I hate the first time knitting a pattern!

I am having the hardest time with the mitten pattern from Knit Simple Fall 2007. First, I haven't found a yarn that I can get gauge with. So, instead of knitting on size 5, I'm knitting on size 7 which gets me to row gauge. However, the fabric is looser than I'd like and and it pulls tighter than it should since I'm about 5 stitches off gauge.

First, I didn't read the directions so when I did the color change on the cuff, I didn't do the first row in St st so I have that lovely bar. Then, the first round of increases, I did a standard M1 instead of what the pattern actually called for, so that first row is different than all the other rows. Later in the pattern it gives me three rows and then says repeat last 3 rows 3 times. I took that to mean 3 more times, but apparently it only meant 2 more times for a total of 3 times. So now that I'm in the home stretch and beginning the decrease, I have too many stitches. I'm about to pull my hair out over all this. I'm going to see if I can make it work with just a couple extra stitches which is ok since my gauge was off.