The Best FREE Gift-Knit Patterns For Beginners (Picked By An ACTUAL Beginner!)

22 Oct

When you first start as a beginner knitter, it can feel intimidating when friends and family ask you to knit them something! Or if you’re like me and LOVE knitting gifts, it can be hard to know what you can knit that will look gift-worthy. And you DEFINITELY don’t want to waste money on a pattern for something that looks simple, only to open the PDF and discover it’s above your skill level!

Don’t worry, I’ve got you. Not only did I pick these patterns, beginner to beginner - I’ve knit most of them myself.

Bookmark Trio by Megan Goodacre

This free knitting pattern has THREE bookmarks with lace and textures, making it perfect for beginner knitters to dip their toes into something a little more complex than stockinette or garter stitch!

I made the Leaf Lace bookmark as a last-minute Christmas gift for my kid’s friend last year— and never having done lace before, I had it knit up over the course of a single train ride and blocked it in the hotel sink that night!

I think these would be great to gift alongside a new book, or as a gift for someone religious who wants something special to mark their favorite passage in their religious text.

Four To One Beanie by Penn Pennalicious

This is one of my all-time favorite gift knit patterns, and I still can’t believe it’s free. I’ve knit it twice this year so far!

My number one tip to beginner knitters as they embark on this pattern: use stitch markers so you know when to switch from knits to purls during the 4x4 rib section. By the time you get to the 1x1 rib it’ll feel easy!

I love the way the wide, folded 4x4 brim adds a bit of polish to what would otherwise be a pretty straightforward ribbed beanie. It looks like something you could get in a store, while also being unlike anything I’ve ever actually seen for purchase!

Switching from the 4x4 to 1x1 also makes this a particularly “potato-chippy” project for me: you’re excited to see the 4x4 rib come together, then you’re excited for the 1x1, and before you know it it’s time for the decreases!

Confession: small-circumference knitting has never been my favorite, and like all hats you end up needing to do it towards the end. Magic loop ladders like hell for me, and I hate DPNs - so I stick to my trusty ChiaoGoo Shorties. (That’s an Amazon affiliate link, btw - if you purchase by clicking on it, it helps support my website and channel!)

Dumpling Bag by Jeannie Lee (for Purl Soho)

The elegance of this free knit bag cannot be denied. It’s one of the most luxe-looking things I’ve ever made!

Knit from dk-weight linen, the trick is that you make one of the straps significantly shorter than the other. When you use the bag, simply slide the shorter loop over the longer one, which makes a wristlet— and gives the bag that delicious dumpling shape!

It’s so beginner-friendly that all you need to be able to do is knit stitch, purl stitch, increases, decreases, bind-off and grafting. My only regret is not learning the kitchener stitch for a more seamless connection for the straps— I used a three-needle bindoff instead, which is very sturdy but DID create a visible seam.

One thing to keep in mind is that the bag is a lot smaller than the photos on the Ravelry page make it look! It’s much more like a wristlet in the suggested size — something to carry your phone, some mints, and maybe some makeup.

I’m considering making it in a worsted or bulky-weight linen (if I can find one!) and seeing if that makes it more purse-sized. But as is, I was able to knit this up for a friend’s birthday in less than a week, and she loved it just the way it was!

The World’s Simplest Mittens by tincanknits

This is one of the patterns I have yet to knit myself, but over 25,000 people on Ravelry have knit these easy, free mittens!

I’m not a mitten person (I prefer fingerless mitts as a mobile phone addict), but you can always finish the mitts with ribbing before the decreases and make them fingerless yourself.

These mittens come in toddler to adult large, and can be knit in any gauge with any yarn! It’s the perfect way to use up leftovers, particularly if you want to try your hand at stripes.

One Row Handspun Scarf by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Looking to add a little texture to your knits, but afraid of losing your place in the pattern repeat? This is the perfect place to start, because the pattern is just one row long!

The resulting fabric looks more delicate and complex than the simple repeat would make you think.

There’s almost 13,000 projects up on Ravelry for this scarf, and as the name implies, it’s popular with handspinners because it’s so adaptable for thicker or thinner yarn!

Easy Knitted Bangle by Ambah O’Brien

This is one of the fastest, easiest, and most satisfying ways to use up scrap yarn I’ve ever seen!

This pattern is fairly easy to knit up and comes in a variety of sizes, making it a great choice for a handmade stocking stuffer for kids or a fun accessory for yourself!

This free pattern calls for DK weight yarn, but you could always hold fingering-weight yarn double for a marled effect, or knit a smaller or larger size with heavier or lighter-weight yarn. I’d suggest swatching first, but honestly? These bracelets go so fast that it’d take you longer to make a swatch than a bracelet!

The best part to me? Because you knit these bracelets in simple stockinette at a tight gauge, the fabric rolls in on itself— meaning that there’s absolutely no need to sew the seam or weave in ends!

All you do is bind off, tuck in the trailing end and let it roll up.

Gramma’s Dishcloth (Grandmother’s 2nd Favorite) by PJ Allen

I’ve never used this particular version of this pattern, but the idea of a square dishcloth or blanket knit on the bias with an eyelet detail is one of the oldest out there - which is probably why the pattern is free.

I’ve used this to make baby blankets for friends and lap blankets for myself out of gorgeous ombre or variegated yarn, but if you want to make them dishcloth-sized, my suggestion would be to go for soft 100% cotton in white (so you can bleach them!) and give them to friends who wear makeup as face cloths. It’d be totally luxurious — and they wouldn’t have to worry about staining the beautiful variegation!

Bankhead by Susie Gourlay

I don’t know why, but I feel like this is sort of a more feminine take on what Penn Pennalicious did with the Four To One Beanie.

This hat starts with 1x1 twisted rib, and then goes into a 4x1 garter rib stitch! I’d never done garter rib stitch before, and it gives almost a lace-like look to the channels between the wide ribs of the hat.

I’m working on my second Bankhead hat now and I love it! The pattern is so versatile— it looks great with a pom pom, and works as a slouchy knit or as a tighter skull cap.

One thing to note - in comparison to other hat patterns I’ve knit, the sizing on Bankhead feels particularly generous. You’ll be fine with an adult medium unless you’ve got a seriously large head!

Marian by Jane Richmond

Knitting this free circle scarf pattern took me two evenings in front of the TV, and I was thrilled with the result!

It’s an extra-bulky cowl in seed stitch, and the thick yarn means it goes fast even for beginners and also makes it much easier for beginners to “see” the pattern and make sure you’re not making any mistakes.

The only thing I’d say about the pattern — and this might be my own issue because I was holding yarn double to meet gauge and should have swatched! — is that my Marian turned out much smaller than the photos. Still comfy and warm, just less dramatic and voluminous.

I made this for a friend, but I’ll probably make one for myself soon!

Super-Fast, Ultra-Cozy Scarf by Jen Reilly

This is coming towards the end of the list because it definitely takes more yarn to do. Scarves can also take a while to knit because they’re so long, but this scarf is made to be knit in any gage with any yarn!

The resulting fabric will look a little ropier and lacier with lighter-weight yarn, but it makes a really squishy, cozy fabric with chunky or extra-bulky weight yarn!

And because the pattern is made with an even number of stitches, it’s really easy to modify the width of the scarf— just make sure you cast on an even number of stitches!

Elizabeth Sampat