Crochet is driving me crazy..

Yesterday I bought a crochet kit at Wal-Mart called "I taught myself crochet", it came with five small hooks and one big green one.. The smaller ones are sizes 3.75mm, 4.25mm, 5mm, 5.50mm and 6.50mm. I don't know what the big one is. It also came with some "stitch marker rings" and "bulky knit yarn bobbins" and two tapestry yarn needles.

It took me over three hours just to learn a chain stitch.. So obviously, I'm not good at it.. Now I'm trying to learn a Simple Crochet..? But I can't seem to do it. It says:

"To begin, make a foundation chain of 12 stitches (do not work too tightly).

Insert hook in 2nd chain from hook (under top loop).

Yarn over hook and draw loop through stitch. There are now 2 loops on hook. Yarn over hook again and draw loop through both loops on hoof. One single crochet made and one loop remains on hook. Work a single crochet in each following chain across row, making sure foundation chain is kept flat with V's facing you. At end of foundation chain, complete last single crochet, then chain one. This is called the turning chain and is made in order to give the necessary height to begin next row."

It goes on about a turning chain and stuff but.. I don't even understand this...

If anyone can link me to some helpful videos/tutorials, or try to explain it to me yourself, it would really help. I'm not that great at crochet and so far I'm not liking it that much, but I love all the projects I /could/ make...

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12 replies since 29th August 2011 • Last reply 29th August 2011

Reply #1:

Look up how to crochet on youtube~ I found one that helped me when I began:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqca00LdmAc

Hope I helped (more like the video hah)

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Reply #2:

i like this site. http://www.hookandneedles.com/2008/03/22/amigurumi-tutorial-1/


maybe this picture would help? - equals a chain ! equals the hook and () will be around the one you single crochet into

-----(-)-! so then it would look like the following when you finish your single crochets. you add a chain to give height.
!-(-)-----
--------

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Reply #3:

@Panda, that video explains it better then the one I found before.. Spent the last two hours trying (and failing) though so I'm sick of it tonight, but I'll try tomorrow and let'cha know how it turns out.

@Lacey, I'm sorry but that video went a bit too fast and is a bit too zoomed out for me.. I'm having problems with this so I need something really, really, reeeeally slow and simple..

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll try again tomorrow =D

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Reply #4:

lol, that was to do rounds. took another look at the site though and it has more knitting than crochet tutorials so it doesn't help anyway.

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Reply #5:

oh! you should see if you have any yarn stores near you (google or ravelry should do the trick) and see if someone there can help you or maybe take a class. the one i've been to didn't have crochet stuff but maybe others do.

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Reply #6:

You're not the only onw Anne : I think crochet is a conspiracy and you have be a member of some secret club (that no-one has invited me to join!) the be allowed to be able to do it!

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Reply #7:

Haha, maybe Julie, maybe. Sure would explain a lot... Tongue

I tried again, but with only limited success.. I kinda got it started, then I got it snagged, then it all came undone, and I was so upset I just quit.. I'll try again sometime, it was working, sort of.

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Reply #8:

I think it definately helps to have someone show you the basics in the beginning, especially how to hold the yarn. You got a family member or friend that you can badger to help you?

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Reply #9:

Well, my mom used to know, and she's trying, but I'm not very good and shes not very patient..

Me: Like this? No.. wait.. thats not right..
Mom: No! Like this! *shows for the millionth time*
Me: Oh, like this.. wait.. no.. bad..
Mom: Noooo! Do it like THISSSS!
Me: I CAAANNTTT DOO ITTT
Mom: You're hopeless o.o
Me: Wah.

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Reply #10:

When i learnt i used a book called "KLUTZ crochet" which had LOADs of easy to follow diagrams. when i first started i couldn't understand why it didn't look like the book, until i figured out how to count the stitches properly. i was skipping stitches left right and centre.

http://crochet.about.com/od/learnbasics/ss/stchain.htm

maybe this will help you learn how to chain. i find step by step diagrams are a must as words just confuse people!!

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Reply #11:

Have you asked around, Anne? You might know others who crochet but you just don't know they crochet. I agree, it helps a lot in the beginning to have someone who knows what they're doing. I learned from a book (the same one you're using, if I recollect correctly) with the help of two aunts.

By the way, you might be being a little hard on yourself. I'm an advanced crocheter and I occasionally compete, but I sucked when I started, too. That's what being a beginner is, it means sucking. Tongue

I really need to post some of my crochet projects.

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Reply #12:

The big needle is called a afghan needle for some odd type of cro-knit form I bought the same book when I began crocheting and my only solution is to read all directions carefully. You may feel dumb like youre too stupid to just get it but it's what it takes. I learned all my basic stitches and how to use the afghan needle from that book. The most important part is to be patient. Trust me, it's worth it in the end.

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