Little Tips for Knitting

So, I've been gone for a while, but lately I got back into my knitting.  (School was something else, I tell you.  But now that I know what I'm doing, it'll be so much better! XD)  But, I've learned that I am much lazier now about my knitting, and I really want my work to be simple and easy.

So, I decided to try out some tricks, and see what works best for me.

1. Trying out a new stitch--> Use graph paper to visualize.  Take a sheet of graph paper and put "x"s where you knit and "o"s where you purl! (don't forget to switch the symbols on the even rows, as your work will be turned around).  This allows you to see what the final pattern looks like before you start, and having a picture can help you spot mistakes earlier on.
2. Keep a gauge around for your most common yarn weight/needle pairings.  I knit most often with worsted and a size 9 needle, so I just keep a note on the gauge with the rest of my knitting patterns.  Keeping your gauges with your patterns allows you to adjust for sizes easily, before you even start your project.
3. Get a crochet hook and keep it close.  You never know when that stitch will drop, and you don't want to be unprepared when it does.
4. Keep some spare yarn in basic and fun colors for surprise projects.  Forgot an acquaintance's birthday was coming up?  Whip up a soap buddy or a headband in some bright or neutral colors in  just a couple minutes.  
5. Have a list of colors, weights, and lengths of yarn that you have on hand, with a note for any that are currently part of a project.  It does you no good to use yarn for something when you needed the yarn to finish an old project.
6. Give yourself a deadline.  Say: "I will finish 12" of scarf by the end of this movie" or "This sweater has to be done on Tuesday."  Even if it isn't necessary to have your projects done in advance, it helps keep your knitting stuff clear from all though unfinished projects that seem to accumulate.
7. Keep a shoe box for all the small balls or scraps of yarn to hang out in (instead of floating around in your knitting basket.)

I hope these are useful to you (as much as they were to me).  Let me know in the comments and I'll see you folks around!  :)