Knitting Tips For Knoobies

I don't know exactly the date I began knitting but I know I'm just around the two year mark. I thought I'd make a list of tips to give other knoobies that may not know when they start knitting but, I feel, will make the road a bit less bumpy.

1. Read a pattern all the way through to make sure you're capable of doing each and every step. It's the worst feeling to get 3/4 of the way through a pattern and realize you can't complete it with what you already know.
2. Make sure you have all the tools you need to complete your pattern - yarn, needles, stitch markers, tape measure etc.
3. Have enough yarn or, better yet, more than enough yarn. If it calls for 9 skeins, buy 10 just in case. You can always use the extra yarn but you may not always be able to purchase the same yarn at a later date.
4. When starting a pattern, put everything you'll need to complete this project in the project bag. I've had to scramble to find something halfway through and, frankly, it sucks. I just started doing this and it's so much easier when the things are easily accessible.
5. Join Ravelry and Twitter. Ravelry is great for all kinds of help from buying yarn to finding out what a psso is. Twitter is great too. I mostly follow knitters and when I have a problem, I post it and have an answer within minutes and sometimes seconds. I always say Twittah knittahs rock.
6. Never be afraid to ask for help. Knitters are among the kindest and most helpful people.
And last, but not least, you should enjoy what you're doing. If I start something I don't like, I rip it out and find something else. I have enough to stress me out, I don't want knitting to be one of them. Two teenage sons are enough to put anyone over the edge at times.
Knitters rock! And here's proof.