what do i need to knit a scarf

Stacie enjoys writing most the things that interest her most: reading, writing, food, wine, knitting, and living a healthy lifestyle.

A scarf is a great project for beginners.

Scarves Are Great for Offset Knitters

Since learning how to knit, I've made a lot of fabulous things, like scarves, hats, and sweaters. I've too taught others how to knit—from summer camp counselors to tertiary graders. I have to say that I'm well-nigh proud of teaching a stubborn Navy Seal the art of knitting.

Once you get the hang of information technology, you lot will quickly go addicted. The click, click sound of knitting will become a abiding in your life. When you get-go larn how to knit, a scarf is a great showtime projection. Information technology offers you easy practice, simply also leaves you with a handmade scarf to add to your wardrobe.

Gather your supplies before you start. — Gather your supplies before y'all start.

Assemble Your Supplies

I could tell you exactly which products to buy, just that won't exist all-time for you. I choose my knitting needles and yarn based on how they feel. Yous need to be comfortable with how they feel in your hands. Choose your products carefully and make sure y'all feel comfy with them.

Yarn: You will want to use worsted weight yarn. When you starting time begin, you should choose one solid color (later on you lot can employ multiple and variegated colors). Make sure you impact all of the different yarns yous like before buying. If yous don't like the feel of the yarn, you won't want to knit with it.
Needles: Knitting needles are bachelor in many unlike materials, like metallic, plastic, bamboo, resin, and different kinds of woods. I personally prefer woods or bamboo needles, and they are great for beginners. Again, choose something that feels most comfortable to you.
Crochet Hook: It is helpful to have a crochet hook for picking upwardly dropped stitches (size H or close).
Scissors: You should keep a pair of scissors on paw to cut your yarn. Y'all shouldn't pause your yarn by trigger-happy it as this will cause unravelling or stretch it out.
Mitt Foam: This might seem like an odd textile, but it is necessary. Choose an absorbent cream, so it won't end up on your yarn. Wooden needles and the yarn blot oils from your hands. You lot need to find a way to keep your easily moisturized while keeping your yarn make clean.

Knitting Terminology, Abbreviations, and Symbols

Subsequently you learn how to knit, you will need to know the terminology to follow patterns. I won't encompass every single knitting term here, simply these are the about basic.

Bandage On (CO): When you bandage on you lot are creating a row of initial stitches on your knitting needle. This is how y'all begin your projection.
Knit (Chiliad): The knit sew is the basic knitting stitch.
Purl (P): The purl sew together is kind of similar the inverse of the knit stitch. You often combine it with the knit run up in many projects.
Correct Side: This is the side of the garment that will bear witness when worn.
Wrong Side: This side of the garment is the side that will be inside when worn.
Right-Paw Side: The side of the work closest to your right paw as you are working on it.
Left-Paw Side: The side of the work closest to your left mitt as you are working on it.
* :The asterisk is used to mark the beginning and finish of a portion of instructions that you will do more than once. So, "echo instructions betwixt *south until end of row" means to repeat the instructions between the asterisks until you become to the terminate of the row.
(): Parentheses enclose instructions which should be worked the verbal number of times specified by the number following the parentheses. (Knit 1, purl 1) twice means that you lot will complete the instructions between the parentheses two times before moving on with the instructions.

Even the simplest stitches can make a spectacular scarf. — Even the simplest stitches can brand a spectacular scarf.

How to Cast On

Casting on is one of the well-nigh difficult parts of knitting to learn, but is easy once you go the paw of it. Because information technology is a scrap complex, I recommend you read my article How to Bandage On if you are a beginning knitter. This is an easy, illustrated, footstep-past-step guide to this beginning footstep to whatever knitting project.

How to Knit

Knitting is made up of two basic stitches, the knit sew and the purl run up. You lot can combine these two stitches to create a lot of dissimilar effects and textures. Ready to acquire the knit sew?

