Learning how to knit a scarf can seem hard if you’re a total beginner. There are two needles to move around, and yarn that looks like it could snag into knots. It looks intimidating!
But the truth is that knitting is like any other skill. It’s no different than learning how to ride a bike or how to cook. All it takes is some time and practice. And the upside is that unlike riding a bike or cooking, there’s no risk of skinned knees or charred fingers. Knitting is pretty safe. In fact, knitting has several health benefits!
All you need are your hands, some yarn, and a pair of needles.
Ready to Knit a Scarf?
Yeah? Woohoo! High five!
Learning how to knit a scarf is the best beginner project because it boils down to three simple steps:
Click This: For a refresher on the basics of knitting, check out The Ultimate Guide to Knitting, my detailed guide for new knitters.
Short, sweet and very do-able. These three steps make up your scarf journey. Get them under your belt and you can officially call yourself a knitter!
How to Knit a Scarf: Watch and Learn!
This video tutorial will show you how to knit a scarf, with a few extra tips thrown in. Follow along at your own pace and re-watch sections if you need a review. This video is also close captioned. (Press “CC” at the bottom of the video to activate).
Jump around the video chapters with these timestamps:
0:32 Choosing Yarn and Needles
2:16 Cast On
7:33 Knit Stitch
13:46 Next Row and Pep Talk
16:01 How to Hold Your Needles
18:31 Slipped Selvedge
19:34 Cast Off
24:29 Weaving in Ends
What About Yarn and Needles?
I was hoping you’d ask! You can use any yarn that takes your fancy.
BUT keep in mind that the bigger the yarn, the better. My ideal yarn for beginners is a chunky weight. This yarn requires needles that are between 6-8mm. Bigger yarns are easier to grip and manipulate than lighter yarns. They’re less fiddly and they also knit up quicker. Instant gratification!
BEWARE of light-weight yarns like lace or super fine yarn. Imagine knitting with sewing thread. That’s what knitting with lace is like. Do not do it. Not if you’re a beginner. Not only will it take light years to finish your scarf, but lighter yarns require smaller needles. And smaller needles are, in general, harder to control.
So make things easy for yourself and choose a yarn that’s at least a medium weight if not larger.
Click This: my post on the yarn weight family
What about needles? Once you’ve chosen your yarn, look at the yarn label. It will give you a recommended needle size. Use this as a guide for choosing your needles. I typically go within 1mm of the recommended needle size. This means if the yarn label suggests a 5mm needle, I might also try out a 4mm or 6mm needle.
What I Used for My Scarf
- Yarn: 2 skeins of TJOCKT Martta the Merino in color Pearl (200 grams, 140m/153yds per skein)
- Similar yarns: MillaMia (2-ply merino), Lana Grossa Ragazza (1-ply merino), Malabrigo Rasta (beautiful hand-dyed 1-ply), Wendy with Wool (acrylic-wool blend, budget option)
- Needles: US 15/10mm knitting needles (similar)
Finished Scarf Measurements: width is 9.25″ and length is 65″
Making Mistakes + Helpful Links
Along the way you’ll make mistakes. It’s okay. Mistakes are part of the journey, so expect them. Embrace them. You need to make mistakes to get to your final destination (which, in this metaphor, is your scarf!).
If you drop a stitch, keep moving forward. Don’t look back. At first, the goal is to get the basic steps of the knit stitch down. Once you’re comfortable with the knit stitch, your hands will naturally settle into the rhythm of knitting and you’ll make less mistakes. Think of your first ten rows as practice.
“One who makes no mistakes makes nothing at all.” – Giacomo Casanova Tweet This
Once you’re knitting comfortably, consider ripping back your work and starting your scarf fresh. You’ll be a lot more confident, and your scarf will have less mistakes in it. Don’t think of your practice rows as “wasted.” It’s the practice that makes the perfect!
Here are some helpful links for your knitting journey:
Grab a Friend, Knit Together!
Learning is more fun with friends! Do you have friends who are crafty or who want to learn how to knit a scarf? Maybe you know someone like Liz Lemon who takes up knitting every two years for … a week. Help a friend out! Share this video and knit together. As the saying goes, sharing is caring!
