I taught myself years ago with a kit called "I Taught Myself How to Crochet." It's available at Wal-Mart & is about $13 here, which means it's probably $10 or $11 on the mainland. It's a book, hooks, yarn needle, & stitch markers, so worth the money. That, a skein of Simply Soft (less than $2) and
www.stitchguide.com (written explanations
and video clips) would set you up well. In fact, you can well start out with an I hook, a skein of Simply Soft, and the website alone.
(No, you don't need that particular yarn & hook, just that it's an easy combo to work with.)
For knitting...I've been through a lot of knitting books, including the companion kit to the one I mentioned before, "I Taugh Myself Knitting." I keep hearing raves about "Stitch n *****", & it's pretty good but it didn't mention the type of cast-on I use, which I've seen in every other how-to-knit book in existence.
The book I found most helpful was a kit from Klutz books, aptly called "Knit." (That, or "Knitting." Something to that effect.) That comes with a set of wooden needles, two skeins of worsted-weight yarn, and a few other things I don't recall offhand. Honestly, though, it was again the StitchGuide website that helped me the most. There's nothing better than video of what to do, IMO.
Oh, & don't feel bad if you take to one immediately & can't figure out the other. It happens for lots of people. Took me about 13 years after learning how to crochet before I finally figured out knitting. (And then discovered I don't like it.
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