your stitches look nice and uniform, connie! . . . the first part looks tighter,but that's normal if you're beginning and working on tension control. It looks like you are increasing on your turning row - that's why the upper part is 'fanning out'. Make sure you stop and count the stitches once in awhile, so say, your beginning row is 36 st, are the upper rows more like 38 to 40?

Ahhhhhha!
I just do that single crochet in every "hole" lol
Going to count now!
Trying to learn and I'm still frustrated at times, but it is fun....not relaxing yet! LOL

Errr I counted and unless I am counting wrong something is wacky! Only getting 33,34 stitches? Some are bigger than others and they are not all uniform. Should I be putting more than one in the "hole" if it is a large stitch?
Back to frustrated again! LOL
Oh the ups and downs of trying to figure this out!

I think I am a reasonably smart person, (not a genius, mind you)at least I should be smart enough to figure this out.....I *think* LOL

No, Connie, only 1 stitch per space.

While you are learning, I would count each stitch in each row just to make sure you are on track. Its not as daunting as it sounds and helps you get into the rhythm.

I knitted my Ex a pair of footies, that were so big an elephant could wear them.

I quit!

Connie,
I might have found the problem, AND IT IS NOT YOU!

Go back to the directions that you posted. Read the "NOTE"
It mentions the "chain one" at the end of each row. That is actually one of the stitches in each row. I think you hav been missing that stitch and that is why the ends are looking tighter.

It is VERY common to pull those first cast-ons too tight. Like another suggested, use a larger hook for that, maybe 2 sizes bigger.

Then after you get the cast on looser, be sure you remember the "NOTE"

It would have been wise to mention that in the instructions at the end of the rows.

Good suggestion to count as you sc, buzzard . . . now I remember why nobody could talk to me when I was learning, LOL! The "fanning" COULD be due to a really, really tight beginning chain stitch, connie. Before you go any farther, I'd suggest ripping it all up and starting over with a more relaxed chain (don't scream; you'll rip up lots of work as a newbie :) I just remember when I was trying to teach dd's to crochet, that they always wanted to add an extra stitch after they turned their work and started on the next row. To be sure you're not doing this, after you turn . . . count the spaces you'll put a stitch in BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY DO IT . . . then you'll know where your error is and you won't have to rip anything out.

Don't all beginners make a collection of FAN-shapped whatevers at the start. Join the club! LOL

Grrrrrrrrr I think I've spent more time ripping out than trying to crochet! LOL First I screwed up the single crochet by NOT going under the loops(I was going in the middle of it) then my white yarn started fraying and I had trouble catching strings...so I ripped out what I could and threw what was tangled in a knot away. Then went to the thrift store and found this rusty skein of yarn. That is much better in my inexperienced opinion to work with..
Oh and did I say its HARD to get that first row or two of single crochets on that darn chain?? LOL
I did run out to the local discount store, I was amazed they have crochet hooks! But only a couple of the larger ones. I have K,N,and J and a huge I think P or Q hook (can't find anything on it) I tried that and its just wayyyy to big so now using a K. I also picked up another "Learn To Crochet" book...this one has better diagrams, so hopefully will learn something in it! LOL
I have been adding the chain one at the end of each row...but I had a hard time figuring out which was the next stitch to crochet in...I now think I might have skipped the ones directly below that chain that I added?? Who knows what I did!!
I hate to rip it all out yet again, but its beginning to look more like a towel than the dishcloth its supposed to be! LOL

And as for talking, good lord DH was driving me nuts that first night I sat down with this stuff! He'd be yakking on and on and on and I was trying to concentrate on what my hands were doing and I kept running my hands thru my hair and sighing heavily and ripping out stitches and I think he finally got the gist of it to shut up! Poor dear! (LOL)
Okkkk off to try again, last night I was ready to throw it all in the garbage....today is a different day!
But I hope I get this figured out soon!

looks pretty good, I think since this is a practice piece that you switch to doubl crochets single can be so tedious. also after you start a new row - tie a little piece of a different color yarn in the first hole on that row that will help you I'm doing a square now rhat I have to stop and count each row so that they are even it is a square that I keep going around and takes a lot of extra time to count but it is worth it.

You could also slip in a piece of yarn after every ten stitche just to keep it even and until you get more confidence.
And that is a good reminder the chain one is actually the first stitch on the new turn around row. after a few stitches go back and tie a yarn on that one it is number 1

A turning chain at the end of each row is considered one stitch. Make sure you aren't putting 36 stitches in one row plus the chain one. If you do you are increasing each row by one stitch.

Your works looks good to me.
The chain row is a little tight but that's easy enough to do.
I've crocheted for forty years and I still make my first chains too tight; I have to really concentrate not to.

Lori

Your doing very good for a beginner! I have crocheted for 45 years and I still have problems once in a while.

That's a pretty color too.

Deb

This is why I wanted to learn knitting...and I am fixing to get mine out again.....almost the whole house is sprng cleaned now.....and should have time before it warms up and I have to start spring cleaning the yard (that was my goal).......Stacy

go check out that u-tube video I posted again. She also has several others on starting, chaining on, etc.
they are good!

have fun!

I know nothing about crocheting but I really like your placemats!

I just thought of something. What brand of needle are you using? The most common kinds are Susan Bates (kind of hard to find) and Boye (usually at Walmart). I refuse to use Boye because they cause me all kinds of problems. My grandmothers also only use the Susan Bates.

You might want to try to opposite brand than the one you are using if the thread keeps fraying or you get it tangled too much.

Janie

You are doing quite well, but everyone has problems at first. You do need to count each row at first as you learn how many more stitches you need. I still count many rows just to be sure. It is easy to skip the first or last one.

Your chain row is tight, and that will cause problems. The first row is always awkward because it is more difficult to crochet into a chain than into a crochet stitch. The second row is easier, and once you get an inch or so of work to hang on to, 6 to 10 rows, it is easy.

You have it pretty much figured out. Don't quit. This crocheting becomes a nice, relaxing hobby, honest!

Watch the video Kat posted. I am "self-taught" many many moons ago, and I learned something from that video that explains why I always have a line in my patterns that others don't have.

I always hook into the back half of a loop instead of going through both sides.

You really are doing just fine, don't let yourself get frustrated.

PS I love those placemats too!

As others have said, the tight foundation chain is normal until your develop your even tension but it does make it much harder to do that first row. What I have found to stop the fanning is to miss the first stitch in each row after the turning chain, then continue across. The chain at the beginning becomes a replacement for the first stitch and becomes the last stitch when you come back on the next row. If your do your first stitch at the base of the chain, you are effectively adding one stitch to each row. It is important to count your stitches each row for a while and count the chain loop as one stitch. Clear as mud? I am hopeless at explaining - I can only teach if someone watches over my shoulder and follows me. Don't give up - just eat chocolate and sip some wine to keep your strength up - it works for patchworkers, so I am sure it will work for crocheters! Beth

I *still* count each stitch as I crochet, lol I don't trust myself (as evidenced this weekend - I was working on an adorable jumper and got a little too cocky - ended up with 16 more stitches than I needed and had to rip out 80% of the project and darn near start over. I counted every single stitch the second time around :-P ).

Another thing that I do that I find tremendously helpful to myself, is to keep a pad and pen next to me and write the row # down as I start it. That way I can completely concentrate on counting stitches and still follow the pattern correctly.

Keep up the good work, and don't give up!!! The sense of accomplishment when you finish each project is worth it's weight in chocolate.

april