Crochet help!!!!

[thirdwisearticmonkey]

Hello
I'm a complete crochet novice and have been itching to have a go for ages after looking at gorgeous bags and corsages on Etsy. Anyhow, my MIL has bought me a couple of fab crochet books for Xmas and I now have two questions (sure I'll think of some more) for you lovely crochet experts.

1. What would be the best ply of wool and size of crochet hook for me to practice with.
2. I'm left handed should I try to learn how to do it right handed as reversing all the instructions looks v.scarey

Thanks.

The yarn question would depend on what you're crocheting iyswim and to a certain extent on the size of your hooks. So if you were using 4 ply cotton, you would probably use a hook between 2.75 to 3.75 or anything in between that range.
As for the left handed thing, my mum is a lefty but she crochets right handed.
The best thing to do is dive in and swatch with different yarns and hooks to see the effects you get and what you like.
If it's actual patterns and you're after alternative yarns, CAT me and I will give you advice.

Reread your post and for practise I would probably use a 6mm hook (big enough to see what you're doing but not so big that it's cumbersome) and DK wool.

I've never understood how to do crochet.

Good luck with it!

It's easier than knitting but I do both.
My mum taught me so if you can find someone to show you, it will be easier than following a book, I would think.

thanks rantinghousewife (and sandy for supportive post ). I can knit but not well, my dad actually taught me years ago!!!
My mum has offered to teach me to crochet, she's right handed but I think I'll give it a whirl much easier than trying to reverse written instructions will have a visit to my mums local wool shop tomorrow. Will make a change from cross stitch !!!

Just a thought but if you're using written instructions, you could use a mirror. Or your mum could crochet next to a mirror so that you can see the actions reversed iyswim.

Rantinghousewife - had to let you know, my mum is here this evening and after her expert tuition I've done my first chain of crochet, it's not great but I'm really chuffed I stared blankly at the diagrams in my book for ages over the weekend, but you were right it's so much better when someone actually shows you how to do it. Being left handed was no problem at all either, just did it the right handed way and it was fine.
I've a long way to go but I am very excited about learning a new skill at my ripe old age - wahey, so thanks for all your advice.

Am really pleased, I loooove crochet, it's highly addictive. I wouldn't worry about your first efforts not being too tidy, that will come with practice.