New to crochet

Ok well the most I know how to do is a chain, I've decided to try to do a couple bits and thought a friend of mine has just had a baby so wanted to do him a hooded blanket.

Anyway I was hoping someone might be able to give me a few pointers as to how to read a pattern as this doesn't really make much sense to me. Or if someone can point me in the right direction, I do have the pattern if anyone might be able to take a look and give me some advice. It says it's a ok for a beginner but I haven't got a clue.

Sorry for my ramblings but if anyone could help me I'd be grateful.

Thank you.

Stacey

This site has saved my life before. It explains all the abbreviations and how to do every stitch. Some come with pictures and videos!!

http://www.crochetnmore.com/123basics.htm

This one is good too:

http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa052398.htm

Also, you can look on YouTube for tutorials. Videos are a fasntastic help. Best of luck!

Thank you very much, that has been so helpful I think I might actually be able to do this now! yay :o)

One last question, has anyone got any suggestions as to where I can read and learn about yarns?

Thank you

Stacey

Most welcome. Happy Crocheting!!

Hello. I would like to offer alittle more help on your learning. I have been crocheting for years. I am (in the last couple years) have really gotten into the big harder stuff.

I would like to make a couple suggestions that I received and they helped me.

First and foremost if you get frustrated PUT IT DOWN. Come back later.

If you are getting burned out PUT IT DOWN. Now that that is out of the way lol

Now the best this I have found for help if you are new is go to www.youtube.com

in the search simply type in crochet.

That should start you off. You can also type in single crochet, or double crochet, or chain, it's endless.

You can even type in crochet scarf. type in crochet granny square. This should keep you busy and learning for awhile and when watching you can pause the video while you catch up. Good Luck

VERY good advice on putting your work down if you get frustrated.

I made that mistake once before. got so upset and insisted I fix it immediately and ended up ruining and entire project.

Thank you ladies, I'm trying to figure things out but it's going rather slow but I agree with the putting it down! lol

Hi, the link below is a great place. She has 425 crochet videos on all sorts of stitches, right handed, left handed, anything you can think of. She does it in actual time then does it in slow motion, she also talks you all the way through it. Teresa is the greatest, go check her out.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=tjw1963#grid/uploads

Thank you hooks and chains, I'll take a look.