Cast on 24 stitches. Hold the needle with the 24 cast-on stitches in your left manus. Insert the point of the right needle into the first stitch, from forepart to back under the left needle.
With your right index finger, bring the loose yarn under and over the signal of the right needle.
Now, draw the yarn through the stitch with your right needle betoken.
Sideslip the first loop on the left needle off, so you at present have the new stitch on the correct needle.

You take completed your showtime knit stitch! Echo these four steps in each run up remaining on your left needle. When all of the stitches are on your right needle, with none left on your left needle, one row has been completed.

Plow the right needle, agree it in your left hand, and use the free needle in your right hand. Work another row of stitches. Practise by knitting 10 more rows of knit sew.

Knit Stitch: Stride-past-Pace Photos

Insert the right needle into the first stitch on the left needle, from front to back. — Insert the correct needle into the first stitch on the left needle, from front to back.

Scroll to Keep

Garter Stitch

How to Purl

The opposite/companion of the knit sew together is called the purl stitch. The difference between the knit and purl stitches is that with purl sew together, you lot insert your right needle point from right to left, in front of your left needle. Yous can bandage on more stitches, or proceed on with the ten rows you knitted from above.

Insert your correct needle, from left to right, into the start sew together, and in forepart of the left needle.
Hold the yarn in forepart of your work (the side facing you), and bring the yarn around the right needle counterclockwise.
Using your right needle, pull the yarn back through the run up.
Slide the sew off of the left needle, leaving the new stitch on your right needle.

Yea! You take completed your first purl stitch! Repeat these four steps in every sew across the row to consummate one row of purled stitches. Now, transfer the needle with the stitches from your right to left hand. Knit every stitch in the row. At the end of the row, transfer the needle with the stitches to your left mitt, then purl every stitch in the next row. Knit another row, then purl some other row.

Purl Sew together: Stride-by-Stride Photos

Insert right needle into first stitch on left needle. The right needle will be in front of the left needle. — Insert right needle into first sew on left needle. The right needle will exist in front of the left needle.

Bring loose yarn over the right needle, from right to left.

Bring loose yarn through the stitch, then drop old stitch off of loose needle. — Bring loose yarn through the stitch, then drop erstwhile stitch off of loose needle.

The new stitch will be on the right needle. — The new stitch will exist on the right needle.

Here is a view of the purl stitch from further along the row. — Here is a view of the purl stitch from farther along the row.

Stockinette Run up

Stop and look at your work. When you alternating between knit and purl rows, you create a common stitch pattern called the stockinette run up. Continue practicing the stockinette stitch until you feel comfortable with the knit and purl stitches.

Stockinette stitch: right side — Stockinette sew: correct side

Stockinette stitch: wrong side — Stockinette stitch: incorrect side

Pattern 1: Ribbed Scarf

These scarf patterns are fairly unproblematic and easy for beginners, but notwithstanding very cute. You tin can brand a scarf of all garter stitch, all stockinette stitch, or follow one of the patterns beneath.

This is a fairly basic scarf that will let yous practice the two stitches you merely learned: knit and purl. The ribbing on this scarf will make it skinnier than it will first appear on your needles.

Pattern (With Standard Abbreviations)

CO 38 st. (for a skinny scarf: 18 st.)

Row 1: Piece of work 2x2 rib across row, beg with K2 and ending with K2, turn.

Row ii: Cont. rib past working sts., beg with P2 and catastrophe with P2.

Rep last two rows until scarf is desired length.

BO in rib.

Design (Written in English)

Cast on 38 stitches (or 18 stitches if you want a skinnier scarf).

Row 1: Work 2x2 ribbing across the row by knitting two stitches, then purling 2 stitches, and then knitting ii stitches, etc. You will brainstorm this row by knitting 2 stitches, and end the row by knitting two stitches. Plow your work, so the stitches will once again be on your left side.

Row ii: Continue the ribbing by working the stitches as they announced. Begin this row past purling two stitches and end with purling two stitches.

Echo these two rows until the scarf reaches your desired length.

Bind of the stitches in rib. Weave in ends. You tin add together fringe if you want.

