The act of transforming a ball of yarn into a beautifully knit scarf may seem mysterious -- if you've never done it before. But knitting is actually easy. All knitting patterns are simply different combinations of two stitches -- the knit stitch and the purl stitch -- interlocked row upon row. A simple project, such as our basic scarf, will help you perfect these stitches. Once you have completed the scarf, you'll be ready for something more advanced, like a matching hat.

Tools and Materials
Knitting needles and yarn: knitting instructions suggest the right weight yarn and needle size to use (See below for more information.)
Crochet hook, for picking up dropped stitches
Yarn needle, for weaving in ends and joining pieces of knitting
Notebook, pen, and tape measure, for keeping track of where you are in your pattern

Knitting Needles
A knitting needle's size is based on its diameter and is indicated with a number (in the United States), or in millimeters (in Europe). Needles are made of different materials, including metal, wood, bamboo, and plastic. The material you choose is a matter of preference, but beginners may like working with wood or bamboo needles, because they are a bit flexible, they are comfortable to use, and stitches don't slip off them as easily as they do from metal or plastic needles.

Yarn Types
Choose a yarn that is suitable for your project. A warm yarn, such as wool, is a good choice for a scarf. Wool is also ideal for beginners because its elasticity makes it easy to work with and less-than-perfect stitches are not so noticeable. Be sure to use the correct weight, or thickness, which will be indicated in your knitting instructions. Each ball of yarn has a ball band (a label) stating the fiber content, weight, amount (in yards and ounces), care instructions, suggested needle size, gauge, and dye-lot number. To ensure that all your yarn for a project is exactly the same color, buy it all at once and check that the dye-lot numbers match.

Do You Know?
Today in Australia 160 million sheep produce 7 percent of the world's clothing wool.