Glenda I know what you mean, the first pair of socks I knit after mastering knitting with 4 needles I learned to turn a heel by standing behind my MIL looking over her shoulder. I think I finally found a book with basic left hand crochet instructions but today for us lefties there's Google :o). I just did simple granny squares until I got the tension right. I guess right handed instruction books held up to a mirror would work in a pinch. The squares in the afghan were made up as I went along, the center wheel I took from a pattern book but the rest I made up, you know crochet a round, pull it out try again LOL. Now I keep a book with a sample square, my instructions (well I understand them even if nobody else can) for all my my made up stuff just in case I want to do it again. Saves a lot of head scratching. The nice thing about crocheting with wool it works up fast. Then there's the sweater I was knitting with wool I bought on sale, my dear, sweet, gentle, well behaved Breeze's eyes used to glaze over when she spotted a ball of wool, you can see where this is going. I should have known better leaving knitting out in plain view of her ladyship. I came home one day to find my dear, sweet, gentle, well behaved kitty lying exhausted on the floor, my last ball of wool was completely unwound and tangled through two rooms of furniture, and I mean tangled, up, down, through everything. Her little eyes met mine, they seemed to say, I did good didn't I mom, I need a treat. I unravelled the sweater since I didn't have enough wool to finish it, crocheted a shawl instead, such is life. Annette

I can't help you with the patterns you are looking for but if you look at the "Fiber & Needle ARts Exchange" forum you may find someone there who can help you. These are "Wanted" and "Have" postings. I have found a lot of help there. I am making some of the Paradise dolls right now. The patterns are just for clothes but include instructions for the shoes, parasols, hats as well as how to style the hair. They have kits but they do not include the doll. These patterns are for Barbie doll size dolls and are readily available.

OMG, shaddy. Thank you - I think. I've spent three hours going through the knitted afghans! I haven't finished yet (but it is after 2 am here, so...). And look at all the other sites - be still my heart! I thank you, even though my house-mates do not. Nor do my workmates. And the housecleaning will fall behind even further, as will my exercise regime. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Jane2 (Janey elsewhere)

about.com has a number of free patterns - I've posted one link here. Let us know exactly what you want to make so we could be more helpful Here is a link that might be useful: About.com Heart Patterns