Knitting and purling into the back of a stitch is a little more difficult than knitting a stitch normally, but it has many uses. These include tightening up the last stitch of a cable, making a neat selvedge to a garment by knitting into the back of the first stitch of each row, Bavarian Twisted Stitch, twisted ribs, paired decreases and more.

To knit into the back of a stitch, slip the right hand needle through the first stitch on the left hand needle BEHIND the left hand needle.

Then take the yarn round the needle as normal and knit off.

The stitch then appears twisted in the completed knitted fabric.

Purling into the back of a stitch is a little more difficult but can be done - just take your time and slip the stitch down the narrow part of the point of the needle to loosen it if necessary.

As before, put the needle into the stitch but this time lever it in from the back to the front, pushing it through the stitch on the left hand needle from left to right.

Finally, yarn round needle in the same way as you would purl normally, and purl the stitch off.

The abbreviation for knitting into the back loop of a stitch is K1B, and for purling into the back loop it is P1B. Just as you can knit two stitches together or purl two stitches together, you can also knit into the back of the stitches when Knitting 2 or more together or Purling 2 or more together.