This is the beginner project I used when I was teaching introduction to knitting.

The problem I had when teaching with the traditional scarf or dishcloth was that, by the end of the project, students had forgotten how to cast on. This project has the student knitting, purling, casting on and casting off every 8 rows, meaning that by the end of the project, you’ll have lots of practice doing all the basic knitterly things.

There is absolutely no reason why you could not pick up stitches around the edge of this and turn it into a hat, or use the same technique as an edging or border for any other project. Have fun experimenting with it!

I would ask that if you knit this pattern, please post a picture of it for others to see and be inspired by!