23 Easy Knitting Patterns for Beginners

Color Block Garter Stitch Scarf

If you only know how to do the knit stitch, you can still make this adorable dual-colored scarf. It's a quick and easy project, and the color change and tassels add fun details. Use the pattern to knit scarves in school or team colors for personalized collegiate gifts.

Tasseled Garter Stitch Color Block Scarf from Flax and Twine

Confetti Scarf in Stockinette Stitch

Once you learn how to knit and purl, you can make this gorgeous scarf. The secret to that "confetti" look is in the knitting of four colors together. While knitting, you'll hold several strands of yarn together as you work the pattern. This knitting technique is super quick so you can make a fast last-minute cozy, chunky scarf.

Confetti Scarf from Purl Soho



Chunky Knit Pillow

Add a soft and cozy knit accessory to your home decor with this throw pillow from Smitha Katti of Smiling Colors. Grab your largest knitting needles and three colors of yarn. Working in stockinette stitch and using the same quick-knit technique as the scarf above, all you need to do is create one large square. Then attach the square to a backing and add a pillow insert.

Chunky Knit Pillow from ​​Smiling Colors

Easy Baby Booties

Simple and adorable baby booties stay on an infant's feet while warming them up. The booties are made using a garter stitch and simple shaping to make the fold-over slippers. And when baby outgrows them, make them in toddler-size. If that's not cute enough, there's even a size for grown-ups to match.

Very Easy Knit Baby Booties from Gina Michelle

Star Dust Garter Stitch Scarf

Practice your yarn overs when you make this chunky scarf. The yarn overs create the holes that give this garter stitch design its character. And to make it even simpler, you can use self-striping yarn so you get color changes without needing to switch out yarns or weave in any yarn ends.

Star Dust Knitted Garter Stitch Scarf from Just Be Crafty

Summer Fling Triangle Shawl

Shawls are newly popular again for their ability to keep the chill off your shoulders on breezy summer evenings and in air-conditioned spaces. You can even wear them like scarves. This triangular shawl project shows off fun, speckled yarn while the tassels add a fun detail. The crenulated (scalloped) edges infuse a feminine touch.

Summer Fling Shawl from The Noble Thread

Bulky Throw Blanket

Beginning knitters can easily make a chunky blanket like this. Start with this throw-size Afghan pattern in a single color. By working with bulky yarn and large needles, and using simple stockinette, you'll quickly tackle this project. The pattern calls for polyester yarn to make the throw easy to toss into the wash. You'll knit three panels and stitch them together to make the blanket.

Bulky Throw from Hands Occupied

Lacy Knit Top

Who knew that new knitters could create fashionable no-sew tops so easily. The Talland Tee from Blacker Yarn is simple enough for advanced beginners, but it has some special lacy elements that make it shine. Plus, with a linen-wool blend yarn, it's a lightweight knit piece you can wear almost all year long alone, under jackets, or layered with a cardigan.

Talland Tee Pattern from ​Blacker Yarns

Cute Kitty Hat

Make a child's hand-knit hat even sweeter by adding a kitty face. This Child's Cat Hat pattern uses a simple stockinette stitch on three double-pointed needles. After you finish the main part of the hat, add knit ears and a simple embroidered face with black yarn.

Drop Stitch Kimono

There's no need to fear dropping a stitch. For this project, it's not a knitting faux-pas. This lovely, easy-breezy kimono design incorporates intentionally dropped stitches in a technique called drop stitch or elongated stitch. The simplicity of the pattern means you don't need to do any shaping. Knit two rectangles, then join the back and sides to create a lightweight, delicate accessory for any outfit.

Drop Stitch Kimono Pattern from ​​Mama in a Stitch

Short-Sleeved Pullover

The pattern of this one-size-fits-all boxy sweater makes it look sophisticated. It features a simple shape and a wide neckline. The top is easy to knit and all you need to do is choose a few favorite colors of yarn to achieve the color blocking effect. Customize it with hems or cuffs or knit it as a longer tunic.

