What kind of challenge are you looking for? Preference of type of object??? I can recommend a few of my earlier projects that were challenging without being unattainable!

The Bamboo Cowl is a quick and easy project that teaches a basic yarnover/pass yarnover over stitch pattern to create a great texture!

Also quick and easy, with pseudo colorwork that looks great: Newfoundland Mitts.

Finally, great first shawl/kerchief: Age of Brass and Steam. Way more interesting than the Hitchhiker, gets you to understand the basic construction of a shawl.

The only slightly complicated thing in that one would be M1L and M1R, but there are great Youtube videos out there for those!

Thanks for the recommendations!!