Yarn for sale - Wool Blends Glitz Mohair Black Grey Silver Light Pink

Another beautiful yarn offered in my online store! This luxurious Mohair blend makes wonderful scarves, hats, and other gifts. Your imagination is your only limitation! This lovely yarn comes in packs of 8 for only $8.74! Buy one for yourself and one as a gift! Click here to order today!

One of my favorite yarns - alpaca!

I suggest if you have not knitted or crocheted with Alpaca yarn that you give it a try! Super soft, easy to work with and it has beautiful drape. This particular yarn is a superfine weight (fingering or sock weight) and can be used for a variety of projects, such as baby clothing, blankets, scarves, hats, etc. If you are interested in a different color, fiber, or weight, click the link below and browse my store! We have many different kinds of yarn available! Thank you for looking :)

Incas Alpaca Superfine Blue Lareliw Crafts' Yarn Store

SKU : fnt2-22086
Fiber Content : 35% Acrylic, 15% Merino Wool, 50% Alpaca
Needle Size : 2 mm. US 0 [UK 14]
Color : Blue
Main Color : Blue
Brand : ICE
Weight Type : 1 SuperFine: Sock, Fingering, Baby
Length : 600 meters / 656 yds.
Yarn By Type : Luxury, Alpaca
Stock Quantity : 713 (71 Lot)
Weight : 30 gr. / 1.06 oz.

Pictures

Color Options

Quiet on the frontier!

I have been a little quiet on the blogging lately, for a few reasons. Its the holidays, so I have been running around like a nut enjoying the season with my two young boys and husband :) Also I have been doing a lot of organizing of my supplies: yarn, needles, patterns, etc. So I haven't been online and active as much as I would like to be! BUT I will start posting good blog posts again shortly! Merry Christmas everyone!

I have begun selling Ice Brand Yarns! They are wonderful, high-quality yarns for very reasonable prices! Please take a look at our website, Ice Yarns and consider making a purchase. These yarns are luxurious and work up quickly and easily into high-quality projects. Love this brand!

Opened a New Online Storefront Today!

Please come and visit us at the Shop Handmade Marketplace! http://www.shophandmade.com/Store/Lareliwcrafts . All the quality kitchen and bathroom cloths and accessories you need, and a whole lot more!

Crochet Basics: Crochet Hooks

There are several different types of crochet hooks, and they are used for different things. There are steel crochet hooks, aluminum crochet hooks, plastic crochet hooks, and Tunisian or afghan crochet hooks. Steel crochet hooks are the smallest, followed by aluminum and plastic. Tunisian or afghan crochet hooks are unique, as they are long handles with one crochet hook on the end. They resemble a knitting needle more closely than a crochet hook.

Steel Crochet Hooks

Steel crochet hooks are made of steel, and they are the smallest of crochet hooks. Generally these are used with crochet thread instead of thicker yarn. They are imprinted on the side with their size. Some are just steel, while others have plastic or bamboo handles. Below is a chart of the US sizes with their millimeter equivalent.

Size 00	3.50 mm
Size 0	3.25 mm
Size 1	2.75 mm
Size 2	2.25 mm
Size 3	2.10 mm
Size 4	2.00 mm
Size 5	1.90 mm
Size 6	1.80 mm
Size 7	1.65 mm
Size 8	1.50 mm
Size 9	1.40 mm
Size 10	1.30 mm
Size 11	1.10 mm
Size 12	1.00 mm
Size 13	0.85 mm
Size 14	0.75 mm

As you can see from the above chart and picture, the larger the size number, the smaller the hook size. This is important to note.

Aluminum Hooks

Aluminum hooks are made of aluminum, and they are the larger type of crochet hooks. The sizes that are available in aluminum are also available in plastic and wood. Some companies even offer interchangeable crochet hooks, where the head of the hook can be swapped out to change the size. Like steel hooks, aluminum hooks have their size etched into the side of the hook. Since these are larger hooks than the steel, instead of using thread, these are the hooks you would use with typical yarns. Below is a chart of the aluminum hook sizes.

