Gods sake!!!! Please help a frustrated CROCHET beginner

[QueenCarpetJewels]

I got a little crochet kit for Christmas. It's this one sorry for the small picture, it's all I could find.

I have never crocheted before but I'm desperate to learn!

It comes with a size 4 hook and some wool. No idea what kind of wool. Soft and woolly! I don't want to make the Xmas decs in the kit (mainly because I can't figure out how to do the magic circle thing and the instructions it came with are beyond rubbish).

I have watched a ridiculous amount of video tutorials on crochet squares and I just can't get it! I start off OK, but inevitably, the person crochets too fast so I can't keep up or speeds up their video and I get lost. I've looked at Bella Coco's 'How to crochet a granny square for beginners' and this is the first time I've actually cracked it, but then she speeds up the video and I'm lost again and it all goes wrong.

Can anyone please help?

[ginswinger]

Is there a class you can go to near you? I did a one day course and have been flying ever since

[QueenCarpetJewels]

Unfortunately online learning is my only option.

[WhoKn0wsWhereTheTimeG0es]

I was exactly the same, people kept saying "use Youtube videos" and I found it impossible.

This is a good step by step guide
www.learn2knit.co.uk/howtocrochet.php

Watch out for American books and websites, they use different names forcthe same stitches

[ButtfaceMiscreant]

LittleTInBird does a decent photo tutorial on some stitches and granny squares - each step is photographed so you can see exactly how the yarn should look on your hook each time you put the yarn over/pull through etc. Attic24 has some good photo heavy tutorials of things to make once you have decided what you want to make (things from blankets and ponchos to small flowers and birds, so you are bound to find something to suit )

[AstrantiaMajor]

Does your local library still exist. If so, the librarian can order a book for beginners if they don't have it in stock. Sometimes charity shops have books as well. I found it easier to learn from a book.

[PlaymobilPirate]

I second Attic24. I think you're being too ambitious- you need to learn a couple of stitches before you start on a granny square really.

I spent ages doing loads of chains, then loads of rows of singles, loads of rows of doubles etc. It takes a while to get your tension right and to learn not to drop stitches at the ends of rows 😀

[00100001]

This one is good :)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=aAxGTnVNJiE

[WhoKn0wsWhereTheTimeG0es]

Yes to Attic 24, but I found lots of practice needed on basic stitches first too, Granny squares are very forgiving but the bit where you start each round took ne a while to get the hang of and once you've made a mistake it can take a while to work out what went wrong. Learn chains, doubles, trebles and slip stiched thoroughly first.

[TinyPawz]

The crochet crowd do amazing beginner videos. Also Esther from its all in a nut shell

[WhoKn0wsWhereTheTimeG0es]

Some of us just can't work from videos though. I am a highly experienced crocheter and will still always choose printed word/photos over video every time.

[QueenCarpetJewels]

Amazing response, thank you all!

I'm going to work through each suggestion and see what happens. I'll come back with a photo when I've successfully made something!

Thanks again

[Poorlybabysickday]

I found it much easier when learning to use a thicker wool and bigger hook, so you can properly see what you are doing

[Poorlybabysickday]

Bella coco tutorial is good on YouTube

[Inkythemouse]

Pinterest is really good for crochet tutorials. And I second attic24.
Just be careful to make a note of if you are learning in U.K. or US terms. This makes a big difference to patterns

[liz70]

I found "Granny Square Crochet for Beginners" by Shelley Husband helpful. It's a free ebook.

[temporarilyjerry]

I'm exactly the same, Queen. I'm going to work through the suggestions on here too. If we don't succeed, we could always form a frustrated crochet beginner club.

[Lovelybreadbin]

I couldn't get it with the Bella Coco video. What worked for me was this written and photo tutorial:
www.littletinbird.co.uk/free-crochet-tutorials/basic-granny-square-pattern/

Granny squares seem so easy now. It's just a matter of findin a pattern/video that suits you.

[QueenCarpetJewels]

Big thanks to WhoKnows for the first link - it really, really helped!

Spent all last week practising single and double crochet and then found www.thespruce.com/how-to-crochet-classic-granny-square-3576784 which was a complete game-changer! The only thing is, the first granny square I made turned out a bit wrong because she says to start the first double crochet in the chain closest to the hook. On my second square, I realised it should have been in the last chain from the hook. The red one has the mistake (look at the middle!), the blue one doesn't.

There's no stopping me now

[WhoKn0wsWhereTheTimeG0es]

They look pretty good, even with the mistake in the red one. I find Granny squares quite forgiving of the odd mistake. Well done!