Equally the scarf gets longer, you will hands see the pattern. It volition be like shooting fish in a barrel to run into whatever mistakes, so keep an eye on the work you have already done. I left a long tail at the showtime of my work as a mode to marker when to purl. When the tail is on your right side, y'all start and end the row in purl.

Ribbed Scarf: Photograph Guide

Ribbed Scarf after a few rows. — Ribbed Scarf later on a few rows.

Pattern two: The Only Pretty Scarf

This is a fairly elementary scarf. You can make information technology thin or wide, depending on how y'all desire your scarf to plow out. Until you take mastered it, follow these directions.

Design (With Standard Abbreviations)

CO 21 sts.

Row ane (WS):

Row 2: *P1, K1, rep from *, end P1.

Rep Rows 1 & 2 until desired length.

BO.

Blueprint (Written in English)

Cast on 21 stitches.

Row 1: First row is the incorrect side. Knit the entire row.

Row two: Purl one stitch, so knit one sew, alternating until the terminate of row. The last stitch of the row will be purl.

Repeat rows ane & 2 until scarf reaches desired length.

Bind off. Weave in ends, and add together fringe if wanted.

Simply Pretty Scarf: Photo Guide

More Knitting Resources

And then you accept finished your scarf, what exercise you do at present?

The scarf was peachy practice because it allowed you to get comfortable with the basic stitches. Now that you can do the stitches, you are ready to try something more difficult.

You will discover that the side by side steps involve learning even more about knitting. I propose you follow some of the links provided on this folio, to learn virtually gauge, increasing, and decreasing—as these are all of import when you move on to more difficult projects.

I besides recommend that you lot find a reference book on knitting. Although you tin detect endless data on the cyberspace, a book you tin can go to at any time is helpful. Earlier buying a reference book, shop effectually. Yous want to experience as comfortable with this book, meaning it should exist clear and understandable, as you practise with the feel of your knitting needles and yarn.

Good luck, and have fun!

The Knit Sew

The Purl Sew together

Binding Off a Knitting Row

Binding Off a Purl Row

Putting Fringe on a Scarf

Putting Fringe on a Knit Scarf
Learn an piece of cake and effective method for calculation fringe onto the ends of your completed scarf. The yarn used for the fringe here is leftover from the yarn used to knit the scarf. After learning how to add the fringe, you can experiment with various co

Help Casting Off

The Knitting Site - Knitting Casting Off
You learned to cast on, knit, and purl, now you need to end your project by casting/binding off. This site offers easy illustrations and a video explaining how to bandage off at the end of a project.

Audrey Hunt from Pahrump NV on November twenty, 2016:

My prayers are at present answered. I'm a beginner and got stuck making a caput band. Glad you included the video on casting off. I want to add a wooden button at the tail cease. Any tips y'all tin can give me will be appreciated. Making head bands for Xmas gifts this year.

I'm excited to follow the steps in this fabled hub. Pinning and sharing and to a higher place all . . . saving!

Michele Kelsey from Edmond, Oklahoma, Us on November xv, 2015:

Stacie,

This was a very well written and informative article. I remember you did an first-class job at balancing the education with the valuable information. Yous did a dandy job with the stride by stride illustrations.

Do you lot make knitting tutorials on You Tube? If and so, how exercise you make them? I would dearest to larn more than. How to you lot all-time take pictures of the various steps in knitting? I noticed in the pace past step instructions you took keen pictures of your hands.

I retrieve this is a great way to illustrate what you mean when you lot are trying to explain something in knitting terms. Seeing something is much easier than reading about it when it comes to this craft. How did you get the angles then great in those photos? In other means, how did yous hold the camera so that you could take an image of both of your hands?

I promise you will determine to follow me as information technology appears we have this hobby in common, and I would love to brand another similar minded friend! I am also on G+, pinterest, etc. as theflirtyknitter if you desire to look me upwardly. I am very active right at present on Twitter. My username on at that place is flirtyknitter. I hope you expect me upwards and follow me on here as well!