Size B	2.25 mm
Size C	2.75 mm
Size D	3.25 mm
Size E	3.50 mm
Size F	3.75 mm
Size G	4.25 mm
Size H	5.00 mm
Size I	5.50 mm
Size J	6.00 mm
Size K	6.50 mm
Size N	9.00 mm

Three sizes are found only in plastic – size P, size Q, and size S, which are 10.00 mm, 15.75 mm, and larger respectively.

Tunisian or afghan crochet hooks

Tunisian, afghan, and double pointed crochet hooks generally come without size markings on the needles, because the markings would cause the yarn to catch. When you purchase these needles, the size should be listed on the package of the needle you purchase. However, if you buy them second-hand or inherit a set of hooks, you may not know the size or have the original packaging. There are size gauges available to purchase from most craft stores that you insert the hook into the various sized holes and you can figure out which size it is.

Tunisian hooks come in various sizes, similar to aluminum crochet hooks. The difference is the Tunisian crochet hook is a long (around 12 inches) hook, which is used much like a knitting needle. They come in wood, plastic, and metal. The sizes vary from C through N.

There are other varieties of crochet hooks out there, especially antique ones, that are unique or different than those you would find in a store today. Experiment with any and all sizes and materials, and find which ones you enjoy the most. Happy hooking!

Knitting Basics: Abbreviations!

In order to understand knitting patterns, you must understand the common abbreviations which are used when writing them. Below is a list of common abbreviations encountered in basic patterns along with their meaning. While these will become clear and second nature over time, it may be helpful to print out the list as a reference.

[ ] - Work the instructions within the brackets as many times as directed.

( ) - Work the instructions within the parenthesis as many times as directed.

* - Repeat instructions following the * as directed.

approx - approximately

BO - Bind off

CA – Color A

CB – Color B

CC – Contrasting color

cm – Centimeters

CO – Cast On

cont – Continue

dec – Decrease

DPN – Double pointed needles

fl – Front loop

g – gram

inc – Increase

k – knit

k2tog – knit 2 [stitches] together

m – meter

MC – Main color

mm – millimeters

oz – ounces

p – purl

p2tog – purl 2 [stitches] together

psso – pass slipped stitch over

rep – repeat

rnd – round

RS – Right side

sk – skip

skp – slip, knit, pass over (decrease)

sk2p – slip, knit 2 together, pass over (2 decrease)

sl st – slip stitch

ssk – slip, slip, knit these 2 together (decrease)

sssk – slip, slip, slip, knit these 3 together (decrease)

st – stitch

st st – stockinette stitch

tbl – through back loop

tog – together

WS – Wrong side

yd – yard

yo – yarn over

Beautiful rich violet washcloth and scrubby set

Violet Washcloth and Scrubbies Set

This listing is for a 100% cotton  handmade, crocheted wash or dish cloth and 2 nubby scrubbies. Colored a rich violet, the washcloth measures 8" x 8" and the scrubbies measure 5" x 4". They are perfect for everyone in your family, even gentle enough for the little ones in your home. Ideal for bathing, showering, or use them as dish cloths for your kitchen! While they are easy on skin, they are tough on dishes and will not damage Teflon!

Treat yourself or friend to handmade wash cloths. They will last for years to come and even with heavy use, the more you use them the softer they get. The scrubbies have a naturally nubby texture which provides gentle exfoliation. Great as a gift for Christmas, stocking stuffer, baby shower, housewarming, wedding gift, or birthday! These beautiful handcrafted cloths will also save you money. They are eco-friendly, durable, and best of all reusable. Just machine wash and dry with your towel load. Some shrinkage may occur, as with all cottons.

These items are ready to ship. All items come from a non-smoking home. Please remember that colors may vary slightly from your computer screen.

New Ebay Listing - Pot and Dish Scrubbers!

Ebay

Please take a look :)

New Listing On Ebay

Please see our new listing on Ebay. While it is a crocheted item, we do accept custom orders for both knitting and crocheting! More blog tutorials coming shortly!

