Needlecrafts Knitting Knitting Patterns

23 Easy Knitting Patterns for Beginners

Bulky Throw Knitting Pattern
Heidi Gusted

When you're new to knitting, making a simple scarf is a safe and easy project. You may be intimidated at first, but after a few rounds through the steps, you'll soon find your stride. There are so many knitting patterns for beginners out there that you get the opportunity to do a lot of experimenting and find the patterns and styles you really like.

Watch Now: How to Knit in Stockinette

These 23 free knitting patterns will encourage you to use your newly acquired skills and venture into making items for your home or to wear in addition to additional scarf ideas. Each pattern is perfect for the newbie or advanced beginner who is looking to learn new techniques. Many patterns call for using up a stash of yarn and combining color schemes.

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    Color Block Garter Stitch Scarf

    Color Block Garter Stitch Scarf With Tassels
    Flax and Twine

    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

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    Confetti Scarf in Stockinette Stitch

    Confetti Scarf Easy Knit Design
    Purl Soho

    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

    

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    Chunky Knit Pillow

    Chunky Knit Pillow
    Smiling Colors

    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

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    Easy Baby Booties

    Easy Baby Bootie Pattern
    Gina Michelle

    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

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    Star Dust Garter Stitch Scarf

    Star Dust Garter Stitch Scarf Pattern
    Just Be Crafty

    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

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    Summer Fling Triangle Shawl

    Summer Fling Triangle Shawl Pattern
    The Noble Thread

    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

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    Bulky Throw Blanket

    Bulky Throw Knitting Pattern
    Heidi Gusted

    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

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    Lacy Knit Top

    Talland Tee Knitting Pattern
    Blacker Yarns

    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

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    Cute Kitty Hat

    Cute Kitty Hat Pattern
    Leah Jubara

    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.

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    Drop Stitch Kimono

    Drop Stitch Easy Kimono Pattern
    Mama in a Stitch

    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

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    Short-Sleeved Pullover

    Tweedy Stripey Easy Sweater Knitting Pattern
    Leslie Weber

    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

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    Double Seed Stitch Baby Blanket

    Double Seed Stitch Baby Blanket
    Knitting in the Park

    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

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    Fat Cat Stuffed Toy

    Fat Cat Toy Pattern
    Yarnspirations

    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

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    Easy Breezy Cardigan

    Breezy Cardigan Knitting Pattern
    Lion Brand

    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

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    Vancouver Toque Lined Hat

    Vancouver Toque Knitting Pattern

    Kiku Corner

    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

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    Ionos Infinity Scarf

    Ionos Infinity Scarf Pattern
    Meiju K-P

    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

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    Slip-On Baby Bibs

    Knit Baby Bibs Pattern
    Red Heart

    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 

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    Easy Peasy Socks

    Easy Peasy Socks Pattern
    Shiny Happy World / Stacey Trock

    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

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    Adorable Christmas Tree Ornaments

    Knit Christmas Tree Ornaments
    Leah Jubara

    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.

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    Baby's First Football

    Baby's First Football Knitting Pattern
    Knit Picks

    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

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    Simple Striped Baby Blanket

    Easy Knit Baby Blanket
    Leelee Knits

    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

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    Farrow Rib Scarf

    farrow rib scarf free knitting pattern
    Sarah E. White

    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.

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    Easy Garter Stitch Baby Sweater

    Easy Garter Stitch Baby Sweater
    Mollie Johanson

    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.

FAQ
  • What is the easiest pattern for a beginner to knit?

    If you're new to knitting, start with something that only requires one or two stitches, like a baby blanket or scarf.

  • What stitch is the easiest?

    A garter stitch is a basic, easy stitch and the first one that you'll learn when you begin to knit. With a garter stitch, you knit every stitch every row, making it simple for someone just learning how to knit.

  • How long does it take to knit a baby blanket?

    A baby blanket, which is one of the easiest beginner knitting patterns, can take anywhere from 3-5 hours, but can be spaced out as much as you need.