How To Knit A Scarf

By Leeanne Utiger
You want to learn and know how to knit a scarf. Then what I have to say below is vital information for you. There are two things you need to take into consideration before you learn to knit a scarf. First you need to give thought to who are going to actually knit the scarf for, and then how long you want the scarf you knit to be.

If you intend on learning how to knit a scarf for a child, then you do not want the scarf to be too long. It should be long enough to go around their neck at least once, but not long enough to fall and drag on the ground. The child will either trip up over the ends of the scarf, or in the very least constantly have it in the washing basket to be washed.

If the scarf you are wanting to know how to knit is for an adult, then not as much thought has to go into actually knitting the scarf, as they are old enough and big enough to look after themselves and wear a scarf properly.

On learning how to knit a scarf, once again take into consideration who you are actually going to be knitting the scarf in question for. If you are going to knit a scarf for a child, you will need to make the scarf slightly slimmer in width. Children do not have the same neckline as an adult.

You will have to also make sure before you begin to knit the scarf, you have on hand the things you need to knit with. You will need a pair of knitting needles and some wool. Now depending on what wool you choose to use for the scarf you are going to knit, will in fact be the deciding factor for what size knitting needles you will need to knit your scarf with.

Let us say you are going to learn how to knit a scarf for a child and you are going to use 8 ply wool. I would suggest you use size 4 knitting needles. If you are still unsure, you will be able to get more advice form a sales assistant in a craft or wool store. Now that you have the wool you have chosen to knit your scarf with, and the appropriate knitting needles, you are ready to learn how to knit a scarf.

First of all you will have to tie your wool around your left hand needle. Make sure this is tied as a knot, so it will not come undone. Now that you have done that, you will have to cast on 30 stitches. You can cast on more if you want your scarf to be wider, or less if you want your scarf to be narrower. To cast on stitches, place your right hand needle through this first loop on the left hand needle that you initially tied on. With the strand of wool that should be hanging down from here, wrap it around the top of the right hand needle, and then pull your needle down through the new loop and out. You should be left with an additional loop on your left hand needle. This is called a stitch. Repeat this procedure until you have 3o stitches on your left hand needle.

Now that you have cast on the required stitches to your left hand needle, you can begin to knit your scarf. To do this, you have to place your right hand needle through the front of the stitch on your left hand needle from left side of the stitch to the right, then wind your wool around the top of your right hand needle (which is coming up through the stitch on your left hand needle), then pull the right hand needle down through the new stitch you are creating and out. Continue this procedure along to the end of the left hand needle, knitting all stitches this way. This is in fact called garter stitch. Once you have reached the end of that row of stitches, turn your knitting around and repeat on the other side. This is all there is to learning how to knit this particular type of scarf. You can knit the scarf to the length you desire, but remember what I mentioned above, as to who the scarf you are in fact learning how to knit is for.

On reaching the last row of knitting, you will now have to cast off your stitches. To do this, you have to knit as explained above, and then once you have two stitches on the right hand needle, bring the stitch furtherest to the right back over the stitch to the left of it and drop it off the needle. This is called casting off. Repeat this until you reach the last stitch on the left hand needle. The very last stitch of the knitted scarf, place your right hand needle through the back of the last stitch from right to left. Then wrap the wool around the top of the right hand needle and pull back through downwards. You should be left with one stitch on the right hand needle. Simply pull your needle upwards and out of the loop, pulling the knitting downwards tightening the ends.

You have now successfully learnt how to knit a very easy scarf, one the whole family can wear.

See Also:
For more ideas on how to knit a scarf, see:

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