see if this helps crochet video

Start with a big hook and smooth firm thick yarn. That way you can see the stitches and the various parts of them. Stay away from soft fluffy or thin and skinny. Different stitches go into different parts of the loops which you need to identify. One thing to realize is that if you consistently do things the same way it wont matter if you arent doing it the 'proper' way. You will still get something useful as you learn what is what. Eventually you get a better understanding and can follow directions accurately. have fun.

Even after watching videos I can't do it.

I think patriciae is right. You got to walk before you can run. I do have thin yarn. I will switch to thick!

Thanks!

Rob, I was taught by the maid when we lived in the Philippines and she taught me with tiny skinny cotton thread and I was very vague for years about the proper counts and parts but like I said be consistent and it doesnt matter. Eventually you will see the parts plainly.

My mom (by marriage. Also known as a stepmom), is Filipina. They might be known for being kind of set in their ways 😉

rob333....are you following a pattern? Once you get to the last stich, are there directions for the next row?

It's all about where you stick your hook. You need to recognize the anatomy of the stitch. Then you'll know where to stick the hook in to make the next stitch.

I don't know what pattern you are working on, but I suggest a granny square as a first step. They use double crochets and are much easier to identify as to where to stick the hook.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDdXrZB1FOE

I'm not working on a pattern. It's a row of single stitches been trying to transfer to the next row... Once I get that, I am going to be cooking.

Double stitches, I'll give it a try.

Thank you

Rob, I wonder if you are finishing the previous row in single crochet and then making a chain one for turning. Then you turn your work so that you are ready to crochet your next row. You insert your hook into the first stitch of that row, which is the last stitch you crocheted in the row below, and off you go. Be sure that you insert your hook under both the front and the back strand of the stitch below.I am suspicious that you are failing to make that chain one for turning.

I think you aren't chaining an extra one on the end and then when you try to turn to the next row you have to leave that extra chain without a stitch in it. There are a lot of you tube videos that explain how to do it I just put in the search for it under HOW TO CHAIN ONE AT THE END OF A ROW TO START THE NEXT ROW IN CROCHET. See if that helps. Good Luck and let us know how it works for you. You have to leave one stitch empty

I am doing the extra chain.

It's the next stitch about which I'm not certain, and the one after that... So I skip a spot and it looks wide open

Maybe this video will help. About 1/2 way through the video, she shows you exactly where to put your first stich after chaining 1 and turning your work.

How to Single Crochet - Beginner Crochet Lesson 1 - Right Handed (CC) - YouTube

That's why I suggest doing a granny square rather than a row...you start out with crocheting into a ring, then you build off of that with double crochets which makes it much easier to id where to put the hook.

rob, don’t give up. I am 82 and just learned how to crochet recently. With the help of these knowledgeable folks here and videos, I started out making hats and referred to videos continually and counted my stitches on each row. Do you have a certain project or just practicing your stitches? I am not a pro yet, but all my projects have given me great joy. Reading my instructions and understanding, plus the visual instructions helped .

There are so many good videos online. It is as good as having someone teach you.

Some people are just mystified by it. I have a relative like that. She just simply cannot understand the structure of the simple stitch. But, she is left handed, and that complicates things greatly.

Most people who are just learning, it seems, dont understand the turning chain and end up with a wonky shape.

Really, just get some yarn that is large enough that you can see and click on a video. You can even practice crochet stitches with your finger as a hook. Children are sometimes taught this first concept so that they see the stitch structure.

It really is simple.

I recommend you try knitting. It is very easy to see the stitches because they are all on the needle.

Look at your final stitch, it is a loop coming out of a stitch. You want to skip that first stitch(the turning stitch) and draw another loop through the second stitch then complete the new stitch by drawing yarn through both. Move on to the next stitch in the row. When crocheting into the foundation row put your needle under the top loop of the stitches. You can choose to use just the top loop if you want through out the piece or just the bottom or under both. Patterns direct which one. If you always do the same thing in a piece you get consistency and that is what you aim for as a beginner. Build on what you learn. Try using different parts on different rows. You will see a difference.

My last crochet project was in stainless steel. I was working on an set of art pieces that are mounted on a building in Seattle. I was hired to figure out structure and weave two panels but since I knew how to crochet I worked on that part as well. We had stainless steel yarn custom made in Belgium. The pieces were enormous and heavy. We had huge frames to work on for the weavings. It was the weirdest thing I have ever done.

patricae can we see if picture of it if at all possible?TYIA