I love to crochet, especially in winter. I'm not all that skilled and I like to try new things from time to time. Renate Kirkpatrick's rather casual approach ("I've deliberately omitted any rug dimensions" or "I've never been a great advocate of making swatches" or "I'm not a purist and never shy away from using economy yarns...") is refreshing, and certainly removes some of the pressure to produce perfect work. Personally, I like slightly uneven work. To me it shows originality. I love the idea of making blankets and using up old scraps of yarn, and I love it even more if these blankets can be given away to deserving families. You'll learn new stitches to use as you please, but do look at these potential projects: Classic 36-inch Stitch Sampler and the Jacquard 30-Motif Sampler (such fun to look at). The pleasure at completing a crochet project is immense and very rewarding, and when you come across a new pattern, do try it. Don't worry if you can't crochet all that well, as there are "The Basics" from which you can learn or refresh your skills. Thankfully, the US terms are given as I use the British way. Frankly, I can't see why a dc has to be an sc in the US. Or why a tr has to be a dc in the US. Very confusing indeed.
Conclusion - Gorgeous ideas for something new and different to create.