Woolgathering

Leaving out the obvious is a common fault in “how to” instructions - which is why I always had my user manuals “idiot tested.”

Step 4: Yarn over hook.

As you can see in the photo, at this point, you have 2 loops on the hook plus the yarn wrapped over the hook.

More explicit instruction from About.com

So - I should have two sticthes on my hook, and need not worry about my inability to lose one

This reminds me of the time my ex decided to learn to knit. He would not be shown, rejecting help from myself and his mother, and obtained some instructions from a magazine article. He was well away with it and storming up his piece, when I admired his unuusal zig zag stocking stitch… Being ambidextrous, he found no difficulty whatsoever in knitting back and forth across the rows. The article simply failed to state the “obvious” turning of the work between rows.

So… I tackled this OK. Fir certain values of “OK” that is - my tension is all over the place.

and then I kind of managed this (could really do with thicker yarn and larger needle to begin with)

but then I got to this…. No way can I turn my work without ending with multiple stitches on my hook! I need alternative instructions to help me see my way through this.

Until I find better instructions I seem to be building the world’s longest chain

When we went to Kirkwall last week I picked up a pack of crochet cotton and hook at Lidl. Very cheap and cheerful - but maybe too fine a gauge for a beginner to work with. However, I plan to have a go. Can anybody point me at some clear and simple How To Crochet pages, please?