You need this scarf. Yup. You really do. Serpentina is easy enough for a beginner to muddle through, just complex enough not to bore an intermediate knitter, and comfortable TV knitting for an expert. Pick your own yarn, or use the recommended yarn for some surprisingly inexpensive luxury. A repetitive stitch pattern means you can alter the instructions to make as wide and as long a scarf as you like.

See? You have no excuse not to make this scarf. (Muhahahahaha!)

Serpentina would also make a good “easing into lace” sort of project - the lacy rib bit is simple and easily memorized, and will get you used to the basics of lace: using yarn overs and decreases to form a pattern.