Easy Projects to Knit with a Square (or Two)

I often get asked, or see the question online, as to what is a good project to start with when you are learning to knit.

I usually start adult knitters on a garter stitch scarf worked with bulky yarn (like the gold one shown in this post) because it gives you a lot of practice but is still relatively quick to knit.

For kids, or anyone with a shorter attention span, a smaller project is in order. I also like to start kids on worsted weight yarn because smaller needles (compared to working bulky yarn) are easier for little hands.

One great option is just to knit a little square. Cast on 12 or 15 or whatever number of stitches you like (I use knit cast on when teaching people of any age) and keep knitting until your piece is roughly square. You can test this by folding one corner up to the needle; if it makes a perfect triangle you’ve got a sqaure.

But what can you do with a square? I wrote a roundup of kids toys you can make with a square a couple of years ago, and these are all good choices. The bunny shown there is such a classic I also found that idea in a post I came across recently on How Wee Learn about knitting projects made with squares.

That post is a roundup, too, so go check it out for more ideas, but I did want to point out one of my favorites, this sweet little wall pocket. The pattern is from Wunderweib and is in German, but it’s easy enough to figure out what’s going on (it calls for a ball of Rowan Big Wool, which is a super bulky yarn, and if I can read correctly you cast on 25. This is probably technically a rectangle, as it is folded and seamed along the sides to make a pocket. You could also knit two squares, or a square and a slightly longer rectangle, to make this sweet pouch.

Either way it’s cute and easy and a great project for a beginner. If you have a favorite project for beginner knitters, I’d love to hear about it!

If your knitting basket contains three unfinished projects but somehow none of the yarn you need for the next one, this might be useful news. The Knit Picks Friends & Family Sale is offering 20% off sitewide with promo code 10FRIENDS26.

It’s an opportunity to shop for a planned project, fill a gap in your needle collection or gather supplies for handmade gifts. And yes, a little browsing is allowed. Just perhaps check the yarn cupboard before ordering another six balls of the colour you apparently already collect.

Browse the Knit Picks Friends & Family Sale here, and enter 10FRIENDS26 at checkout.

How to Get the Knit Picks 20% Discount

The advertised offer is straightforward:

Offer: 20% off sitewide.
Promo code: 10FRIENDS26.
Where to shop: Knit Picks.
Before paying: Check that the discount has applied to your eligible items.

Check the current promotion terms, availability and delivery costs before completing your order. If you are shopping internationally, confirm delivery to your location and the checkout currency too. A yarn bargain still needs to make sense once postage joins the party.

What I’d Put on a Practical Knitting Shopping List

A sale is most useful when it helps you make something you already want to knit. Here are the areas I would browse first.

Yarn for a Project You’ve Already Chosen

Start with the pattern, then work out your yarn requirements. Check the recommended weight, fibre, total yardage and care instructions before choosing a substitute.

For a jumper or cardigan, buy enough of your chosen colour together and check dye-lot information where available. Running out halfway through a sleeve is frustrating enough without discovering that your replacement yarn is a slightly different shade.

If you fancy something smaller than a garment, our feature on a simple triangular shawl for beginners offers a little inspiration. Check the designer’s pattern requirements before shopping, then swatch if you substitute yarn.

Cotton for Small Handmade Gifts

Dishcloths are practical little projects for gift baskets, teacher presents and those occasions when you want to make something thoughtful without signing yourself up for six weeks of knitting.

Our easy diagonal knit dishcloth pattern for beginners is a good starting point. Choose a smooth cotton in a suitable weight, check its washing instructions and think about colours the recipient will actually use.

Prefer a hook? This beginner crochet dishcloth pattern is another option for turning cotton yarn into a useful handmade gift.

A small stack of cloths tied with a ribbon looks lovely. More importantly, it is a gift that can earn its keep.

Needles and Tools That Fill a Real Gap

Knit Picks carries needles, hooks and knitting accessories, so it is worth checking your supplies before browsing.

Look at the projects you make most often. Do you need a particular circular needle length? Are you forever borrowing the same needle tips from another unfinished project? Has your tape measure disappeared into the mysterious place where stitch markers go?

For interchangeable needles, check compatibility with the cables and tips you already own. Buying a useful addition is far more satisfying than discovering that your lovely new purchase needs an entirely different system.

A Quick Check Before You Order

My favourite way to approach a yarn sale is with a short list beside me:

The pattern I intend to make.
The yarn weight and total yardage required.
The fibre and washing requirements.
The needle size and cable length needed.
The total budget, including delivery.

It leaves room for an enjoyable purchase while reducing the chances of buying beautiful yarn that has no realistic job waiting for it.

And if you are planning handmade Christmas gifts, choose projects that fit the time you actually have. A few finished gifts will bring more pleasure than an ambitious pile of December deadlines.

Ready to Plan Your Next Cast-On?

Whether you need yarn for a cosy shawl, cotton for useful little gifts or the needle size missing from your collection, the Knit Picks Friends & Family Sale is worth a look.

Shop Knit Picks using this link and enter 10FRIENDS26 for the advertised 20% off sitewide offer. Check the current terms and your order total at checkout.

Choose something you are excited to make, put the pattern with the yarn when it arrives, and give that next project a fighting chance of becoming a finished one.

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