Planning ahead goes a long way to success. .

• Gather/organize all of your tools. (Why waste time looking for that pesky double-eye needle in the middle of a project?)
• What cast on/bind off or hem method are you planning? If your pattern recommends a specific technique, practice it before starting your sweater
• What stitch pattern/ combination of stitch patterns? (if combining stitch patterns, you should swatch twice)
• What edge finishes? (this determines the shaping method plain/fancy you will use Full Fashioned increases/decreases or simple increases/decreases)
• Buttons or no? (how many? which side?)
• Seaming method (if you are going to be seaming with a sewing machine, have the right color thread available. Is your garment yarn strong enough for seaming? Can it be plied for a less bulky seam?)
• Do you have enough yarn? (there's nothing worse than sweating this out at the last minute)
• Plan your knitting time (schedule) ("Rome wasn't built in a day" Trying to knit an entire project in one day just leads to disaster. Make a plan and plan to knit both sleeves in the same session. If you need to "tweak" the shaping instructions a bit, you're more likely to remember to repeat the "tweak" on the second sleeve today, than next week.)
• Have you read and do you UNDERSTAND the pattern?(No matter what patterns you use, get a mental picture of how each piece is constructed and plan the techniques syou will use to shape the pieces. will you use full -fashion increases and decreases? how is the neckline shaping written?)

Think of your machine as a tool for creating your sweater.
You wouldn't drive away in a rental car before checking where the turn signal and windshield wipers are. (not to mention the volume on the radio)
If you haven't done more than knit swatches, it's critical that you have a basic understanding of what all the buttons and levers do on your machine

• Tighten the clamps
• How's the sponge bar? (if you replace the sponge bar, re- swatch for your project)
• Record the tension settings (both mast and carriage setting)
• Has the machine been oiled recently? (It's best to oil before starting a project and not in the middle of a project - it's possible to impact gauge)
• How to you set your machine to hold? (useful when shaping necklines)
• How do you operate the automatic patterning (punchcard or electronics) Edge stitch selection
• Is the yarn flowing smoothly from the mast? Lint can build up and gum up that mechanism Blog: Tension Mast Tips
• Are all of your tools handy?
• Consider the limitations of your machine. Hand manipulating a large amount of garter stitch will not contribute to your success. Consider combining hand and machine knitting. The goal is to get the results you want quickly. If picking up hand knitting needles makes a section easier and faster ... just do it! (Your machine is one tool, everything doesn't have to be done on the machine)

Bottom line, when you start knitting your sweater, you want smooth sailing. Understand your machine and make sure it's in tip-top condition

Be sure to work with your chosen yarn in advance to confirm that it is appropriate for your machine and for your project (Don't get part of the way through a project and realize that you chose a "problem yarn" that breaks, splits or Biases )
Obviously you are going to swatch, but try some stitch transfers to see if it is going to be tricky. Some yarns (like cotton) have no stretch or they are loosely twisted and are difficult to hand manipulate.

Have you washed your swatch like you will treat the final garment? Nothing worse than spending hours knitting something beautiful to have it fall apart, stretch or pill when washed.

Washing will also reveal if the yarn is color-fast. I once knit a hot pink and white striped sweater. After Wet Blocking , it was hot pink and pastel pink stripes.

Does your machine "like" the yarn? Cotton, thick 'n thin, and slippery yarns (and yarns with no stretch) can be problematic for some machines. Better to find out before you start your sweater. Sometime loosening up the tension can help. But why struggle through an entire sweater with problem yarn?
Donate it, use it for hand knitting, consider using it plied with another yarn or for Lay-In | Knitweave .

As mentioned previously, some yarns can be "difficult". Play with different tensions before making a decision about your final stitch and row gauge

Create a "Get Acquainted Swatach" and see how your machine likes the yarn and determine the tension you like best.

If you suspect the yarn will be problematic, dress the get-acquainted swatch to see the final results.

Read the pattern

Understand the techniques needed before you start knitting

Knitting patterns can be cryptic. If your pattern includes terms you don't understand, look them up in the Knit it Now Glossary

• Abbreviations like "COBH"
• How do I bind off and decrease on the same row
• How do I decrease 3 stitches in the same row?
• What does "scrap off" mean?

Why create a beautiful hand-manipulated hem and knit to the armholes, then try to figure out how to shape the rest of your sweater? Read, understand and PRACTICE techniques that may be new to you.