I look forward to hearing from you! Have a jolly twenty-four hours!

Michele Kelsey

Tiddledeewinks on August xiii, 2014:

I accept now learned how to bind off, and am knitting a few things to sell in my etsy online shop, MysticalRaindrops.

Dianna Mendez on October 21, 2013:

Another excellent teaching on knitting. I used to do this simple scarf technique, only it has been years and years. I love that I tin click on your hub for educational activity when I become to the point of taking this upwardly again. Thanks for sharing. Voted upwards++

Michele Kelsey from Edmond, Oklahoma on May 18, 2013:

On the pattern on the But Pretty Scarf, Row 1 doesn't have directions (except below). You lot may want to add that. I dear those free blueprint websites! Thank you for sharing. Is there a design for that offset scarf or is it just plain knitting? I actually liked it. You did a great job at doing the abbreviations and tutorials. I couldn't have put information technology better. What are the benefits of being a fellow member of the Daily Knitter vs. a visitor? Very thorough and great stuff! I look forward to following you. Michele

hope on March 26, 2013:

wow proficient merely awesome to

C-Bless on June 02, 2012:

... just getting back to knitting after putting down my needles ten years agone. Great hub - many refreshers! Thanks for sharing.

Jenny snowfall on May 06, 2012:

I am 11 years erstwhile and I thank y'all considering I have learnt how to knit now !!!!!

Em's on February 04, 2012:

Thanks for the bang-up tips they are very useful

madison daugherty on February 03, 2012:

I am nine years old so I take no clue any about any of this!:[

Emma on January 31, 2012:

Hey :) I tried knitting so many times and failed miserably, bit when I establish this site it was and so much easier! I don't know why, merely I used to despise knitting. Now I simply love it!! Thanks so much!

lucy fahy historic period viii on Dec 15, 2011:

I still cant knit it is a pain in the bum AAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!and so please teach me!

Renata on Oct 25, 2011:

@Stacie or whoever can assistance....

I have also started a scarf with the stockinette blueprint and the sides gyre in. I am using 5mm needles. I thought information technology would straighten out every bit I proceed merely 1/4th of the way washed and it still curls. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks. and great website!

Sivita Harrison on Oct 18, 2011:

How do I change from stockinette dorsum to garter again then I tin can stop my work ta

Shawna Morris on Oct 03, 2011:

wow. thank you and then much. there are many videos out there but this puts it in apparently English with videos. I have some patterns that I want to do only I didn't sympathize how to read them. Thanks!

Kwame cool on September 13, 2011:

Hello honey friend I want lean lace forepart style

Tawny on August 21, 2011:

Thank you SOOO much, i dearest knitted clothes, i went through maybe thirty videos and didn't larn anything, but after watching yours, mayhap twice, i got the hang of information technology.

ggraham on May 31, 2011:

Great data. I sit down with my 94 yr sometime Mother and have taught myself to knit with your aid. Beloved IT...and GREAT Data... Cheers

sanjeewani on March 16, 2011:

great...

Stacie Naczelnik (author) from Seattle on March 03, 2011:

@ Cyndee - this happens to me sometimes too. What kind of yarn are y'all using? As you go along to knit, it might straighten out. Y'all tin can likewise not alternate the offset few stitches - instead of purl, knit, purl, do three purls, then start alternating. Allow me know if the curling continues.

stu on Feb thirteen, 2011:

Extremely helpful. I haven't knitted since my nan passed abroad and after taking her needles out of the draw and reading this, I got going again. I'k now curently in the middle of a elementary garter run up scarf

scoobydeb on February 12, 2011:

Great tutorial!

