crafty wenches- I want to learn how to crochet .How ....

[cremolafoam]

... do I do that. Do I need someone to show me or is it easy enough to learn from a youtube vidoe or similar.Want to do squares and be occupied over the winter.

I think you could learn via a video. I find it much easier than knitting and faster. Doing squares is dead easy, or you could do an aghan type blanket where you jsut keep going rounf and round and round (good for using up ends of wool)

I taught myself from a book, it's easy enough, easier than learning to knit from a book. Squares are fun, I have done a granny blanket in shades of blue for ds, so cool.

would like to use cotton- is that possible?
wool makes me itchy
tell me about different guages of yarn- is ist all different like wool?

What book was it Bean?

yes you can use cotton

you can get 100% cotton yarn that you use in the same way as wool - I'd go for DK if you're doing a blanket.

The happy hooker, the stitch and bitch crochet book.

I always use cotton, it's like knitting though, you can use all different yarns and different hook sizes.

double knit cotton yarn- is that right?
what is 4 ply?

Well my mum taught me, so I think it's probably easier if you have someone to show you, failing that,this book is excellent. I'd steer clear of the Happy Hooker until you're more confident, it is riddled with mistakes.

4 ply is a thinner yarn than dk, so anything crocheted with it will be finer.

I used this book - would recommend

thanks all.
am going to buy a hook tomorrow and have a little practice.

Agree crochet is easier than knitting. Mum tried to teach me to knit without much success, learned to crochet at school.

inner child crochet site has video tutorials for left and right handed types which I found very helpful as a lefty.Good luck you will be addicted shortly

Can you give a link to the site charitas? I am left handed and all the books show diagrams for the right handed. One book annoyed me so much that I wish I had written to the publishers. It was called 'All you need to know about crochet' which was blatantly untrue as it had nothing whatever about the left hander!

inner child

i think finding someone to show you the basics would help, i figured out how to make a granny square by trial and error, but finding a good book with clear diagrams and a good glossary that explains the terms in simple language is a must.
i can make a granny square in about 5 mins now, it was my method of distraction when i gave up smoking

where abouts do you live? me and my mum run crochet and knitting classes at our shop.

Lydia - whereabouts are you? I could do with some tuition I think. I can crochet, but can't for the life of me regulate tension properly. Everything I make comes out wobbly.

i used Simple Crochet by Erika Knight to learn, the diagrams are really clear - it has nice patterns too. also the happy hooker but the terminology is all american

I learnt as a child using the Ladybird Learning to Crochet book I doubt it's still in print - I thing it cost 2 shillings I prefer knitting though - it's much more practical

we're in melton mowbray leics!

if you aren't anywhere near by i have some notes on how to learn we use in the classes, i can post them to you x

I am afraid I am too far from Melton Mowbray. Just for interest do you teach left handers? Does Erika Knight use diagrams for the left as well as right hand?