Experienced knitters make it look easy, but if you are new to knitting, you will quickly find out that appearances can be deceiving. Do you want to know how to get flat and even stitches every time? How to make buttons stay without ruining your knitted garment? How to figure out which pattern size and dimensions will fit you? Here are 8 tips and tricks for knitting that will answer those questions and more.

Use elastic thread to sew buttons on any items you have knitted. Elastic thread won't pull the buttons around the knitted yarn. Also, the thread won't cut the yarn and therefore, won't ruin your knitted item. Remember, never use yarn for sewing buttons on, as it will cause too much friction and damage to the yarn you knitted with.

Place scissors in a case before storing them in your knitting bag. This way, you won't have to worry about the sharp points of the scissor cutting or damaging the other supplies in your knitting bag.

When you are knitting clothes, such as a sweater, don't bind off the shoulder stitches. Leave the stitches on either a pair of needles or on stitch holders. Once you have finished knitting both the front and back of the garment, knit the shoulder stitches together. Finish by binding off at the shoulder seam in order to produce a smooth, flat seam.

Avoid dropped stitches when knitting by always finishing the row you are working on. Once you have finished the row, you can then set aside your knitting. If you put aside your knitting in the middle of a row, there is a greater chance for stitches to slid off the needles and become unravelled without you noticing until later.

To keep your stitches even, match the type of needle you are using with the type of wool you are knitting with. Use bamboo needles for cotton, as the slight roughness of the bamboo will easily hold onto the smooth fibres of the cotton. Use metal needles for wool, so that the rough fibers of the wool won't snag or catch on the needles.

To understand pattern sizes and dimensions easier, compare them to the best fitting sweater in your closet. Measure the dimensions of the sweater, specifically the width and length of the sweater, along with the size of the armholes and the length of the sleeves. Compare these measurements to the dimensions listed on the knitting pattern and pick the size that matches up the best.

Use the tabs from bread bags to help you keep count of your stitches, especially when you are casting stitches on a circular knitting needle. To keep track, simply place a tab every ten stitches. To figure out how many stitches you have made, count the number of tabs and multiply the number by ten. Once you are done, simply remove the tabs and you will find that your stitches are in perfect shape!

Most importantly, have fun with your knitting so that you keep doing it! Even experienced knitters had to start somewhere.