If you want to do a simple scarf without cables (this one has cables), where you just knit every row - that’s not too difficult and can be done with minimal tools and cheaply.
You will need knitting needles (straight or circular, doesn’t matter) what’s important is that the size of the needles fits the size of the yarn. For example, I recommend starting with worsted or Aran yarn weight, for which you will need needles size 7 or 8 (US size).
Then you will need yarn (worsted or Aran weight), and the cheapest yarn is acrylic. It’s also machine washable and dryable. You can also get wool - just pick something that feels nice to the touch.
After that, look up video tutorials on how to knit. You can choose English or continental style - the difference is in how you hold the yarn. I prefer continental as it’s a bit faster. But most people in the U.S. will use English style, so there are more tutorials for it.
Hopefully this helps! My grandma taught me how to knit when I was about 11, and I’ve been knitting on and off my whole life. It was easy to learn the basics, and a bit trickier for some of the advanced techniques.
Thanks for this. I went and bought a couple of needles, some yarn and I'm working on a scarf with just the beginner stuff. It's chonky yarn, so I suppose it's going pretty quickly (even if I'm slow). I looked at the instructions for the cable knit one and I'm confident I'm many many hours and items away from getting to that skill level. Thanks for breaking it to me gently. ;)
That’s amazing! I am so impressed you took it up and are making a scarf already! The first scarf is always special, even if it comes out wonky.
You can also practice by making washcloths, which takes less time than a scarf and can have fun desings made with just knitting and purling. Plenty of free patterns online!
It doesn’t involve purling, just slipping a stitch from left to right needle while holding the yarn in front of the stitch, and it creates a nice ribbed effect.
And if you start to really get into knitting, I recommend getting on Ravelry! You can look up patterns (and filter by free and the kind of pattern you want), and keep track of your projects.
I don't even know what purling is yet, but I have a couple of inches of a scarf down using the basic slip knot stitch. I've had to undo some mistakes as I got lucky figuring out how to do those and I think I got it a bit too tight for some stitches, but it's going! My first attempts I had to unravel like an inch of stitches already done 3 times because I got careless and lost stitches off the needles or something wasn't quite right. So I've definitely done a few stitch on's at this point even if it's my first scarf. :) Now I have a rythm and like 10cm of scarf.
I'll look at the video - thanks. At this rate it will be a month before I have something visible. Just doing keeping my hands busy while watching other things. Thank you for the generous and thoughtful responses!
19 replies
This is one of my favorite patterns, the Rosewood Scarf: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rosewood-scarf
Yarn is 220 Superwash Merino by Cascade.
This is the same pattern in different yarn/color:
Do you do spells and potions also?
Sometimes…
Gorgeous!
Thank you!
It's me, your son. I moved. Send DM for new address.
😂
Joke’s on you, I would totally make you one. I love knitting for people!
Beautiful scarf. How many skeins did you use and how long did it get?
Thank you! I used 4 skeins, and it got pretty long after blocking, over 80 inches. My son loves long scarves ☺️
How long would this take an absolute beginner with no tools to learn to do and to finish a scarf? Is there a good place to start that you recommend?
If you want to do a simple scarf without cables (this one has cables), where you just knit every row - that’s not too difficult and can be done with minimal tools and cheaply.
You will need knitting needles (straight or circular, doesn’t matter) what’s important is that the size of the needles fits the size of the yarn. For example, I recommend starting with worsted or Aran yarn weight, for which you will need needles size 7 or 8 (US size).
Then you will need yarn (worsted or Aran weight), and the cheapest yarn is acrylic. It’s also machine washable and dryable. You can also get wool - just pick something that feels nice to the touch.
After that, look up video tutorials on how to knit. You can choose English or continental style - the difference is in how you hold the yarn. I prefer continental as it’s a bit faster. But most people in the U.S. will use English style, so there are more tutorials for it.
This is a good place to start: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/learn-to-knit/
Hopefully this helps! My grandma taught me how to knit when I was about 11, and I’ve been knitting on and off my whole life. It was easy to learn the basics, and a bit trickier for some of the advanced techniques.
Thanks for this. I went and bought a couple of needles, some yarn and I'm working on a scarf with just the beginner stuff. It's chonky yarn, so I suppose it's going pretty quickly (even if I'm slow). I looked at the instructions for the cable knit one and I'm confident I'm many many hours and items away from getting to that skill level. Thanks for breaking it to me gently. ;)
That’s amazing! I am so impressed you took it up and are making a scarf already! The first scarf is always special, even if it comes out wonky.
You can also practice by making washcloths, which takes less time than a scarf and can have fun desings made with just knitting and purling. Plenty of free patterns online!
For your second project, you could always try this scarf: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2014/09/12/no-purl-ribbed-scarf/
It doesn’t involve purling, just slipping a stitch from left to right needle while holding the yarn in front of the stitch, and it creates a nice ribbed effect.
And if you start to really get into knitting, I recommend getting on Ravelry! You can look up patterns (and filter by free and the kind of pattern you want), and keep track of your projects.
I don't even know what purling is yet, but I have a couple of inches of a scarf down using the basic slip knot stitch. I've had to undo some mistakes as I got lucky figuring out how to do those and I think I got it a bit too tight for some stitches, but it's going! My first attempts I had to unravel like an inch of stitches already done 3 times because I got careless and lost stitches off the needles or something wasn't quite right. So I've definitely done a few stitch on's at this point even if it's my first scarf. :) Now I have a rythm and like 10cm of scarf.
I'll look at the video - thanks. At this rate it will be a month before I have something visible. Just doing keeping my hands busy while watching other things. Thank you for the generous and thoughtful responses!
That is so lovely! I know what my next project will be. 😊 Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! I hope you have fun making it, it’s a cool project!
imma jelly. whats the material?
It’s made from superwash merino wool, meaning it can be washed and dried in a machine. It’s super soft!
oh my devil I am so into marino wool ever since I got this shirt from my brother. double jelous now.