These knitted scarf projects are perfect for beginning knitters. They make great gifts -- or you can keep them for yourself.

When you first learn to knit, you feel so pleased with the nubby-textured rectangles that grow on your needles. What to do with them (other than make scarf after scarf)? This girl’s hat is a rectangle folded in half and stitched at the sides. Her cowl is a longer rectangle sewn end to end. Her mother’s fingerless mittens are stitched rectangles.

How to Make the Child's Knit Hat
How to Make the Child's Knit Cowl

Knitted scarves are the perfect handmade gift: They're easy to make, one size fits all, and small imperfections give them charm. Plus, you can choose needle and yarn sizes to match the amount of time you can invest.

Large needles make for speedy knitting—and a pretty, loosely textured scarf. The one here, right, is made from merino wool, known for being soft and lofty. (Merino sheep, below right, are covered with fleece from ears to hooves and produce veritable clouds of wool.)

For this classic design, the main body is worked in stockinette stitch, the most common of all stitch patterns, which is formed by alternating knit rows and purl rows.

Knitting this chic scarf is easier (and faster) than it looks. We paired a bulky cream-colored wool with a fine light-blue mohair and used a U.S. size 20 needle, so we only cast on 14 stitches.

Knit a smart accessory to keep you both warm and stylish this winter.

Create this ultrathick, cozy cowl for chilly days.