kookaburra1701

The purpose is three-fold:
1. It makes it easier to fold the garment.
2. It gives the garment some structure, as seamless knits can kind of get stretched out into funny shapes. It doesn't give it as much structure as an actual seam, though.
3. This is the main reason: the purl "seams" serve as stitch markers, to help you remember where you need to start your shaping, without having to use actual stitch markers. Of course, if you're like me and you get easily distracted and have a tendency to not look at your knitting while you work, you need stitch markers anyways to tell you when to purl because otherwise you'll just blow right past the purl stitch.

sci_femme

Oh, boy, don't I ever! Knitting continental style does not help either.

OK, we successfully derailed the discussion. Begging Mods' forgiveness.

Giant Doofus

It makes me unreasonably happy that a thread on women in biking got derailed by a discussion of knitting that sprouted from a comment about bread baking. I'm sure the moderators will understand.

halcyon100

I'm female and I bike commute mostly, though not so much Dec - Feb. I tried to bike to work more this last winter, though I had some issues with getting flats at night due to not seeing road debris, despite various lighting system tweaks and tire upgrades. I also wound up needing to work some long days this last winter and found that it was hard for me to have the motivation to bike home after a 10 or 11 hour day in the dark.
But, I'm always excited to get back to bike commuting the first work day after daylight savings.
I live in the San Francisco bay area and overall, I see more male bike commuters - especially among people with longer commutes on road bikes with "full bike gear" (clipless pedals, lycra, higher end bike, etc...). However, if you are around downtown SF right after people get off work, you see lots of women and men riding home after work. These are mostly folks in regular clothes, regular shoes, etc. on some type of hybrid or urban hipster/fixie type of bike.

noglider 

I really don't see what's so bad about threads drifting.

Giant Doofus

Nor do I. Conversations naturally flow in different directions. I just found it delightful that the conversation had drifted in the direction of knitting and bread baking.

kookaburra1701

Continental is my preferred style as well, but I taught myself English to do colorwork. I picked up knitting and crocheting to keep myself from stuffing my face when I watch movies. I save my complicated cables and colorwork for scary movies, so I can hide behind it when needed, ha ha.

Catgrrl70

I just often don't feel like posting anything, nor do I always have the time at work to do so, nor do I often want to look at a computer screen once I am home. I am just starting a longer commute this week - used to be ~ 80 miles per week now it'll be slightly more AND more hilly (it already was!) and involves a ferry, a bus and sometimes a carpool but dammed if I give up my bike as it's still an essential part of my travel planning...as it's the most reliable!

Leisesturm

That's why I live in Portland. Before I moved to the Northwest I took a road trip through... one look at Seattle and I knew it was a no go for my style of commuting. I commend you and anyone else brave enough to swing a leg over and ride up (and down) those hills. I am so not worthy... ...
H

sci_femme

Hand that holds the needles hold the fork does not - Yoda grammar intentional.