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I have a handful of methods I use, depending on the pattern some are easier to follow and also as I've gotten better at knitting and have more project under my belt it's easier for me to go back and be like oh yeah count finished rows.

1. notebook and tally marks- I usually divide the pattern into chunks (so like, pattern increases for 25 rows, then holds at same 2 rows repeating x times, etc. so I'm not keeping track of 100+ tally marks at a time).
   
2. row counter on needles - you can buy these, they only count to 99 generally and are kinda pricey for what they are ($4-10 depending and they break) but if this is an easier/more intuitive way for you, awesome.
   
3. if it's a relatively simple thing (i'm currently making a shawl that's a chunk of 72 repeated pattern/knit rows) I've been putting a marker (safety pin) at every 10 rows, this is good if it's easy to see where in the pattern you are or you are comfortable counting completed rows.
   
   Hope these ideas help! I find that it depends on the project and my mood what method works best for me, so guess and check until you find a way that works best for you!

I love variegated yarns and I just keep buying them, even though I often end up liking them much more as hanks than as FOs because of bad pooling. I try to go for either extremely short color runs or very long ones to avoid the issue, but sometimes I fall in love with something I know has the potential to go so wrong once knitted. I use planned pooling for these, but it's impossible to create a consistent pattern if there's any shaping and I'm just not a garter stitch scarf person.

So, when I really, truly love a yarn but can't seem to make anything nice, I knit a solid square/rectangle and put it in a shadow box. I know it sounds crazy, but it makes amazing art. It looks really cool if you knit a bunch of dishcloth-sized squares in different stitches and get some small shadow boxes like these. You can make the knitting the same size as the frame, slightly smaller (with a matted background), or you can fold or crumple the knitting if you want additional texture. Then, you can either hang them individually or in a cluster, OR you can nail the frames together to make a big piece of wall art. It's also the coolest headboard ever, if you're into DIY stuff.

Have you tried Big Girl Knits? I enjoyed what I saw! Unfortunately I don't have it with me at the moment but I don't remember there being too many gimmicky space taking upper patterns (from what I see there's a shawl, mittens and I think a few sock patterns with bigger calves). And most of them are really cute and not grandmaesque! Plus it talks about fit for a good portion in the beginning, like how to knit to flatter.

Yup....first get a needle gauge (like this one). That way you can check what gauge your needles are, even if the number are worn off. I have this one and it works great for me.

I've only knit a few socks, but generally you want very thin yarn for socks that you would wear every day (like fingering or sometimes called "sock" weight. It's one step above the lace weight yarn. See this image for what to look for on ball bands from stores like Michael's or JoAnn's. If you go to a yarn store or buy yarn online, often it will be called sock yarn or fingering weight yarn.

The pattern you use should suggest a needle size and tell you the gauge you should get. Start there, then go up or down in needle size to get the gauge they suggest. Usually socks knit in sock yarn are done on small needles (size 2-4 or 5).

I knit my first pair of socks in Knit Picks Mighty Stitch (Worsted Weight yarn) left over from something else on size 7 needles. They are more of slipper socks or super cold weather socks since they are so bulky. My next pair will be with sock yarn on smaller needles for a more everyday sock.

Weirdly, the nicer the yarn you use, the more likely you are to "save" money vs buying retail. For example, a ribbed cap for an adult might take me 75g of Andean Treasure, or just over $10 of materials if I were to buy full retail price, which I don't (there are sales all the time, and I buy from stashes on Rav). A basic alpaca ribbed cap on Amazon costs $40. So knitting can save money if you have expensive tastes and don't mind spending the time :)

A similar hat in acrylic would cost $5 or so retail, but still cost at least $1-$2 in yarn.

My favorite internet sources for affordable yarn are Deramores for acrylic/blends, Knitpicks for cottons and non-specialty wools, and Webs for merino.

I read The Friday Night Knitting Club, then the sequel, Knit Two, then the third book, Knit the Season. Got them all on audiobook through my library so I could listen while I knit. The three books tell the story of the same characters over a period of time, so it kinda felt like growing up along side them. If you liked the first book, you should definitely check out the others.

There are patterns with photo and possibly even video tutorials. Honestly though, CO and take it one stitch at a time. Maybe doing some squares using a stitchionary or Nicky Epstein's Block by Block which should be at your local library.
Pattern reading is essentially a language learning experience, start with patterns which have stitches you know; ie 2X2 rib, seed stitch, then expand however you wish. Good patterns will have an abbreviations list, check that and decide how much learning you want from a project.

Here is a link to the interchangeable Addi circulars set. Personally, I love them and their feel. Also, it's useful to be able to keep the project on the cord while changing the needles for some patterns.

Nooo!
Good luck!
You can try using one of those stopper things that keeps knitting from falling off needles but for the tips of your scissors like these things, maybe?

I highly recommend Circular Knitting Workshop by Margaret Radcliffe. It has a little bit of everything, certainly many new things to try and includes some cool patterns.

Buy these!! Super cheap and then you have a lot of different sizes.

Stitch 'n Bitch!

It's funny and teaches the basics well. It comes with a few patterns.

His regular blog (linked in the tumblr) is a great read. There's also a book of knitting cartoons that he did.

I don't use scrap yarn for that either. I use dpns and just leave them on the other 2 needles. nothing falls off. You have made an ad hoc stitch holder. Congrats

Thanks! It's the Congenial pattern out of the "Big Book of Quick Knit Afghans"

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1574866435?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_image

It's the third afghan I've knit from this book and they all knit up really fast.

Teamoy Knitting Needles Case(up to 10-Inch), Travel Organizer Storage Bag for Circular and Straight Knitting Needles, Crochet Hooks and Knitting Accessories, Gray--NO ACCESSORIES INCLUDED https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072TYLL22/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ic14Ab6TF1WP8