craftgrrl | product review/rant (Reply)

I hope this post is OK with the moderators and that some of you find it helpful. I've been wanting to learn to crochet for years now and finally I purchased the Wrights/Boye "I Taught Myself to Crochet" kit for $12 at Wal-Mart, thinking that it included everything (except the yarn, of course) that I would need to get started and finish a project.
*The Kit Includes: The "I Taught Myself to Crochet" book; Crochet Hooks sizes F, G, H, I, K; Afghan Hook size I; Tapestry Yarn Needles; Stitch Marker Rings; Bulky Knit Yarn Bobbins; Bonus: 3 new patterns featuring Lion Brand Yarns.
*The lessons and instructions were, to me, vague and the diagrams and illustrations were confusing for a beginner. I ended up referring to a Better Homes and Gardens crocheting & knitting book published in 1977 for how to make basic stitches.
*After practicing for a bit, I decided I might tackle one of the three projects featured in the book from the kit. I chose the "Pound of Love Hooded Baby Afghan". So, even though the instructions in the book were worthless to me, I thought that I could still make use of the pattern and the hooks.
*I made a trip to Jo-Ann's and found the Lion Brand Pound of Love yarn on sale. When I opened the package at home, I realized that the pattern for the Hooded Baby Afghan was printed on the inside of the yarn label for free. Not wanting the kit to be a total loss, I told myself that at least I'd spent my $12 and wound up with 6 hooks and I'll be able to use them on the project...
*NOPE! The Hooded Baby Afghan as printed in the book and on the yarn label suggests using a "J" size hook. The kit DID NOT include the "J" hook! A double check and I found that the other two featured "bonus" patterns need a size "Q" and size "N" respectively. The kit comes with NEITHER of those hooks!
*I went back to Jo-Ann's and bought a Susan Bates size J hook and I love the way it works so much better than the Boye hooks, that I doubt that I'll ever pick up a Boye hook again.
In conclusion, this kit was COMPLETELY worthless to me.
A TOTAL waste of funds.
Other would-be self-taught crocheters, BEWARE!
Don't get caught hook, line and sinker like I did.