Cyndee on February 10, 2011:

I beloved the simply pretty scarf and started it a few days ago with size 10 needles. But the sides are rolling in. Tin yous tell me why this happening?

craftybegonia from Southwestern, United states of america on January 20, 2011:

Dainty hub, thanks for sharing!

erin on December 28, 2010:

My boyfriend who is left handed, knits right handed. He taught me how to knit and I am knitting my 2nd scarf and I have only actually been knitting for 2.v weeks. I used videos to help me with casting on and binding off, as I tin't inquire my b/f to show me crusade he lives ii.5 hrs from me. I knit ii-3 hrs a 24-hour interval so as to non become bored of information technology, but believe me I was very stubborn and get hands frustrated. I too have ADD and if something does not interest me I generally don't pay close attending to information technology. My Add is also why I don't have tons of hobbies. Luckily my b/f is very patient and sat there with me and helped me through any problems I had. He was with me for a week when he taught me. I now know how to bandage on, bind off, and fix my mistake when I accidentally add stitches. I never thought I would find a hobbie that I liked and learn it so quickly. I even so accept a long mode to go, but I am pleased at what I can do now.

NicoleACY on December 01, 2010:

Hi, I would like to know, for the simplest way of knitting, why the amount of casts I produced is duplicating? Which steps I've gone wrong? I need assist... Thanx! :)

xaraa elliott on Nov 06, 2010:

thay tin can be very cnfusing but i similar the vidos and i take but started a scarf it doesent tell me how to casst of and how to chang couler (sorry most my spelling im disslexic)

karen on November 04, 2010:

Great instructions! I'yard knitting my first scarf using the ribbed scarf pattern. One matter to notation for beginners is that when changing from knit to purl (or vice versa), to bring the wool to the back or front respectively before inserting the right needle into the stitch. Otherwise, y'all'll end up similar me...getting extra stitches and thinking that I've lost count! I undid the stitches and tried again up to 5 times and each time, concentrating very hard earlier suspecting that I haven't lost count at all, LOL! Hope this will assist some other beginner :)

janye on July 31, 2010:

I merely want to learn knitting but too hard!

bev on July 08, 2010:

my mum tried to teach me to knit years ago merely i didn't have the patience at present i have kids of my ain an decided to try again hopefully this time round ill become the hang of information technology :-)

Setsuna Yasumi on April 25, 2010:

I love knitting. I started since child, I got the hobby from my grandma.

heart4theword from hub on April xi, 2010:

I am a knitter too, dear it! Some skilful starter things your showed for those just learning:)

mini on April 01, 2010:

i cant sympathise the pictures you testify.

fiona_33 from UK on March 29, 2010:

Terrifc hub. I tried knitting a few years ago but couldn't get the hang of it. I remember I'll give it another go now.

ashly on March 20, 2010:

they r 2 cute

vickie stigleman on February 13, 2010:

Great Site. I am using 1 of the two patterns listed to make my Outset scarf. Thanks again for all the like shooting fish in a barrel to read and understand instructions and videos.

Tracy Monroy on January 08, 2010:

Oh so glad I saw this. I'g planning to teach my daughter how to knit over the summertime. She would beloved to make a scarf.

Fran on December 25, 2009:

I learned to knit when an accident prevented me from being active and have tried to teach several people over the last

75 yrs. I found this web site by browsing, and observe it to

be the all-time I have ever seen to teach.

Simplest Notions from McKinney, TX on November 22, 2009:

Thank you for this easy teaching. I am a crochet fanatic because I tin't make my knitting stitches uniform. I'1000 going to follow your instructions and give information technology some other become!

Jess on September 15, 2009:

With your site and the help of a book I taught myself to knit in a weekend. Your site helped more so the book though! I am going to attempt the "Pretty Scarf" pattern! :)

Shelley on September 13, 2009:

i of the best sites I've plant....made it look very simple...thanks

Angelalice Satsuki on September xi, 2009:

wow! im really bad at knitting, im simply know how to braid in knitting! Hey, Miranda Cosgrove, how come up you can type into this comment, I even not know about that y'all are really put it on the comment!

ak on August 14, 2009:

i did a bit of knitting 20 over years ago & stopped. Now when i wanted to start again, i've forgotten. Your site is the best for beginners. It all came flooding dorsum in one case i went through your steps. It was a great assistance. Thank you a lot!

