How to Knit a Scarf for Total Beginners
May contain affiliate links (what's this?)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.
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.
Below you’ll find two video tutorials that walk you through how to knit a scarf step-by-step. The first video was published in 2016 if you can believe it!
It’s still relevant and useful even though it’s a bit lacking in video quality. It was one of the first videos I published on Youtube. I still remember shooting it in my parents bathroom under their skylight. (Those days I had no video lights, so I had to get creative!)
So last year I decided to shoot an updated scarf tutorial. In the time since I’ve published the original video I’ve gotten tons of feedback from viewers. I’ve tried my best to update the new video with these comments in mind.
The updated video has slower and more repeats. It covers materials; how to estimate the scarf width and length; how to join new yarn and knit a neat selvedge edge. I hope you enjoy it!
How to Knit a Scarf Video Tutorial (Original)
How to Knit a Scarf Video (Updated for 2025)
Learning how to knit a scarf is the best beginner project because it boils down to three simple steps:
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!
The updated video tutorial covers 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. Jump around the video chapters with these timestamps:
00:48 Materials
1:13 How Much Yarn Do I Need?
1:43 How Many Stitches to Cast On?
6:52 Knitting the Scarf: Row 1
11:30 Knitting the Scarf: All Rows
13:43 Revisiting the Scarf Width
14:18 Joining New Yarn
20:52 Choosing Scarf Length
21:22 Cast Off
26:25 Weaving in Ends
What Yarn Should I Use?
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. Bigger yarns are easier to grip and manipulate than lighter yarns. They’re less fiddly and they also knit up quicker.
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 harder to control.
Make things easy for yourself and choose a yarn that’s at least a medium weight if not larger. Not sure what yarn weight is? Check out this post I wrote all about the yarn weight family.
What Needles Should I Use?
Once you’ve chosen 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. If the yarn label suggests a 5mm needle, I might also try out a 4mm or 6mm needle.
For beginners, I suggest using bamboo or wooden needles. They have more surface drag, meaning that they “grip” the yarn better and are less slippery to work with.
Materials Used in the Original Video
The sumptuous white scarf that you see in the photos was knit with:
- 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″
Materials Used in the Updated Video
- 4 balls of Debbie Bliss Super Chunky Merino in color Gold
- One pair of 10mm bamboo knitting needles
- Tapestry needle
- Tape measure
Instructions for White Scarf:
Cast on stitches 22 stitches
Slip first stitch, knit every row until scarf measures the length you desire. (My scarf measures 65″).
Cast off loosely and weave in ends with tapestry needle.
Knitting Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
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!
Helpful Knitting Resources for New Knitters:
- How to Knit: The Ultimate Guide (my favourite page!)
- 3 Beginner Mistakes and How to Fix Them (one of the most popular posts on this site)
- How to Join 2 Balls of Yarn
- The Yarn Weight Family
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?
I 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.
Thanks 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! 😀
I’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!
This is exactly what I’m looking for and really helpful! Thanks!
Hey Janice and Alana! Thanks for your comment! Good luck with your knitting and let me know if you run into any hiccups!
I 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?
Hey 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!
I 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!
What a great, great tutorial! So easy to follow! Thank you so much 🙂 xx
I 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 :):)!!
Love 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.
Hey 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!
Hello, 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?
How do you ” uncurl” the stockinette stitch besides not knitting the first of each row. Still curls …..
No 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! 😀
thank you!
Sorry I just read your comment above! Answers my question ?
Hey 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!
Thank you so much. It’s perfect for beginners.
Thank 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, 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
Thank 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?
Hey 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/
Thanks Davina! My Mum in Law put it on and didn’t want to take it off! I’m knitting her another one ?
I cast on 60 stitches is that too many? I’ve done about 15 rows.
Hi 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!
Hi!
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!
Thank 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
Hi! 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! 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 🙂
Awesome to hear, Deborah! Knitting is a super satisfying lifelong hobby!