The best first knitting kit for most teens and adults is The Spinning Hand Learn to Knit Scarf Kit . The maker packs one 218-yard ball of machine-washable wool, US 8 (5 mm) needles, a printed pattern, a project bag, a tapestry needle, a 100-page eBook and a 7-day video series, and the finished scarf measures 60" by 5" after blocking. If you would rather learn several stitches before committing to a project, the We Are Knitters Stitch Sampler teaches six. If you like short projects you can finish in a sitting or two, KnitPal’s dishcloth kit makes four.

This page used to be a teen-only list. Its earlier picks could not be matched to current maker product pages, so it now covers needle-knitting kits whose makers publish exactly what is in the box. None of these kits has been knitted up for this page. Contents and sizes come from each maker’s product page.

Quick picks

Kit Best for Finished project Yarn in the kit Needles
The Spinning Hand Learn to Knit Scarf Kit Complete beginners Scarf, 60" x 5" 1 ball (218 yd) washable wool US 8 (5 mm), included
We Are Knitters Stitch Sampler Kit (Search Amazon for We Are Knitters Stitch Sampler Kit ) Learning six stitches Snood, 23 1/2" x 12" 2 balls Yummy Yarn Fine 8 mm, or order without
KnitPal Everyday Joy Knitting Kit (Search Amazon for KnitPal dishcloth knitting kit ) Short practice projects Four 7.5" x 7.5" dishcloths 3 skeins cotton DK (142 yd each) Circular, included
The Spinning Hand Hat & Mitts Kit (Search Amazon for The Spinning Hand Hat and Mitts Knitting Kit ) A second kit Hat and fingerless mitts 3 balls cotton-merino US 9 (5.5 mm) circular and DPNs

The Spinning Hand Learn to Knit Scarf Kit: best first kit

The Spinning Hand Learn to Knit Scarf Kit puts the most teaching into the box. Alongside the yarn and needles, the maker includes a printed scarf pattern that refers back to a 100-page eBook with step-by-step photos, plus a 7-day Learn to Knit video series. That is a lot of support for someone who has never cast on.

The kit contains one 218-yard ball of machine-washable wool, US 8 (5 mm) knitting needles, the printed pattern, a project bag and a tapestry needle. The finished scarf measures 60" long and 5" wide after blocking, and the maker’s care instructions are machine wash gentle and machine dry cool. It comes in several colorways. The Amazon link above is the Sunset colorway, sold by The Spinning Hand.

Choose it if you are starting from zero and want instructions in print, as an eBook and on video. Skip it if a long single project sounds like a chore. The dishcloth kit gives faster finishes.

We Are Knitters Stitch Sampler Kit: best for learning several stitches

The We Are Knitters Stitch Sampler Kit (Search Amazon for We Are Knitters Stitch Sampler Kit ) teaches six knitting stitches, one practice square at a time, along with how to cast on, knit, purl and bind off. The squares are then sewn together into a snood that measures 23 1/2" wide and 12" long.

The Yummy Yarn Fine version includes two balls of Yummy Yarn Fine, a wool and acrylic blend that We Are Knitters says is made for 8 mm needles. You choose 8 mm straight needles, 8 mm circular needles or no needles when ordering. The pattern is digital and arrives by email, with instructions in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian and Polish, and the kit includes an embroidered label for the finished piece. We Are Knitters also sells this kit in other yarns, including a Pima cotton version, so check which yarn a listing includes.

Choose it if you want to understand the basic stitches before picking a bigger project. Skip it if you want printed instructions in the box, since the pattern is digital.

KnitPal Everyday Joy Knitting Kit: best for short, repeatable projects

The KnitPal Everyday Joy Knitting Kit (Search Amazon for KnitPal dishcloth knitting kit ) makes four coordinated 7.5" x 7.5" dishcloths. KnitPal includes three 50 g skeins of its Cotton to the Core DK yarn (142 yards each), a pair of circular knitting needles, a crochet hook for picking up dropped stitches, a tapestry needle, two downloadable patterns and video access.