Sarah says
December 22, 2015 at 8:03 amI taught myself to knit from online sources about a year ago, and totally would have killed for his video. Pinned it though for future reference with all the awesome tips and tricks.
Davina says
December 22, 2015 at 9:53 amThanks Sarah! Funny you should say that because most of the videos and blogs we make are driven by what we would have wanted as beginner knitters! Thanks for pinning, too! 😀
Alana says
December 22, 2015 at 10:50 pmI’m so excited to get started! I’ve been wanting to knit with my daughter for so long but we always got confused, we’re going to give knitting a try again with your video. thank you!
Janice says
December 26, 2015 at 12:24 amThis is exactly what I’m looking for and really helpful! Thanks!
Davina says
December 28, 2015 at 7:11 amHey Janice and Alana! Thanks for your comment! Good luck with your knitting and let me know if you run into any hiccups!
Michelina Tarasyuk says
January 8, 2016 at 9:02 pmI just purchased my first ball of yarn and needles!! This scarf is the first thing I have decided to try and so far I am loving it! Thank you so much for the video! I am on my third row of stitches and I saw the slipped selvedge technique. Do you think it is too late to add it in now?
Davina says
January 8, 2016 at 9:39 pmHey Michelina! It’s really up to you! Since you’re only on your third row, you can always rip back your work and start again using the slipped selvedge. That way your scarf will be consistent. Alternatively, if you want to keep going and start slipping on your fourth row, that’s okay too. Since it’s only three rows without the slipped selvedge, it won’t be super noticeable. Hope that helps!
Terin says
January 17, 2016 at 12:33 pmI just started making a baby blanket for my nephew using a basic garter stitch and it’s my first time knitting. Your videos have been so helpful and I really like how clearly you explain things. Your common knitting mistakes video helped me to figure out how I ended up with so many extra stitches all of a sudden, and even better, how to fix them!
Evie says
January 21, 2016 at 12:25 pmWhat a great, great tutorial! So easy to follow! Thank you so much 🙂 xx
Ester says
February 8, 2016 at 6:48 amI am starting now and I am loving your posts and videos, they’re really enlightening about how to do, what to use and everything else!!!And I would like to buy some of your yarns, the colors are amazing and the thickness it’s perfect…but they are for the moment out of stock!When are going to be available?
Thanks a lot for everything you post and do :):)!!
Davina says
February 22, 2016 at 12:58 amHey Ester! Unfortunately, we won’t be restocking our yarns. The TJOCKT Martta the Merino can be purchased at Tjockt.com or on their Etsy store, I believe. Glad to hear that you’re enjoying the videos!
DALVA SERRANO says
April 9, 2016 at 10:39 amLove your videos. You explain it in simple terms . I finished my first scarf at 60 years old !!! So therapeutical. I just have one question ( for now 🙂 ) . How do you finish all the yarn left from the yarn addings.
Davina says
April 16, 2016 at 7:19 amHey Dalva!
Awesome scarf! It looks so comfy! And those stitches look perfectly even. Great job!
To your question, you would weave in those yarn ends. It’s the same concept as weaving in ends from the video, which starts at 24:30. Instead of weaving your yarn end vertically as we do in the video, you would weave them in horizontally, going up and down into the purl bumps. Try to weave in the yarn ends at least 4-5 times so that they’re secure. Then give the fabric a light tug to make sure the yarn end is comfortably woven in (not too tight, not too loose), then snip it off with your scissors. You’re done!
DALVA SERRANO says
April 17, 2016 at 5:56 pmthank you!
Emily says
April 16, 2016 at 2:39 amHello, I started making your beginner scarf but I think my yarn and needles are too thin. I’d really love to buy the same yarn you used but I can’t find where to buy it and the link says page not found. Do you know if I can still buy it online?
Emily says
April 16, 2016 at 6:51 amSorry I just read your comment above! Answers my question ?
