Just enchanted my first item! Tho when I first came across the enchantment-thingy, I was like "WTF is this all about?!" - worked it out tho. I had a Petty Soul Gem - where would I have got that from, did I just pick it up somewhere? Oh, and it gave me a whole ONE PERCENT enchantment!! Woopee-doo!!

Ah, how about that? Just went behind a waterfall and found.....a petty soul gem!!

1) Don't start enchanting until you are at least >Enchanting 50

2) It can be a big boost if you use an Enchanting potion. The more potent, the better.

Do a "dry run" first. See which item and which enchantment you want to use. (For the selected item, the usable enchantments will be highlighted.) Then decide which soul gem you will be using. Dry run complete, exit Enchanting. Drink potion, open the Enchanting table, pick the largest soul gem (preferably black or grand), the item to be enchanted, then finally select the enchantment. Press R to enchant. Do the enchanting as fast as possible; the potion is only good for 30 seconds.

Biggest soul gem + most potent Enchanting potion should give you significantly more than 1%.

Well, that's about when enchanted items are actually worth using, but to raise the skill you should enchant everything. Unlike smithing and alchemy, the skill raise amount does not depend on the value of the item you create, but is a flat raise for every enchant. So any jewelry or equipment you don't need? Put the 1% improved something with a petty soul gem on them before selling them. Because just like other crafting skills, maxing it out does break them game

And yes, save Grand and Black soul gems for when your skill is higher.

For me petty and small are for raising the skill, common is for recharging weapons and greater and grand are for making things i actually use.

Protip: weapon enchants are usually pretty bad cause they require recharging, go for armor enchants, and always use grand soul gems.

Soul gems, both empty and filled, are pretty common loot items, especially in necromancer and Dwemer dungeons. As your character level increases, you'll start finding more and more of the greater, grand and black soul gems.

As your skill increases you'll be able to create more powerful enchantments. To really maximize your enchanting, though, you'll need to spend some perk points in the Enchanting tree. Also, you'll need to use alchemy alongside enchanting.

I like to enchant pickaxes and any junk weapons I find just to make some cash even at 1% they sell for a lot more. As soon as I can I enchant a bow or a sword with soletrap to make sole collecting easy. Mudcraps are a good place to start.

What ever you do don't kill the town chicken or goat for their sole.

Enjoy your enchanting adventure before you know it you will be double enchanting all your gear.

Wow.... Thanks all, much appreciated...I feel enchanted!

Note that petty souls are all you need for waterbreathing, since there's no charges nor percentage, and it pays relatively well too.