I was reading your stories and laughing to myself. My friend taught me to crochet in a lesson that took all of 5 minutes. She's not very patient so I had to learn quickly. I have learned the rest from pattern books. I can tackle most things, but I prefer to use wool rather than cotton. I don't hold the needle in the normal fashion.I use my right hand to put the wool over the needle. I thought that was what my friend had done but she scolded me when she saw how I was doing it. We always have a laugh about it as I stick to the way I feel most comfortable doing it.I have since learned I don't knit properly either. The results are always good, so I suppose it does not make any difference. I love crochet and have something on the go most of the time. I quilt too, which my friend taught me in another superfast lesson.I feel so lucky to be able to do these things. My Mum knits and crochets still and she's 82.