Next time I visited my in-laws, I brought my knitting along with me. My MIL helped me with the abbreviations and stitches I wasn't familiar with (adding stitches for example). Confident I would remember my "lesson" I packed up my knitting and headed home.
Later that week I decided to finish the lariat. As I continued with the knitting, I couldn't recall some of the stitches my MIL showed me and she was now on vacation! Argh!
To the computer I went!
In quick time, I found a fabulous knitting site! I registered, posted my question in the forum and in a FLASH received the help I needed from some wonderful members! I was thrilled to say the least! How fantastic is THAT?!
So, with much help from some kind KnittingHelp.com members I finished my first lariat and have been making them ever since!
A big shout out to those who saved the day for me! The internet is fabulous and so are you!!!
P.S. she loved her birthday gift