Can anyone give a step by step tutorial in setting up attributes?

I've read this entire thread and still cannot work out how to get my stock functions to work how I would like.


Item Colour InStock
ABC RED 4
ABC BLUE 2
ABC GREEN 0

I want to be able to do the whole drop down selection for colours or sizes (not tshirts but various products) and am having trouble with the whole attributes thing.

Sorry for asking noob questions.