Crazy-Anything I only sell items I would happily buy at the price I would pay!

Welcome to Crazy-Anything.com Crochet~Knit~Loom~Yarn~AND MORE Information & Guides

I am a Yarnophile and have been knitting and crocheting for over 25 years. I am offering help to understand the world of the Yarnophile as explained below and in my eBay ME Page.
To learn about the different subjects about knitting and crocheting just scroll or click on the subject below

Crochet Hooks ~ Crochet Terms/Stitches ~ Knitting Tools ~ Knitting Needles ~ Knitting Machines ~ Knitting Terms/Stitches ~ Looms ~ Crochet & Knitting Info Websites ~ Yarnophile ~ Yarn Textures ~ Yarn Weights

~Crochet Hooks~

Crochet Hooks are sold individually and in sets. Crochet hooks come in different types, manufacturers, and materials they are made from. There are subtle but different looks and styles of crochet hooks. There are a number of specialized types, but the basic hooks are available in acrylic, aluminum, plastic, steel, and wood – including bamboo, birch, palmwood, walnut. Some have special grips for comfort and ease of use. Some have inline hooks, while others have hooks at a slight cant from the line of the handle. I like the Susan Bates hands down over Boyle because of the way the hook is bent over. The Susan Bates hook is a tighter smaller hook and the Boyle has a larger more open hook. This is what I mean by a subtle difference but a difference that can make you a fan of one over another.

~Crochet Terms in Patterns~

[ ] work instructions within brackets as many times as directed ( ) work instructions within parentheses as many times as directed - *repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed **repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed or repeat from a given set of instructions

alt alternate - approx approximately - beg begin/beginning - BL back loop(s) - bo bobble - BP back post - BPsc back post single crochet - BPdc back post double crochet - BPtr back post treble crochet - bet between - CA color A - CB color B - CC contrasting color - ch- refers to chain or space - ch-sc single crochet - sp chain spac- CL cluster - cm centimeter(s) - cont continue - dc double crochet - dc2tog double crochet 2 stitches together - dec decrease/decreases/decreasing - dtr double treble - FL front loop(s) - foll follow/follows/following - FP front post - FPtr front post treble crochet - FPsc front post single crochet - FPdc front post double crochet - g gram - hdc half double crochet ” inch(es) - inc increase/increases/increasing - lp(s) loops - m meter(s) - MC main color - mm millimeter(s) - oz ounce(s) - p picot - pat(s) or patt pattern(s) - pc popcorn - pm place marker - prev previous - rem remain/remaining - rep repeat(s) - rnd(s) round(s)previously made - RS right side - sc2tog single crochet 2 stitches together - sk skip - Sl st slip sitich - sp(s) space(s) - st(s) stitch(es) - tch or t-ch turning chain - tbl through back loop - tog together - tr treble crochet - trtr triple treble crochet

~Tunisian/Afgan Terms in Patterns~
Tps purl stitch AKA: Backwards stitch, Wave Stitch, Fancy Tricot, Reverse Stitch - Tks knit stitch AKA: Stocking st, Stockinette st, Simple Rib st, Foundation st - Trs Reverse Stitch AKA: Purl stitch, Fancy Tricot - Tss simple stitch AKA: Afghan st, Knit st, Royal Princess st, Tricot st, Tunis st, BAS Basic Afghan St - Tfs full stitch  AKA: Plain st, Slant st, Gobelin st, Waffle st - Pebbles- AKA: Bobbles, Muscovite Crochet

~Knitting Tools & Supplies~

Items as pictured from left to right clockwise. Needles Sizers/Gauge measurement – Measuring Tape – Row Counter – Tool Case – Scissors – Needle Grips – Needle Protecters – Stitch Markers – Cable Needle – Stitch Holders – Yarn Needles

The needles sizer is a tool used to size needles such as double ponted or circular that have no size printed on the needle or the size is not visible anymore. The sizers also usually have a measuring side that can be used to measure the gauge. Checking your gauge is one of the most important first steps in almost any knitting or crochet projects. Checking the "gauge" before you start crocheting will insure that it turns out the size stated in the directions. To check the gauge, knit a square using the pattern specified. The pattern will tell you how many stitches and how many rows there should be per inch. If your sample doesn't match the gauge, you need to change the size of your needles and do another test piece and re-measure. Continue doing this until your gauge matches the pattern. The smaller the needles, the more rows and stitches you will get per inch. Measuring Tape is great for a quick look to see how far you have gone and how far you have to go! Row Counter is used to keep track of how many rows are knit for a pattern. There are a few different types. There is a “clicker” which you click every time you are done with a row. There is also a row counter that I have (not shown) that has pegs that you move. Sometimes it is hard to remember to click or peg the row counter so this one shown act fits on the needle. You get that reminder when you are done with a row. Needle grips can be a HUGE help. I have had 2 carpal tunnel surgeries on one hand and the grips are great for the steel crochet hooks as well as the many smaller sizes of knitting needles. Needle protectors come in a myriad of kinds & colors. There are end cap cone shaped ones one for each needle, and 2 needles holders such as the spiral and plastic ones shown. Stitch markers can be one piece with a break or not and locking. The round ones with no breaks have to be moved from needle to needle because you cannot knit it in to the fabric. The ones that have breaks or locking are for marking a place on your knitting or crocheting that you need to go back to later. Cable Stitch Needle is for knitting cables. There are 2 types the one pictured and one that is in the shape of a v with long ends like this ------^------. Stitch Holders come in a couple different kinds and materials. The ones pictured are aluminum large and short and plastic locking large and small. They hold stitches until you have to come back to them as instructed to in a pattern. Yarn needles are used to finish a project to sew the seams. There are metal, plastic, and wood needles. They come in many sizes and have either a straight point or a slightly bent point to help get in between the needle and your yarn needles.

