I bought a lovely cotton shawl that MMario made, but it's crochet, not knit.

Peter, are you right handed? Then the needle in your right hand has the cast-on stitches, and as you transact each new stitch, it slides onto the left needle. Stick the left needle into the material on the bottom side of the right needle. Pay attention to the stitch that is (should be) closest to the right needle's point under your index finger. Knit and purl are simple. It has been many years, but I think knit when you pick up the new loop (through the stitch under your index finger) from the far side of the needle and slide it onto the left. Purl is when you poke the left needle through from the outside and pick up the yarn from the inside of the right needle.

If you want a solid "knit" side in the finished material then you have to knit all of the stitches off of one needle onto the other, and alternate each row as knit or purl. Otherwise you end up with distinct raised and recessed rows.

Is this too simplified? Ignore it if so. I was just trying to see if I could describe it clearly. I understood what I was saying, if that's any measure. :-)

SRS