Davina says
April 16, 2016 at 7:14 amNo worries! If this is your first scarf, I definitely recommend a chunky weight or thicker yarn to start with. Your local craft store may have some in stock. If you’re in the US or Canada, I know a lot of beginners start with Lion Brand Thick and Quick yarn or Wool Ease, which can be purchased at Michael’s. Hope that helps! 😀
DALVA SERRANO says
April 17, 2016 at 5:58 pmHow do you ” uncurl” the stockinette stitch besides not knitting the first of each row. Still curls …..
Davina says
April 18, 2016 at 5:55 pmHey Dalva,
Unfortunately, stockinette stitch will curl on it’s own. The only way to prevent curling is to knit a border around the stockinette stitch. So, for example, a sweater made of stockinette stitch will usually include a ribbing, like a 1×1 or a 2×2 rib, that prevents curling. You could also knit a garter stitch rib around the stockinette stitch. Basically, any stitch that doesn’t curl can be used as a border around stockinette. Hope that helps!
Mari says
August 11, 2016 at 9:13 pmThank you so much. It’s perfect for beginners.
Rebecca B says
September 10, 2016 at 11:54 amThank you so much for the video Davina, I knitted as a child with my Nannan but couldn’t remember how to do it. Your video was so clear and easy to follow and my first scarf is now complete ?!! Going to attempt your cushy cowl next, wish me luck!
Davina says
October 17, 2016 at 8:32 pmYour scarf looks so comfy and squishy! Great job!
Rebecca B says
October 18, 2016 at 12:16 amThanks Davina! My Mum in Law put it on and didn’t want to take it off! I’m knitting her another one ?
Lisa says
October 17, 2016 at 12:35 pmDavina, I’m learning to knit for (2) reasons…(1) a stress-reliever (I’m in law school) and (2) my mother-in-law doesn’t know how (she crochets) 🙂 I notice that my stitches are really tight (as I feel often, “wound up”). What can I do to alleviate this? Also, do you have a video to show to how to connect multiple skeins of yarn? From what I observed, it doesn’t matter what your dominate hand is when knitting, is that correct? Lastly, this is an AWESOME video tutorial….thank you
Davina says
October 17, 2016 at 8:42 pmHey Lisa! Wow! Law school! I hope you’re past your first year. I hear that’s the toughest one!
Tight knitting is down to your knitting tension. So, if you’re pulling or gripping your yarn while knitting, that will make your stitches and overall knitting tighter. Most beginner knitters are tight knitters. As you get better at knitting your hands will relax and become more confident, and your knitting will reflect this.
If you find that your hands are very relaxed and you’re not a tight knitter, then the next culprit could be the size of your needles. For instance, if you’re knitting with worsted weight yarn, which typically works best with a 4-5.5mm needle, and you’re knitting with a 3mm needle, then your knitting will be very tight no matter how loosely you knit.
So, first thing is to figure out your yarn weight and then make sure the needles you’re using are a good fit for that weight. Usually the yarn label will have a “recommended needle size” and that’s a good place to start.
For joining a new ball of yarn, you can check out this video on “joining a new ball of yarn” https://sheepandstitch.com/joining-a-ball-of-yarn/
Christine says
October 25, 2016 at 12:08 pmThank you so much!! This was my first knitting project ever and I just finished it after 4 days. Can you tell me how to wrap it to wear it the way you have in the photo?
Davina says
December 19, 2016 at 10:26 pmHey Christine! I think it was just wrapped around and around the neck, and the ends were tucked inside. Something like this: http://104.131.48.255/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/6_ways_to_wear_scarf_GM_weekender_02.png
joanne says
October 29, 2016 at 4:48 pmI cast on 60 stitches is that too many? I’ve done about 15 rows.
N'Lou says
November 15, 2016 at 9:32 pmHi Davina!
Long time listener, first time caller here. I’ve been trying to learn to knit for the last 4 years, and every time I’ve watched a video, read a tutorial, or glanced sideways at yarn, I always end up a wooly teary mess. This sounds exaggerated, but it’s sadly not.
I stumbled across this blog post tonight, determined to learn to cast on and knit stitch… and I did. And I’m still amazed. I’ve got about 4 rows of some chunky mess on a needle, but I feel so proud of myself.
