First things First
I promise to try and not get too preachy on this page, but I have been a Mom for a long time and sometimes that really shows.
The
first thing you should do with any new pattern is read it. Read it all
the way through. Get a good idea of what you're going to be doing
before you start. This is especially important if you're going to be
changing something in the pattern. It's very sad to have made a change
and then find out it's not going to work because you hadn't realized
how the next part was put together. I highly recommend changing things,
always add a part of your own vision to a project.
Casting on and off
To cast on loosely, CO over your regular size needle and a US size 1 needle held together, then carefully remove the size 1 needle.
To bind off loosely, use a needle 1 or 2 sizes larger than your regular needle.
works in progress
When working in the round with double point needles, keep the number of stitches on each needle about the same. Adjust the number of stitches on each needle by slipping them to adjacent needles, especially when increasing or decreasing.
When using novelty yarns or deep colors where fancy ribbing won't show well. Substitute a simple ribbing.
When working stripes carry the unused color up on the inside and pick up the new color from underneath the dropped color to prevent holes.
When a project calls for two similar pieces such as two sleeves or the front and back of a sweater, work them at the same time by casting on the second one with the same needles and another ball of yarn. This insures that they will be the same length when finished.
Do the gauge swatch
It is not a waste of time. You really will be happier if you take the time. Everybody knits a little different. I used to feel I was doing something wrong if I had to change my needle size to get the gauge. My Daughter and I each made one baby sock from the same yarn, using the same pattern and needles, thinking we would then have a pair of socks. The socks were at least two sizes different from each other when finished.