~Knitting Needles~

All these needles come in the common sizes US 0-50/2.00mm-25mm/UK or Canadian 14-000 as well as other sizing systems such as European, old U.S. and others. See my links below for the charts that those needles match to your system.

Single Point Needles (SPN) pictured from left to right: Bamboo Single Point Needles – Knit Lite Acrylic/Plastic Single Point Needles – Aluminum Single Point Needles – Jumbo or Broomstick Lace Needles

Double Point needles (DPN) are used for “knitting in the round” as pictured. They are made from aluminum and wood usually bamboo (shown here). They can come in different lengths and 4 or 5 to a package.

Circular Needles. Most come in wood, plastic, aluminum, and acrylic. They come in different lengths from 8” to 40” or more. Pictured to the right are aluminum and bamboo. These are used to knit in the round and are nice because you can knit a seamless garment.

~Knitting Machines~

Pictured here left top to bottom right are the Innovations Circular Knitting Machine – Singer Sew Easy Circular Knitting Machine and my Bond Ultimate Sweater Knitting Machine as well as Bond Supplies & tools.

Knitting machines are something I just recently started using. I have hopelessly addicted to them now. I have made afghans, sweaters, and many socks and booties. These will NEVER replace hand knitting and crocheting but are a wonderful boon to tedious knitting. They also are something that is learned over time NOT a “quick fix”. I have found that knowing hand knitting terms and stitches make it SO MUCH EASIER! Many of my items are both machine and hand knit together. Such an example is socks like the one pictured above. The main parts are knit on the machine but the heels and toes are hand knit using double pointed needles as shown above. There is a lot you can do by utilizing the machines and hand crochet or knitting parts. I like the smaller circular machines for sleeves, booties, and even double knit afghans using knit tubes and then knit together. The BEST thing to do if you are going to purchase or have purchased one of these machines is subscribe to the free Yahoo groups that are available. They have tons of patterns, how-tos, and many people who can and do help. I have found both newbies and veterans on both the USM/ISM Bond group and the Innovations group and I have many posts myself. I also have the items I have knit using these uploaded onto a photo file on each group. You can also find people who sell machines as well.

~Knitting Terms & Abbreviations~

[ ] work instructions within brackets as many times as directed - ( ) work instructions within parentheses in the place directed - * * repeat instructions following the asterisks as directed - * repeat instructions following the single asterisk as directed " inch(es) - alt alternate approx approximately - beg begin/beginning - bet between - BO bind off - CA color A - CB color B - CC contrasting color - cm centimeter(s) - cn cable needle - CO cast on - cont. continue - dec decrease/decreases/decreasing - dpn double pointed needle(s) - fl front loop(s) - foll follow/follows/following - g gram - inc increase/increases/increasing - k or K knit - k2tog knit 2 stitches together - k wiseknitwise - LH left hand - lp(s) loop(s) - m meter(s) - m place marker - M1 make one stitch - M1 p-st make one purl stitch - MC main color - mm millimeter(s) - pat(s) or patt pattern(s) - op popcorn oz ounce(s) - p2tog purl 2 stitches together - prev previous - psso pass slipped stitch over - p or P purl pwise purlwise - rem remain/remaining - rep repeat(s) - rev St st reverse stockinette stitch - RH right hand - rnd(s)round(s) - RS right side - sk skip - skp slip, knit, pass stitch over—one stitch decreased - sk2p slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over the knit 2 together; 2 stitches have been decreased - sl slip - sl1k slip 1 knitwise - sl1p slip 1 purlwise - sl st slip stitch(es) - ssslip stitch (Canadian) - ssk slip, slip, knit these 2 stiches together—a decrease - sssk slip, slip, slip, knit 3 stitches together - st(s) stitch(es) - St st stockinette stitch/stocking stitch - tbl through back loop - tog together - WS wrong side - wyib with yarn in back - wyif with yarn in front - yd(s) yard(s) - yfwd yarn forward - yo yarn over - yrn yarn around needle

