HELP!! I'm a crocheting nightmare!!

[starstruq]

The chilly months are here...what better time to take up a cozy new hobby like crocheting?  So off to the local craft store I go.  I return home with all my goodies (a really nice fellow crafter  in the yarn isle helped me pick everything out)  I crack open my new learn to crochet book and wow! I'm crocheting!  (this is where our happy tale takes a down turn   .  
Everything is fine and dandy until...I have to turn the chain I've made and work into the back of it...hmmm...sounds easy enough...that is until I find that a few rows later I have crocheted a log!  A crochet log!!! Oh no what ever shall I do?  Was I born with out the crocheting gene?  Am I running low on estrogen?  
Well needless to say I try over and over to no avail.  My mom hasn't crocheted since I was born (many moons ago...23 years to be exact) so she is of little help.  

I think what i need is a new book...one with real pictures instead of the cheasy black and white ones in the crummy book I have.

I refuse to lay down the yarn and admit defeat...afterall I have a reputation as a crafting goddess to protect.  

PLEASE HELP!!!

[Lia]

I'm not sure what you mean by a log, did the sides curl on each other? or the top and bottom curl? Or, no curling at all, and you just have some weird.. log?

When I was learning I wish I knew to chain a few extra at the end of each row. So, single crochet along your row, make up that one invisible stitch at the very end, and then chain 2, turn, and crochet along the next row. Does that make sense?

For single crochet chain 2
for double chain maybe 3 or 4
and as you get into the bigger taller stitches chain more at the end of the row.

this just helps it not curl or buckle, and makes everything nice and straight.

[starstruq]

I wish I could say that my problem was something simple like curling...but alas, it's not.  I think my problem is that I'm doing it all wrong ( and therefore ending up with a pretty pink yarn log)  anyways when I do figure the whole thing out I will keep your tip in mind.  I was looking at a diagram just now on the internet and I think I understand what you are saying about the extra stitches.  Thanks a bunch!

So how did you learn?  Did someone teach you or did you teach yourself using a book?

[Lia]

i taught myself from the stitch guide website, and my mom and nana helped me a lot too.
its pretty easy once you get the hang of it!

[raddish]

I know exactly what you are doing, because I did it when I was starting out, too.  I'm going to try to explain what I was doing was doing wrong, and how I got help.
When I first started, I figured out chaining easilly, but I didn't understand how to 'build' the stitches.  What happened was that I was trying to stitch right into that opening chain over and over, and not 'yarning over' and moving through the corresponding new loops.  
I went to a yarn store and a lady showed how to do a single crochet.  But, I think if you are generally crafty, you can get it without that help.  
Make sure you are using yarn you can see your stitches well with.  Save the lofty, fluffy, puffy stuff and use a simple yarn.  Make your slip knot and then chain 10.  Let the chain hang from the hook and look at the little links in the chain.  Do you see how the chains sort of look like 'v's' ?  I'm assuming you are right handed here.  Holding your hook horizontally, with the chain hanging straight up and down, do you see how there is a space in the center of each v?  Holding your hook like you were, go to the 2nd v from the hook (there is a loop on the hook, the first v, then the 2nd v - that's the one you want.  Working with the chain facing you, just like it has been, poke the hook right through the chain.  Then take your working yarn, and catch it under your hook. The pull that yarn through.  Now you have two loops of yarn on your hook.  Catch your working yarn in the hook again - and pull it through both loops.  You will have one loop on the hook and be ready to move to the next stitch.  Poke your hook through, catch your working yarn, bring it back through both loops, and you'll be left with one loop.  Go to the next space and do the same thing, til you get to the end of the chain.  When you finish you'll have one loop on your hook, then chain another.  Turn, and try another row.  I hope that helps.  If you can't find any, I'll try to post some pictures of what each part of the process looks like.

[starstruq]

thanks for your help raddish...I'm going to print out your instructions and give it another whirl!  I will let you know how it goes!

Thanks again,
Misty

[dewbaby00]

try www.about.com they have alot of crochet stuff there for beginners