portion of the knit stitch (or the purl stitch!) shows as a V and the top part is the top curve
bent under and behind the needle (or
ducking slightly forward!).  The only
difference between a knit stitch and a purl stitch is the nod forward or
backward!

I was floored!