Should I just give up crochet?

[MamaWolfe]

I have been trying to learn crochet for at least 15 years. I have never quite been able to "get" it. I only learned how to knit a few years ago, and within a month, I was already knitting clothes. I have no problem at all following knitting patterns, but crochet patterns make absolutely no sense to me. I only try small, beginner projects and I usually do them at least five times (ripping out/starting over) before either giving up, or on rare occasion, actually finishing it. I have read a bunch of websites and watched a few Youtube vids, but still, I'm just not getting it. The latest attempt is of this bauble tree ornament- http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/bauble-decoration.html  I looked to see if anyone else was having trouble, but no one on Ravelry or her typepad complained, so I'm guessing it must be me. My first problem was on round 1 (of course), where I'm supposed to put 9 hdc's into the ring. When I do, I end up with 14 stitches on the edge, not the 10 I'm supposed to end up with. I decided to try putting 2 hdc's into each stitch instead, I was able to come up with the correct number of stitches, but it doesn't look the same (hers has spokes). This is supposed to be an "easy" pattern! I have, miraculously, been able to get rows 2 and 3 done (I just used my not quite right row 1), but I'm wondering if it's a hopeless battle. Does anyone know of any really good tutorials that actually explain it in super detail (preferably video)? Any other wisdom? (Like stop banging your head up against a wall!) Thanks!

[lanamommyphd07]

[zebra15]

Start by making square wash cloths or something.  I wouldn't call those baubles 'easy starter' projects.  

[MamaWolfe]

I can do the basic stitches, make a blanket or scarf or dishcloth. It seems like if I freeform it, it works really well. I think my biggest problem is understanding the patterns. For example, on the first row of the baubles, she doesn't say where you make the stitches (just randomly doesn't work for me). With knitting, everything is very precise, it seems less so with crochet. I don't know, I just need patterns that are extremely detailed, or I need a book that explains what exactly the patterns are saying. I bought a beginner crochet book and successfully made a sweater with it, but it had pictures and was very detailed on every single step. (It's also the only book of patterns I've seen like that.) I did end up making the baubles, but I could never figure out the spokes. So, my baubles don't have spokes, no biggie, but I just really wish that there was some magic book/video/website that would explain what in the helk these crochet pattern writers actually mean!

Also, I welcome suggestions on beginner projects that are a bit beyond scarves and dish clothes, but just a bit.

And if you want to check out my baubles, which really did come out super cute, http://mamawolfeknits.blogspot.com/2012/12/bauble-tree-ornaments.html
 

[MamaWolfe]

I decided to give it one more shot and I followed a beginner pattern by Bernat for some slippers. They actually came out! I guess, for me, the trick is to only use patterns written by certain people who know that they are writing for beginners and know *how to write a pattern. I'll try some more Bernat patterns!
 

[zebra15]

Beautiful work mama'.   Glad you figured it out.  Generally w. crochet each stitch goes into the one below it (if that makes any sense) unless it says 'skip x amount of stitches'