Ebay

Yarn Basics: Just How DO You Make This A Ball?

When you purchase yarn, it comes in many forms. Skein, cone, and hank are the most common. The easiest way to use the yarn you have is to roll it into a ball. This is generally pretty straightforward, but the best way to unwind the original yarn form depends on which model your yarn comes in.

Skeins are usually center-pulled, meaning there is a piece of yarn coming from the center of the skein, which you pull and the yarn should come smoothly from the middle of the skein. Some people choose to work from the skein without balling it. The more preferred method, however, is to ball it because occasionally you will encounter tangling within the skein, and it is much easier to untangle the yarn while winding a ball than it is while knitting a project!

Cones are similar to skeins only they come in the shape of a cone. Because the yarn is wound around the cone, it is generally safe to use yarn directly off the cone without much risk of internal tangling. You can always wind it into a ball though if you prefer!

Hanks are the most difficult yarn form to ball. They are composed of the yarn strand, which is looped over and over then twisted into the more stable hank-form. Therefore, you cannot center-pull a hank or use the yarn directly from the hank as you can with skeins and cones. Rather, you must unwind the hank, place the giant loop of yarn over a holder, such as the back of a chair, the hands of a helper, or a knitting swifter. Using any of these holders, you will be able to unloop the yarn and ball it.

Many people who use knitting swifters also use ball winders. The swifter is specially made to hold handspun hanks of yarn, and the ball winder winds the yarn easily without the hassle of untangling the looped yarn. Both the ball winders and the swifters are incredibly useful and worth every penny if you are an avid fiber artist.

Swift:                                

Ball Winder in Action:

Yarn Basics: Yarn Stores

There are a variety of stores, both online and offline, that sell yarn and other knitting accessories. In this article, different types of yarn stores will be discussed, including major retail chains, local yarn shops (LYS), online retailers, and the unexpected places.

Retail chains

There are many large retail chains that either specialize in yarn and crafting supplies, or carry a diverse amount of them. These are usually multi-state stores such as WalMart, Joann's Fabrics, Michael's Crafts, A.C. Moore, Hobby Lobby, and Ben Franklin. These stores generally have sales/coupons advertised online, and specialty coupons sent via email or regular mail if you sign up for their newsletter. Prices can vary as well as selection. Most craft stores carry a variety of brand name yarns as well as accessories such as knitting needles and stitch holders. You can order online or visit them in their store.

Local yarn shops (LYS)

Local yarn shops are a wonderful way to get more up close and personal with a range of higher quality yarns. These shops are generally locally owned and run and can provide a more intimate purchasing experience. While the yarns can be more expensive, they are generally more luxuriant and made with much higher quality materials than you will find in general retail chain craft stores. These stores also have knitting accessories, some handmade. These can be harder to find, but check your local telephone directory for information on these local treasures.

Online retailers

There are too many of these to name, and many are so amazing! There are the yarn brand websites, such as Red Heart, Bernat's, Caron, Patons, and Lion Brand. There are also online versions of local yarn shops such as Ice, Herrschners, Annie's Attic, Knit Picks, Knitting Warehouse, Smiley's Yarns, WEBS, and Deramores. There are also a large amount of exceptionally talented individual retailers who spin and dye their own handpainted yarns. These you can find by searching such places as Etsy, Ebay, ArtFire, and Ravelry. A large number of online groups for knitting, yarn, spinning, and dyeing exist as well. You can search these types of groups to find individuals who sell yarn.

Unexpected Places

A few places that are unexpected can often lead to the cheapest yarn! Be sure to check places such as your local Goodwill, Salvation Army, and other second-hand stores frequently, as they tend to have large lots or bags of yarn very inexpensively. Sometimes they will not have labels though, so it can be a grab bag. Other good places to look for yarn are estate sales, garage sales, classified ads, and places such as Craigslist for your area.

This is an overview of various places that yarn can be purchased. The stores listed are merely examples, and this is not an exhaustive list. Use search engines to your advantage to find amazing yarns and as always, enjoy!