KnitPal describes the kit as designed for confident beginners who are ready to move from practice swatches to a useful project. Each dishcloth is a small, finishable piece, and the kit makes four of them.

Choose it if you like quick finishes and useful results. Skip it if you have never knitted a stitch. Start with the scarf kit or the stitch sampler, then come back to this one.

The Spinning Hand Hat & Mitts Kit: best second kit

The Spinning Hand Hat & Mitts Knitting Kit (Search Amazon for The Spinning Hand Hat and Mitts Knitting Kit ) is the maker’s level 2 kit for knitters who have finished a first scarf. It teaches knitting in the round on circular and double-pointed needles, along with shaping and finishing a ribbed hat and knitting fingerless mitts.

Inside are three balls of Concept by Katia Cotton-Merino (an organic cotton and merino blend), US 9 (5.5 mm) circular and double-pointed needles, an organza bag, a stitch marker, a tapestry needle, a full-color printed pattern and a tutorial video series. The maker lists the hat at about 8.5" tall and 16" around, and the mitts at about 8" tall and 7" around.

Choose it if you have finished a scarf and want to learn circular knitting. Skip it if you are brand new to knitting. The Spinning Hand calls this kit advanced beginner level.

How to choose a beginner knitting kit

Check how the kit teaches

Instructions vary more than yarn. The Spinning Hand kits include printed patterns plus video, and the scarf kit adds a 100-page eBook. We Are Knitters sends a digital pattern in six languages. KnitPal provides downloadable patterns and video. If you learn best from a printed page on the table, favor the Spinning Hand kits.

Match the project length to your patience

A 60" scarf is one long project. Four 7.5" dishcloths are four short ones. The stitch sampler sits in between: small squares that add up to a snood. Pick the format you are most likely to finish.

Confirm the needles are included

All four kits on this list can include needles, but We Are Knitters lets you order without them. If you are buying a gift, check the needle option on the listing. For what needle sizes and materials mean, see how to choose knitting needles for beginners .

Think about fiber and care

The Spinning Hand scarf kit uses machine-washable wool. For the stitch sampler, We Are Knitters recommends airing or hand-washing and drying flat. KnitPal’s kit is cotton, which suits dishcloths. For how yarn weight affects a project, see choosing the right yarn size .

Teens can use the same kits

These makers publish no age limits for their kits, and The Spinning Hand’s FAQ suggests about age 7 as a good starting age for knitting. A teen who would rather start on a loom than on needles can look at the loom kits for bulky scarves , and one who wants to try crochet instead can compare the beginner crochet kits .

Final recommendations

Start with The Spinning Hand Learn to Knit Scarf Kit if you have never knitted. It has the most instruction in the box. Choose the We Are Knitters Stitch Sampler Kit to learn six stitches before a bigger project, and the KnitPal Everyday Joy Knitting Kit for short, useful practice once the knit stitch feels natural. When the first scarf is done, the Spinning Hand Hat & Mitts Kit is the logical next step into knitting in the round.

FAQ

What should a beginner knitting kit include?

Yarn, a pair of needles in the size the pattern calls for, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and instructions you can follow. The kits on this list publish their contents, so check that needles are included before ordering. We Are Knitters, for example, sells its Stitch Sampler with or without needles.

Are these kits suitable for teens?

Yes. These makers publish no age limits for their kits, and The Spinning Hand’s own FAQ suggests about age 7 as a good starting age for knitting, so a teen can use the same kits as an adult.

Should a first project be a scarf or a dishcloth?

A scarf gives one long, wearable project. Dishcloths are short and repeatable, so they suit learners who like to finish things quickly. KnitPal pitches its dishcloth kit at confident beginners, so it works well as a second step after the basics.

What comes after a first scarf?

A project knit in the round. The Spinning Hand Hat & Mitts kit is its level 2 kit and teaches circular and double-pointed needles.

Sources