Fool proof crochet

[TheoneandObi]

With the emphasis on fool. I've lost count of the number of times I've tried to learn to crochet. Someone please help a slapdash, klutzy crafter to learn. Best kit? Best online tutorials? Anything to help!

I’m no expert but I learned online from Attic24. Lots of big blankets projects which are usually quite forgiving for a novice and some smaller fun things like stars and hearts to play about with. Cosy stripe or trellis stripe are both lovely soothing blanket patterns. Other people rate Bella Coco which I sometimes use for help with specific stitches etc. YouTube is also very helpful for live demos if you’re not getting something.

You don’t need a kit really, just a few hooks (Maybe sizes 3.5 to 5 or 6) and some balls of wool. But you can get some cheap and quite good hook kits with lots of sizes from amazon. I find the ones with plastic or rubber grips comfier than solid metal hooks. For yarn I’d try some style craft DK to start or other acrylic double knitting wool. I’m sure some experts will also post soon. Good luck, it’s a great way to pass the time.

I learned to crochet myself entirely from watching Bella Coco on YouTube. I just started off with a 4mm hook and some dk yarn and made a (wonky!) granny stitch blanket. A couple of years on and I've made lots of stuff, and I'd class myself as intermediate level now, all self taught thanks to the internet! Honestly just get your hook and yarn and stick on a Bella Coco tutorial, then just keep practicing over and over. You'll stop the video 50 times to redo the stitch but eventually you'll master it ;) .
All you need is a couple of hooks, even just a 4mm will start you off, and a ball of dk yarn. You can go to your local wool shop but tbh I buy all my yarn from either Aldi or Mr Price (they stock Robin). Best of luck

Thanks. Will give Bella Coco another go. I think i gave up after 20 watchings of a single stitch. Seems I need to watch a few more times! And I've liked the other recommendations on FB so can hopefully learn from them too xx

Attic or Bella coco are excellent. Also have crochet books such as Nicki Trench which inspired me

You need:
4mm hook and DK weight yarn
or
5mm hook and Aran weight yarn

Simple plain light coloured yarn is easiest

Then find what teaching method works best for you, I learn best with books so that's what I used, but you can also use online picture/word or video tutorials.

Then just keep trying.

I would focus on learning one thing and for me it was a basic granny square.

Once you've worked out how you like holding the hook, and have reasonable tension and can form stitches you'll be amazed how quickly you can progress to harder stuff.

I tried granny squares and failed miserably.
Try a few different teaching sources. I preferred the drawings of how to do a stitch. I started with a scarf in aran wool and single crochet

I could not get on with bella coco at all, I learnt with jayda institches. I started with granny squares within 3 months I could read a pattern.

Really don’t like Bella Coco which goes against the grain but love Jayda In Stitches YouTube vids. She’s the only one I can clearly follow.

Hi, I found fiber spider on YouTube quite easy to follow, have made some nice shawls. Even though the patterns seem a bit hard you soon get into them. Just stop and playback.
I also have Leonie Morgan's beautiful afghans book, made a few things out of this already.
Am just waiting for some yarn to make a cot blanket. Crochet is such fun

Jayda in stitches got me making blankets, hats, granny squares - loads, she's really clear and concise. I just couldn't get my head around Bella Coco or Attic 24.

I found learning with a 6mm and chunky yarn easier. Found it had more grip.

If you're using you tube then you can slow down the video. On my phone, there is : in the top right of the screen. Click on that and it gives you a speed choice.

Another vote for Bella Coco, also girlybunches. Jayda is good. I also second the idea of slowing down the video so you can see exactly how they do the stitches.

I'm another one who has this as a goal for 2020, but so far in lockdown I have learnt Sudoko instead.

I found the book The Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller invaluable. Very clear explanations and lots of tips. I'd been crocheting for years and this was a great help. I still refer to it to help figure things out if I'm not sure.

The Crochet project do a great starter kit.

I found Bella Coco helpful but already had the basics - I looked at lots of YouTube tutorials to find something that just clicked. I made a really complicated shawl recently and was amazed at how the stitches don't really vary, just the combinations of the same thing.

Can I just add that googling "The happy hooker" did not bring up any books about crochet...

I was taught using a 6.5mm hook & Hayfield Bonus Chunky, in pale colours. Makes it much easier to see what's going on.

I like Jayda in Stitches but the constant giggling after every instruction really grinds my gears
You need patience (and lots of it) so you can firstly become comfortable holding a hook the way that you want whilst you cobble your first few stitches. Make granny squares until you’re seeing square and if you persevere you WILL get there. I say that as somebody with a horribly short temper and zero patience. Crochet is the first thing in my life that I committed to.