Thank you for your repetition. Thank you for not assuming every person that picks up yarn knows what they’re doing. Thank you for breaking it down. Thank you for your patience and earnestness that you somehow managed to convey in a video. Thank you for giving me the courage and the encouragement to keep trying, even if I messed up. You are a rare gem of a teacher, and I am so appreciative that you’ve shared your talents with us! I look forward to catching up on the rest of your blog.
Have a great night!
Davina says
December 5, 2016 at 9:59 pmHey N’Lou! You’re so kind and sweet. Thank you for your nice comment. It honestly made my day! I’ve always felt that being patient and encouraging go a long way in teaching. Also, repetition! Apparently, seven times of repetition is the magic number, so I try to hit that number when I’m teaching new concepts. Anyway, I’m so glad that you’re learning to knit. It’s incredibly rewarding and, like riding a bike, can become a lifelong skill. Good luck on your knitting journey!
Caitie says
December 2, 2016 at 2:15 pmHi!
Did you tuck the ends in or is this scarf knitting together at the ends like an infinity scarf – if not could I do this? Thanks!
Davina says
December 5, 2016 at 8:04 pmHey Caitie! I think the scarf was just styled to have the ends tucked in. It’s not joined in the round like an infinity scarf, but if you wanted to turn it into an infinity scarf, you could easily sew both ends together.
Deborah says
December 4, 2016 at 1:28 pmThank you!! I made my sister and my boyfriend scarves for Christmas and I’m really proud of it! I love to give from the heart.
I haven’t knitted since I was a kid ? This video made it so easy and fun, that it has instantly became a new hobby that will stick around for a long time.
Thank you so much
Davina says
December 5, 2016 at 8:05 pmAwesome to hear, Deborah! Knitting is a super satisfying lifelong hobby!
Katherine says
December 11, 2016 at 12:26 pmHi! I just found these videos and love them. Question, when do you start slipping that first stitch? Right away when you start the first row of knitting after the cast on?
Also, how do you know when the scarf is finished? Is there a specific amount of rows or is it just when you have used all of the yarn? How much yardage should you aim to have when purchasing yarn for this scarf? Ok, I guess that was more than one question but I do appreciate your help! Thank you so much!
Davina says
December 19, 2016 at 9:24 pmHey Katherine!
After you cast on, on your next row you can start slipping that first stitch.
There’s no specific number of rows you need to knit before casting off. It’s totally up to you and how long you want your scarf to be.
As for how much yardage to get, that depends on how long you’d like your scarf to be, the yarn weight that you’re using, and how wide you make your scarf (a wider scarf will require more yarn than a thin scarf).
For my scarf, using bulky weight yarn, I used about 300grams of yarn. If you’re using a worsted weight yarn, I would estimate about 300-400 yards depending on the length and width of your scarf.
Kim says
December 17, 2016 at 3:04 amDavina! You are simply the best! I wanted to knit for so long, and your videos are just awe-some!
I made this scarf for my sister for Christmas this year. She wanted a really big one, so I made one that’s about 100 inches long and 20 inches wide. I knitted every evening for a month to make it! I just finished it, and wanted to let your know. 😉
Again: I loved the videos, super easy to follow and makes knitting and a lot of fun! Thank you 🙂
Davina says
December 19, 2016 at 8:19 pmThanks Kim! What a nice comment! Thanks so much for letting me know that you accomplished your scarf goals! Your sister is one lucky gal!
Chinnu Jose says
December 18, 2016 at 10:48 pm🙂
Katherine says
December 21, 2016 at 7:17 pmDavina, I hope you post more videos. You are just an awesome teacher! I’m a newbie in the knitting world and just learned (and still learning) from you videos. Your instructions are so clear and the tips are amazing that I can actually follow you while watching!
Davina says
January 4, 2017 at 3:43 amThanks Katherine! I plan on adding more videos in 2017 specifically for beginners, so do keep watching the YouTube channel! Any knitting project or technique in particular you’re eager to try?
Katherine says
January 4, 2017 at 4:49 amI would love to try to make a snood or cowl on a straight needle next. And would love to try to do other pattern like the fisherman’s rib and the herringbone stitch. Can’t wait for your upcoming videos! ?
