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Most people seem to choose a knit scarf as their first knitting project, so I’ve collected a bunch of easy scarf knitting patterns for you to choose from.
Scarves are a great first knitting project because they don’t have to fit a particular body part. They’re generally worked straight and flat on a short number of stitches, which helps you feel like you’re making progress. And even if they aren’t perfect, they’ll keep you warm!
Garter Stitch Scarf Knitting Patterns
Of all the scarf knitting patterns out there, the most common for beginners to start with is a garter stitch scarf. That’s because you only need to know how to work the knit stitch to make this kind of scarf.
If you start by learning the knit cast on, you’re already well on your way to knowing everything you need to know to knit a garter stitch scarf. You’ll just need to learn to bind off and you’ll be all set.
The most basic of all garter stitch scarf patterns is this one, which is worked with bulky yarn to make it go even faster. You can fancy it up a bit by working in two colors, but you don’t have to. It’s pretty (and warm!) either way.
Though garter stitch is the easiest stitch pattern out there, there are different ways to use it in scarves to get a different look.
For example, holding multiple strands together and working on big needles you get a simple garter stitch scarf that’s full of color and super warm and hardly takes any time at all to knit.
Or turn your knitting on its side and work from one long side across in garter stitch. My horizontal scarf knitting pattern uses a different type of yarn for each row. Leaving a long tail on each end makes instant fringe. But you can work multiple rows or even the whole scarf in the same color if you like.
More Easy Scarf Knitting Patterns
Once you’ve mastered the knit stitch, it’s time to learn to purl, and once you can do that, there are all sorts of knit scarves you can make.
One of my favorite scarf knitting patterns for beginners is the sampler scarf, which combines garter stitch, stockinette stitch and ribbing all in one project. You also have the option of increasing and decreasing stitches to keep the scarf a consistent width when changing stitches. It’s a perfect project for learning to knit.
Working ribbing is something you will do a lot in your knitting career, so why not start with a ribbed scarf? This 3×3 ribbed scarf pattern is worked with 3 strands of yarn held together to make a fast project that’s super warm (and uses lots of odd balls and leftovers).
There are all sorts of variations on ribbing, including mistake rib, which is a variation of 2×2 ribbing that’s easy to knit and has a different look from traditional ribbing. My mistake rib scarf pattern shows a couple of variations you can try.
Moss stitch is also a sort of variation on ribbing, and I love working it in two colors. The pattern for the two color moss stitch scarf also talks about seed stitch and double seed stitch so you can get lots of ideas for scarf knitting patterns there.
More Scarf Patterns
Of course just about any stitch pattern can be used in a scarf, and they’re a great way to learn new stitches and techniques.
Another sort of ribbing that’s just a little different from the ones above is fisherman’s rib. This one is worked by knitting some stitches in the row below, which makes a super squishy and warm fabric. Learn how it’s done with my fisherman’s rib scarf pattern.
Ripple stitch is all knits and purls but not a ribbing stitch. It gives your knit fabric a fun zig-zag texture that looks good on both sides. Try it in my bulky ripple stitch scarf pattern.
Harris tweed is another fun knit and purl pattern that looks great on a scarf. I made mine in two colors but of course you can use a single color, stripes or whatever you want.
And remember, scarves don’t always have to be worked flat! My dropped stitch scarf is super simple to knit in a tube of stockinette stitch (which in the round is knit every stitch). Stitches are strategically dropped at the end to elongate the stitches. I made mine a loop but you can keep it a regular scarf, too.
