Wonderful lighting adds an energy boost when I crochet. I was in the laundromat the other day with my crochet and I didn't want to leave there. Soon I figured out that it was the overhead lighting that made the difference. My home has poor lighting which sometimes affects my crochet work. If you live in a sunny place then you're in a good place to crochet. Also, white yarn is another boost over a deep color like red or purple. With the red yarn it's harder to see what you're doing whereas with white I see much better.

It took several months to take courage to rework rows for that pink purse pattern. Getting the rows straight is the feature of this purse. My first try I gave up on. Here is my second try:

This is my first pattern project with rows and it came out lousy. What should have been a small purse would have been a small trapezoid if I had continued. (:-<

As a beginner I chose to skip practicing stitch patterns and gauges. Rather, I started straight away with an easy pattern to see results in something tangible.  My first finished piece was a tiny flower. Quickly, I found that there is a big difference between patterns calling for straight lines (rows) versus curves (rounds).  I found that my lack of experience is so much better hidden in curves. I choose rounds over rows any day ;)  (written 3/26/11)