~Knitting Looms & Knitting Pal~

Pictured here are my looms. They are great for the novice knitter, kids, or just a nice change from conventional knitting. Looms are manufactured or built to certain gauges and they are determined by the space between pegs. The chart below shows the different gauges, suggested yarn weights, and stitches per inch. To go to the loom I have listed here just click on the name of the loom in this paragraph. I hunt and shop and bid and make sure I can get it for the lowest price. I seem to be a pro at it so many people I know have asked my advice or help learning how to buy below retail. I am putting together a neat page for information on that subject. I have pictured here the Knifty Knitter series both round and long. The wood looms I have are the Wonder Sock Loom,This was purchased from DA Looms on a Mother's Day sale! Adjustable Small Gauge (Rake) Loom, This loom I bought from eBay but it is a genuine Markman Farms loom. Generic Regular Gauge Loom (I got this off of eBay and there is no markings to tell who manufactured it. I did put some extra pegs on the ends so it can be used as an oblong as well as a doubleknit loom. I like them all and thus another huge sign of the Yarnophile. Basically they are used by wrapping yarn around the pegs in a fasion that ends up with 2 yarn loops around the peg. Then a tool (not pictured OOPS) like an awl but with a 90° bend at the end

~Samples of all of the above Knit & Crochet Items Discussed Above~

I have included links to my brands of yarn that I sell.
Pictured from left clockwise - Light Blue Shrug knit on loom (using 2 strands of yarn held together of Patons Glittallic & Red Heart Soft Baby) - Sock knit part on Bond machine and heel & toe hand knit with DPNs (Cascade Fixations & elann esprit) - Crocheted Granny Square(Red Heart Super Saver) - Crocheted Lace Tablecloth (crocheted with steel hook (Coats & Clark Crochet Thread) - Knit Bootie/Sock on Sew Easy Machine and hand knit cuff (Yarn Bee Lucious & elann esprit) - Crochet Chenille Shrug - Crocheted Granny Square (2 yarns held together when crocheted of Bernat's Baby Coordinates & Red Heart Soft Baby) - Items are pictured on a Dark Blue Bond Machine Sweater (Lion Brand Chenille)

~Yarnophile~

Now here is a yarnophile! She is a hopeless slave to the thrill of yarn. She loves the hunt, the moment that she has found the perfect yarn and finally the acquisition of this yarn. She uses yarn in every way possible. She is never without her knitting or crocheting whether it be on a long week long vacation or even a short trip to get groceries (provided she isn't driving). She gives away her fruits of labor and loves to pour over patterns to make just the right item for a loved one. She works all year on Christmas gifts. She is always has about 5-10 projects going at one time. She gets so excited by standing in front of the yarn isle in Walmart her family has to pry her away. She had at least 3 items made for her grand-child by the time her daughter was 3 months pregnant! She constantly is ripping out what she has made to fix something only she can tell is wrong. She loves soft yarn and the softer and silkier the better. She will never run out of yarn and to this end she makes sure she has at least a year supply at any given time. Running out would be a fate worse than death!

~Yarn Texture~

Yarn is a continuous strand made up of fibers or filaments, used for making fabric or textiles of various kinds. The distinct types of knitting yarn are categorized by their weight, purpose, ply, source fiber(s), texture, color, and pattern. In addition, knitters choosing yarn will want to match yardage and gauge. Yarn comes in a variety of textures: it can be smooth, soft, fluffy, bobbly, spiky. Some of the texture effect is as a result of the natural characteristic of the yarn, e.g. Merino wool is naturally very soft, or alternatively as a result of the techniques used to produce the yarn. Textured yarns such as novelty yarns won't show the detail of the stitch pattern. Instead, their appeal is in the actual texture of the yarn rather than that produced by how it is knit. Manufacturers have their own brand names for their combinations of yarn fibre, yarn weight and yarn texture. They are constantly launching new yarn brands (and discontinuing others) to appeal to knitters - to suit tastes, styles and fashion and to keep hand knitting interesting and exciting. You will never need to worry about finding a yarn that you like that is suitable for your project and you’ll be shopping like an expert in next to no time at at all!

Knitting and Crocheting How-to sites and everything that I don't cover here!

About Crochet ~ About Knitting ~ Crochet Basics ~ Knit Basics ~ Knit VS Crochet ~ Washing Your Hand Crochet or Knit Item ~ Tunisian abbreviations and instructions ~ Yarn Standards

~Standard Yarn Weight System~

Weight, Purpose, Ply. Although knitting yarn weights have been standardized by the Craft Yarn Council of America (CYCOA), there are a number of different systems actually in use in the English-speaking world, making it important to make sure know the system so you can match yarns to directions accurately. The following chart is not complete: it does not, for example, include the Australian and New Zealand terminology of naming yarn weights by “ply” or the British system which substitutes chunky for bulky and aran or triple for worsted. Notice that some of the systems mix weight and purpose in their categories. Also, in the following chart, dk is used as it characteristically is in knitting, to stand for “double knit.”

Categories of yarn, gauge ranges,and recommended needle and hook sizes

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