Michael Huegel says
December 27, 2016 at 1:41 pmI didn’t get the knit stitch at all! Could you make another one bu slowly. If you can that would be great. Also I just started today so this is a little okay a lot difficult. So any way can you possibly help me?
Davina says
January 4, 2017 at 3:33 amHey Michael!
This video might help you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhrl7cQvwjc It’s all about the knit stitch. I would recommend muting the volume so that you can concentrate on the video only (the music is kind of loud and rambunctious). Then re-watch and/or pause the video as many times as you need.
As a total beginner, it will take time – ten, twenty, even thirty times trying to push in the needle, loop that yarn around and pull it through. Try to watch and then re-watch that knit stitch video so that you get the general idea of where the needle goes, and where the yarn goes, and then how the yarn loops around etc. At first, just watch. Don’t try to do it on your own yet.
When you feel sort of confident, like you can anticipate what’s going to come next in the video (“Okay, the needle just went in, so next the yarn is going to loop around”) then take out your yarn and try to follow along. It’s absolutely overwhelming at first, so just take it slow. Watch the video once, twice, three times, try to anticipate what’s going to happen in the video. When you can, then try your hand at it. Don’t get discouraged. People think that you can pick up knitting in one sitting, but like riding a bike, it takes time! The good news is that it gets easier the more you try, and once you get the hang of it, it’ll stay with you for life.
This whole “How to Knit” series may help also: https://sheepandstitch.com/learn/how-to-knit/
Good luck!
Amber says
December 27, 2016 at 4:44 pmIf I use one of the chunky Lion Brand yarns mentioned above, will I need the same amount of yarn as the Martta the Merino yarn you used in the video? Thank you.
Davina says
January 4, 2017 at 3:41 amYep, the Lion Brand Thick and Quick is pretty comparable. It might be *slightly* thinner than the Martta. I used about 300 grams, which works out to about 220 meters/240 yards. I’d recommend getting a bit more to compensate for the fact that the yarn is a bit thinner. You can also use a slightly larger needle to make the fabric of the scarf less tight. Less tight = looser = longer. Good luck!
Tracy Farr says
October 9, 2017 at 9:47 amI just got interested in knitting and was so happy to find your site/youtube channel, but I see you haven’t posted anything for quite some time. I hope you continue. I’m a teacher. I can spot good teaching from a mile away. You are an AWESOME teacher. If more teachers taught like you, this world would be a much better place. Wishing you all the best.
Davina says
October 26, 2017 at 8:16 pmYou are so sweet! Thank you! And I love your photo!
Tracy Farr says
October 9, 2017 at 9:50 amEgads! Didn’t mean to post such a big photo. Delete at your pleasure! 🙂
Kirsty J says
October 21, 2017 at 12:36 pmHi. How do I add my next ball of yarn in? Just used up my first ball. This is a great video!! Enjoying knitting my scalf
Davina says
October 26, 2017 at 8:04 pmHey Kirsty, here’s a video on how to join a new ball of yarn: https://sheepandstitch.com/joining-a-ball-of-yarn/ Hope that helps!
Nancy says
November 3, 2017 at 8:22 amHi Davina – love your videos. Is it still possible to purchase the Martta the merino yarn through your site? Thanks
Davina says
November 6, 2017 at 12:49 amHi Nancy, unfortunately I’m no longer selling the Martta. I think you can still purchase it through the tjockt.com website. Or you can substitute another super bulky yarn like Malabrigo Rasta or Lion Brand Thick and Quick.
VKK says
July 19, 2018 at 7:19 pmThis is just amazing video – perfectly detailed for beginners. My interest to Knit has increased top knotch. I will soon knit a scarf and post it here!
Thanks
Annmarie says
September 8, 2018 at 8:40 pmYou are great! My new hobby for my new milestone 60th birthday!
Ali says
June 5, 2019 at 10:53 amI really want to make this scarf for my friend but am in the UK and currently unable to get hold of TJOCKT Martta the Merino wool. Can anyone suggest what I could use instead that would produce the same result?