i think this belongs here.pardon poor typing, doin' one finger thing.i'm looking to learn to crochet. been told easier than knitting. i can use a knitting spool fine and dandy, can't hand knit worth diddly. so what's the best(also cheapest)place online (no b/m please i can't get out) to get supplies and starter stuff. best size hook, best yarn , all that good stuff. if i'm in the wrong place sorry, new here.

which size hook etc really depends on what you want to make. Afghans, ponchos, dishcloths-- what are you interested in making? I've always found it easiest to pick something I want to make and then get the materials for it.

thanks, i was thinking perhaps a blanket, or potholder, lol
something simple to get me started, easy, yanno.

Okay I've only ever purchased from this store online
http://www.discountyarnsale.com/
but these were recommended by other mamas
http://secure.elann.com/frames.asp
http://www.pagelinx.com/cgi-shopper/loadpage.cgi/smileysyarns/ezshopper?user_id=id&file=iriot.htm

I've just started on wood and bamboo hooks-- and as much as I love them and they're wonderful to work on, I don't recommend these for a beginner. Just go with a basic aluminum set. You can get them just about anywhere-- I've never purchased those online 'cause it was so much easier to pick up some locally. There are a ton of threads in this forum on beginning/ how to resources. Just search beginning beginner crochet how to or some combination of terms lol.
-H

crochet instrux:

http://www.crochet.org/lessons/lesson.html

http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/tutorials.php

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



the patterns will list what size hook you need and what kind of yarn
some free crochet patterns:

http://www.craftown.com/crochet.htm

http://www.crochetnmore.com/

http://www.freepatterns.com/pages/join_now.html?source=001FRP

http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/

http://www.lionbrand.com/cgi-bin/lionbrand/index.fcgi?page=http://www.lionbrand.com/content-crochetPatternIndex.html

http://home.inreach.com/marthac/links.html

Joanns is having a sale on yarn right now, you can buy from them online (all your supplies) and they have a free shipping code as well.

HTH!

If you're looking to teach yourself to crochet, I'd recommend getting started with an H or I hook and solid, light colored (but not white) worsted weight yarn. For no other reason than because that's an easy combination to work with, being fairly large but not huge. The light colored yarn will help you see your work easily. If you make a maybe 5" by 5" square, you've got a potholder. ;)

Branwyn's links are really good. Also, check out (yep, I'm about to plug it again ladies!) www.stitchguide.com, which is 100% free and will give you written instructions and also video clips for all the basic stitches and several not-so-basic ones. (It helped me figure out treble crochet and also helped me figure out knitting.) Also, keep in mind that any pattern book you buy will most likely have basic instructions in the back.

For supplies, check out the ones listed and also www.yarnsale.com (and the parent site, www.herrschners.com), www.anniesattic.com and www.marymaxim.com. Mary Maxim has some "house brand" yarn that's very cheap.

If I might give you a little advice before you start--count your stitches. Always count your stitches. If you don't, you will somehow magically wind up with a trapezoid (diagonal sides) instead of the square you're trying for. ;)