Well thanks for the advice ladies, I plunged in and got started. Yarn seems very expensive and some of the balls I picked up were over a fiver each!More than I wanted to spend on my first attempt...so I had a rummage in the reduced bin and found a couple of bargain balls.
I think I like the mixture of colours better on the ball than on my fledgling scarf! It was strange but my hands seemed to remember how to cast on and it must be 30 years since Mum showed me how. The Big Sister has started doing some knitting too with some wool and needles she was given last year, hers is a scarf for Barbie - I wonder who will finish first?!