My wife crochets constantly, and then i use her scrap/leftover yarn and crochet "scrap blankets".... They're just simple but big blankets that we use for anything non decorative (camping, bonfires, picnics, emergency blankets in cars, for the dogs to sit on when in our cars, on the beach, extra blankets when its really cold out, and so on).

If you take it up, just know that the first two rows are the toughest part of every project, imo.