Jenny on July 12, 2009:

i think im gonna try this, my grandma taught me one time but i messed upwards and never started some other scarf over again!

hannah on May 28, 2009:

knitting is sooo fun!! although i dont know how to go it just right!!! o well, its still fun!!!

Aida on April 03, 2009:

I had to learn to knit back in my country for home studies class. I hate it at the start. Merely now I'm glad I did. Thanks then much, I"1000 gonna use the tips to knit a scarf for myself. Hopefully I won't get tired and requite up in middle and leave the rest to my mom. ^_^

Nancy's Niche on Apr 01, 2009:

I am in awe with anyone who can knit…I have tried several times and given up; I'yard all fingers and get in my ain mode…Grrrrrrrrr! This is something my mother and grandmother did all the fourth dimension. In fact, they sewed about of my school clothes.

Great commodity with easy to follow directions…

Nola on February 17, 2009:

Thank you soo much, the bounden off demo information technology was perfect! Im most washed with my first scarf and was kind of dreading poping in my dvd on how to knit, my son is ten months and it's hard to pay attention and push button the buttons to get back on what I missed. Thanks again, deceit wait to effort it!

Lisa McGrimmon on August 01, 2008:

What a great, detailed hub. I would love to larn to knit. A couple of people accept tried to teach me, only I'm left handed, and every time a right handed person shows me, everything seems completely backward. Thanks for taking the time to post such helpful, detailed instructions.

Miranda Cosgrove on June thirteen, 2008:

I like it but I'm VERY bad at knitting. WWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

Diane Corriette on February fourteen, 2008:

Wow! I didn't realize that knitting was dorsum in! My daughter started a few months agone just gave up. I will definitely tell her about this page!

Stacie Naczelnik (author) from Seattle on Feb 01, 2008:

Thanks everyone, your comments brand me feel fabulous.

Seamus, although I did make my own videos for my How to Crochet hub, I was able to notice some quality, pre-existing ones for this hub. I found them on YouTube.

elisabeth reid from Colorado on January 31, 2008:

An outstanding hub...I'g a knitter and I found this to be very informative, helpful and reader-friendly.

Excellent.

seamus on January 30, 2008:

Wow, this provides a lot of detail. I wish I'd had videos when I learned to knit. Did you brand those videos yourself?

dafla on Jan 30, 2008:

Stacie, I've truly enjoyed your knitting lessons. Continue upwardly the skilful work!

ksc7 on Jan 29, 2008:

Great Hub!

shesagogetter from Ontario, Canada on January 26, 2008:

Great hub. It is great to see so many people learning the art of knitting again!

caspar from UK on January 25, 2008:

A lovely project for a beginner knitter. I've just taught my daughter to knit and she's made about half of a scarf...it's been abased for now!

livinrural on January 24, 2008:

Its a great way to get others started on knitting . I take been knitting for many years but sadly the fine art is dying somewhat

Tiddledeewinks on January 23, 2008:

I'll accept to effort this erstwhile. I tried to teach myself to knit, and started a scarf, only never figured out how to bind off. Nice pics!

upikabu on January 23, 2008:

Wow, I've been looking for this since forever. Cheers Lissie

Stacie Naczelnik (author) from Seattle on January 22, 2008:

Practiced tip Lissie. I take patterns that interchange the 2--I have to pay attending!

Elisabeth Sowerbutts from New Zealand on January 22, 2008:

Just a note for the English/British readers - bind off = cast off (CO) !

Isabella Snow on January 22, 2008:

Yeah, this is what I desire to do kickoff! I will have to come dorsum and expect this over more tomorrow. Its a lot! :)

cgull8m from North Carolina on January 22, 2008:

I will pass this to my niece she seemed to be getting new interest in knitting. Wonderful tips.

Merle Ann Johnson from NW in the land of the Free on January 21, 2008:

Wow eeee stacie what a smashing hub Lot'southward of time here my sweetie...glad i am already a knitter....One thousand-Ma :O) hugs

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