Tweedy-Stripey Pullover from Leslie Weber

Double Seed Stitch Baby Blanket

This simple, delicate baby's blanket uses two basic knitting stitch patterns: stockinette and seed stitch. The two textures look and feel soft for babies. The stockinette center of the blanket knits up fast for a quick baby gift. The elegant border is a common seed stitch made by alternating knit and purl stitches to create the little bumps. A seed stitch creates an identical look on both sides and lies flat. Choose an anti-pilling yarn to keep it comfortable for the baby.

Double Seed Stitch Blanket from Knitting in the Park

Fat Cat Stuffed Toy

For a knitting project that kids and cat lovers will want to cuddle, look no further than this stuffed fat cat toy. You can even transform this huggable toy into another animal by changing the features just a bit. Use favorite colors or gray and black to mimic fur. Raccoon, anyone?

Bernat Fat Cat Toy from Yarnspirations

Easy Breezy Cardigan

Knit this short-sleeved cardigan out of tape yarn, which is also known as ribbon yarn. Tape yarn is flat, almost like craft ribbon. The weight of tape yarn creates a casual and cute sweater you can wear year-round. Tape yarn may look lightweight and delicate to the eye, but when it's knit into a sweater, it creates a garment with a bit of heft.

Breezy Cardigan Pattern from Lion Brand

Vancouver Toque Lined Hat

Choose your most stunning color yarn and knit this easy, slouchy beanie-style hat on circular needles. You'll use the ribbing and stockinette stitch for most of the hat. Instead of requiring the hat to be shaped, the top of the hat is finished off with a gathering that closes it like a drawstring bag. To make the hat extra warm, the pattern includes instructions for adding a fleece lining.

Knit Vancouver Toque Pattern from Kiku Corner

Ionos Infinity Scarf

Knit a fashionable infinity scarf with circular knitting needles. An infinity scarf connects at both ends so you can wrap it around your neck easily. This pattern incorporates a few yarn-over eyelets for a pretty style that shows off a soft and lovely yarn.

Ionos Infinity Scarf from Meiju K-P

Slip-On Baby Bibs

Babies can never have enough bibs, especially when they're teething. This bib is similar to a basic dishcloth pattern, but the soft neckband slips right over the baby's head and the machine-washable cotton yarn makes it extra absorbent. Knit in a solid or rainbow colorway.

Knit Baby Bibs from Red Heart 

Easy Peasy Socks

Knitting socks can sound intimidating, but knitting teacher Stacey Trock shows you how to make your first pair with this easy short-cuffed pattern. By knitting socks, you'll learn the important skills of working in the round and decreasing and picking up stitches. The pattern uses worsted weight yarn to make the project go fast. Worsted weight yarn is easy to work with and knits up fast without adding bulk.

Easy Peasy Socks from Shiny Happy World

Adorable Christmas Tree Ornaments

Add some knitting to your Christmas tree. Use this baby hat pattern to create Christmas decor in red and white. Add it as a topper to your tree or make a few to hang around your house. This pattern uses double-pointed needles, which might be new to a beginner, but it's well worth the effort to learn this skill.

Baby's First Football

Knit this soft and tiny football toy for the teeniest football fan. You'll need to do some shaping, but it's a small project so it won't take long. Insert a little rattle inside or keep it cuddly as is. A sports-minded parent will appreciate the thoughtfulness of this extraordinary baby's gift.

Baby's First Football from Knit Picks

Simple Striped Baby Blanket

Make this striped baby blanket with just knit and purl stitches, alternating two colors​, or perhaps adding in a few more colors. The stitches are basic, but the texture is lush when you use chunky acrylic yarn. The acrylic yarn is super soft, machine-washable, and quite durable making it an appreciated handcrafted heirloom gift.

Easy Knit Baby Blanket from Leelee Knits

Farrow Rib Scarf

Farrow ribbing is an easy pattern to work into your knitting skills, but it gives this scarf a beautifully textured and intricate design. Use large needles and smooth, but bulky yarn. With only two rows of a repeating pattern, this chunky scarf knits up quickly.

Easy Garter Stitch Baby Sweater

Using basic techniques, you'll knit this adorable and classic double-breasted baby sweater. The shaping is created by casting off stitches. You'll learn how to do the knit stitch, yarn over, and knit two together (or K2Tog) to create this beauty. The pattern requires that the pieces are sewn together for the finished product.