Knitting looks intimidating from the outside, but it is really just two stitches repeated in different orders. If you can tie a shoelace, you can knit. Here is how to go from a ball of yarn to a finished first scarf.

Gather simple supplies Start with medium-weight (worsted) yarn in a light, smooth color so you can see your stitches, and a pair of size 8 (5mm) needles. Light, smooth yarn is far easier to learn on than dark or fuzzy. Add a tapestry needle for the end, and you are set.

Learn three things 1. Cast on: getting the first row of stitches onto the needle. The long-tail cast-on is the common starting point, though any beginner method works. 2. The knit stitch: insert, wrap, pull through, slide off. Repeated, this alone makes the bumpy, stretchy garter stitch, perfect for a first scarf. 3. Cast off (bind off): securing the stitches so your work does not unravel.

With just the knit stitch, you can make a complete scarf. Add the purl stitch later and a whole world opens up.

Your first project Cast on about 30 stitches and knit every row until the scarf is as long as you like, then bind off. Garter stitch is forgiving, hides small errors, and lies flat. Do not aim for perfection; your tension will even out with practice.

Surviving the wobbly start Early rows are always the messiest, your stitches will be uneven and your hands tense. This is completely normal. Keep your tension loose, count your stitches at the end of each row so you do not accidentally add or drop any, and resist the urge to start over. By the time you finish, you will see your work smooth out before your eyes.