Crochet lessons online?

I'll just say that I learned to crochet like 20 years ago, so I learned before videos and at this point, I'm experienced enough that I don't need to watch them. So I have no recommendations there. But my very first project was a granny square blanket. I still love doing them sometimes because they are just mindless. So I think it's a really good project for a beginner. Once you get going, it'll be super easy for you.

I used YouTube when I taught myself to crochet during the covid lockdown. I had to try several different people before I found one who could explain in simple language. haha. I like the videos because I could pause while I tried what she had just explained, the start it again, or go back, etc. 

I thought crocheting would be pretty easy since I can knit well. Nope.   Not only did I not find it easy, but I decided I didn't really like it. I'm sure I thought knitting was hard too back when I first learned but I've been knitting since I was a kid so I don't remember learning. I managed to crochet some squares, and then a simple hat, but it just never caught on with me. It always felt like my final product wasn't soft enough, or drapey enough, or something. Also, my very first square was pretty funny with how it got smaller as I went along. Apparently I wasn't turning and starting the next row properly. haha 

Not sure what kind of item you want to make. I jumped right into an afghan when I started. But you could make a scarf or dishcloth. I find granny stripe, granny square or shell to be a great pattern for beginners (honestly I still make them all the time). They are worked in clusters and very forgiving. With a afghan sometimes you see it recommended to just do rows or single or double crochet as a beginner. So you're doing 185 stitches across each row, if you drop a stitch or drop quite a few over several rows your afghan will start to shrink. So now you are trying to count 185 stitches every row to prevent that. Not fun. With cluster stitches you have 3, 4, 5 (whatever the pattern calls for) stitches in a group. You're supposed to do 3 stitches but if you accidentally do 2 or 4 it won't mess anything up and you don't have to rip out rows. You still had a cluster so it works. Hopefully that makes sense.

Bella Coco granny stripe
m.youtube.com/watch?v=G3ossrTtv4g&pp=ygUjR3Jhbm55IHN0cmlwZSBzdGl0Y2ggZm9yIGJlZ2lubmVycyA%3D


Bella Coco shell
m.youtube.com/watch?v=_S4E8g52U0w&pp=ygUjQ3JvY2hldCBzaGVsbCBzdGl0Y2ggZm9yIGJlZ2lubmVycyA%3D

I started last year by buying a penguin Woobles kit, which comes with access to online instructions. I thought they were very easy to follow. Then I searched on YouTube for short tutorials for other small animals to make and made a turtle and some other stuff.

I'm sorry you have COVID. I hope you find a good beginners tutorial, it looks like the Peas have given you some great options. And then can you let me know how you go, because I'd like to take up crocheting one day too.

This thread is quite timely, because I came across a reel on Facebook the other day, and I wanted to ask jeremysgirl and our other crafty crocheters here - how experienced would one have to be to make something like this? Particularly the dog with the rings: Crochet Animals

I'm not expecting to be able to do this in my first week hahaha, but if I start learning now, would I be able to make this by the time my daughter has a baby (which probably won't be for another four years or so)? It looks hard to me!

Sorry, I'm no help to you. I bought some supplies and instructions for cotton dish cloths back in 2020 with the intention of learning to crochet during lockdown but ended up donating them untouched last year. 😳

AussieMeg those wee animals are too cute! 😍

I learned to crochet during the lockdown and I never stopped. First learn the basic stitches and practice them. Crochet Crowd was too advanced at the beginning. Jayda in stitches is excellent for beginners. Also, MarlyBird, Moogly, and Craft and a Cuppa.. Look at videos but don’t get overwhelmed, pick one who suits your way of learning and go from there. Daisy Farm Crafts is good as is Creative Grandma for teaching basic stitches. Most of all, practice a lot. Good luck! Also, be aware that there are many British crocheters and their terms are different from ours. They will usually say that at the beginning of a video but you should know about it.

I recommend the Crochet Crowd. I believe he has both right and left handed crochet videos.

Crochet Crowd Intro to Crochet