Following A Knitting Pattern

I've started to knit an afghan. It's made up of 24 blocks. Each block is made up of a different pattern. My first block is a woven knit pattern. It requires attention to every stitch. I'm on row 20 at present. It was suggested to me that I write the pattern for the row down and cross out each stitch or group of stitches as I knit them. This does slow down the process but it helps to prevent mistakes and the necessity of "ripping out". I've chosen this project because of the variety of blocks which gives me the practice of following a pattern. There's no telling how long it will take to finish, but when this is done I'd like to learn how to follow a grid, to change the color of the yarn and knit a picture into a sweater. When I can accomplish that I'll feel that I can knit anything I'd like to knit.