This was a fun project, mostly. It was the first crochet project I’ve ever done using an actual pattern. One thing I do miss so far in crochet is the ability to drop down a few rows within a column to modify a stitch like you can with knitting.

To equalize the look of the stitches for me with the first two rows and then moving on and above since it was originally making a moon shape with hook called out by pattern, I chained the 157 sts with a size 7 (4.5 mm), then moved down to G/6 (4.0 mm) to do Round 1, and finally moved down to E/4 (3.5 mm) to do Round 2 and upwards. Gauge at 9 sts and 11 rows per inch.

Noted a slant developed in the work; however, learned this was normal for the project and a result of how stitches are made in crochet versus the more aligned ones in knitting projects.

Instead of 24 rows for the base, did 27 to get the 4.8” it’s supposed to be per gauge.

Making the beans was challenging. The yarn I chose split easily and I frequently had a hang problem pulling through the loops. I also had hard time keeping the size of the beans consistent from one round to the next even though I thought I had a gauging method down pat. The best success I had mostly, but not always, was keeping my hook high and tight as I pulled through the loops…going through slow and steady…and ticking the head ever so slightly towards the back and again to the center. Weird sounding but worked for me. Maybe next bag I will crochet looser.

For crochet hooks, I bought this kit to have a good array of needles. It’s a low cost option with goodies and a case included. Currently only $13.99 where some hooks alone are kind of pricey for an individual item.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Y7QWHUO/ref=ppx_yo...

Suggest you watch the “Invisible Slip Stitch & Chainless Starting Stitch can Join a Round of Crochet Invisibly!” video (starting at 3:50 of 12:08) where she joined the chain to where it looked like a continuous chain rather than botched and broken like mine is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DCN4RNO7jg

Since I used Ecru for the top color, didn’t want to buy white rope to use as handles, so I used the same yarn to make my own rope handles. I used 9 strands each.
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-make-a-twisted-cor...