Hellobee Boards

Have you ever crocheted before? Or just knitted? You can buy "how-to" crochet books, but I taught myself using you-tube tutorials. Make sure you get your basic stitches down before you try any patterns. Start with making sure you have a proper hold/tension, then move on to chains, then single crochets, then half doubles/double/triples. It gets boring to do the same stitches over and over again when you're excited to start a new hobby, but it's worth learning it correctly! The best projects to start with are square pot holders. They will be *really* ugly (at least mine were!), but you'll learn quickly!

Oh ps when you're first starting out, pay special attention to where exactly your next stitch goes. And it helps to count how many stitches in a row when you first start, so you know you're getting all of them in!

As for the balloon pattern, start as it is written. I would make them bigger by a) using a larger hook b) using a bulkier yarn and c) doing more increases so you end up with larger rounds.

@babycanuck: Fun! Hopefully you pick it back up quickly! I'm addicted to crocheting cute hats for DS...poor kid will never be able to wear them all. Thank goodness for little brother on the way!