Knitting seems to be a craft that was always reserved for grandmothers. Through TV programs and movies, you used to always see a grandmother leaning back in her rocking chair, slowly knitting something. It could be some socks for the new baby, something for the Thanksgiving table or one of those new Christmas sweaters that you would have to try on, gut out a smile for the photo and then take off quickly.

Knitting isn’t just reserved for your grandmother though and there are plenty of fun crafts you can do today. You might already have a craft gene with you, and knitting can add an extra element to your skills. It doesn’t matter if you’re an expert knitter or just starting off your knitting career, you can give one of these crafts and go and see how you do.

What do you need?

Before we talk about the crafts themselves, what do you need to start knitting? You’ll want to start by choosing the right kind of yarn. If you’re a beginner, it’s best to use medium worsted weight yarn and choose a lighter color. You can see where you’ve stitched much easier than with a darker color.

You’ll need needles of course, and beginners usually opt for wooden needles as the stitches won’t slide off as easily. Go for the medium size needles so you can get a handle on the whole knitting scene. This is all up to you, of course, as each person will have different levels of comfort and expertise.

You’ll need something a little larger than a purse, so find something better to carry your new hobby with you.

A Scarf

Scarves seem to be one of the go-to items when it comes to knitting, and for good reason! They’re quite practical and are pretty easy to make.

You’ll want to start by casting stitches with your first color of yarn. The number of stitches greatly depends on the size of your needs and width. Go on by knitting the first ten rows with your first color (or your only color) and be sure to cut the yarn after. Leave a 6-inch tail.

If you’re looking to add a second color, knit stitches on the needle above the first color and repeat the process of knitting and then cutting the strings.

The length of the scarf is up to you. If you’re just starting out, you may want to try a smaller scarf before venturing off to bigger and better things. At the end, use a crochet hook to weave any loose string back into the scarf.

Baby Booties

We’re continuing with the trend of “knitting small” and going with baby booties. Infants aren’t supposed to wear shoes for the first few months of their lives and soft baby booties are a great way to make them a cute and fun outfit.

You’ll need wool, a crochet hook, a tapestry needle and two matching buttons. You’ll need to measure the size of the booties before you get started, as most tutorials make booties for infants between three and six months.

A Blanket

Even though it’s summer, so many knitting projects out there will have you well-prepared for the winter time.

Even though a blanket may be a big item, you can start out small and add on to it continuously over the next few months. Consider it your long term project while other projects may take up your time in the short-term.

Making a blanket can be a bit easier if you work with bulky yarn, meaning it will be easy to see the stitches you made and to work your needles in and out of the rest of stitches. You’ll have to buy a ton of material and it will be best to stick to just one color instead of many.

A Hat

Now we’re back to the cute items on our list. Making a fun hat is a perfect gift for any child in your life and this option allows you to be the most creative.

Hats typically use double-pointed needles, which might prove to be too difficult if you’re just starting out but the whole process is pretty basic overall.

You can make the hat to be you or your child’s favorite animal and then add small details like the face, ears or fun designs on the side. Not only that, but it will be easier to distinguish your child from a group!