I'm about to quit smoking I need something to keep my hands busy. I would love to learn how to crochet. I know how to make a chain, & the a row, but that's about all. Does that make sense? Are there an easy to understand begginer books or websites for learning?  Any help would be greatly appreciated! :)

What I'd do is go to a local craft store and find a crochet mag with patterns that you like. They are usually rated by level of difficulty. Look in the back of the mag, or the index, to see if they have a basic instruction section. Most of them do.

Toni,  Knitting and crocheting was what I did at the first of the year when I quit smoking.  Here are three website that I like for patterns and ideas

 http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com

http://www.e-patternscentral.com/

http://www.allfreecrafts.com/

HI, found a crocheting video at the local library.  It is great!  Helped me learn!

That's so great that you found a video.  I know in my case I needed to have someone show me how to single crochet before I quite grasped it.  But after that I was able to take what I know and work out new patterns and stitches myself.

crochetville.org is a great forum about it.

http://www.myhq.com/public/c/r/crochetpoet/ best pattern site on the web for crocheting :)

Go on the internet & put crochet in your search box & you will find complete directions & pictures of how to crochet & also patterns. I know how to crochet, but sometimes I forget certain stiches or better ways to do things & I have found a great deal of information that way.  Allison

 I second the crochetville.org forum.

i taught myself using Crochet: Learn to Crochet Six Great Projects (Klutz)

it's extremely easy to follow with very simple, very clear illustrations and photos. i highly recommend it, as well as "thirding" the crochetville.org forums! good luck!

edited because i can't spell.

amanda, thanks for that link to the pattern site! i bookmarked it - i can't believe how many patterns they have listed!! thanks again.

amanda, thanks for that link to the pattern site! i bookmarked it - i can't believe how many patterns they have listed!! thanks again.

I keep having trouble when I turn, knowing where the first stitch is...sounds weird but it's not looking right..sigh...I finally got a pattern on the wrapper of the stuff walmart sells or  used to sell that had a lacey pattern where you do 5 then there's an 'x' made so I can count to 5...sigh...embarrassing...I wanna do some ripples and I kept getting off and had a mess... :-( plus Idon't hold the  hook 'righ'..my grandma taught me a basic knitting stitch and that's how I hold the hook too..just doesn't feel right the other way for some reason...

I have the book Crocheting and Knitting for dummies. this has helped me alot.