Reviews

I was looking at the Knifty knitter long loom kit for a few months before I actually bought it, now I have had it a week, and wish I had bought it sooner! I have made 5 scarves..3 with fun fur...in 1 week!! I am now making an Afgan using the honeycomb stitch, and it looks beautiful. I would recomend looking on 'you tube' there are lots of helpful videos showing how to do different stitches etc. Happy looming everyone! Carol

I was thrilled to have purchased this loom set just a couple of days ago at Michael's using my 40% off coupon for a total of $12!!! I am an avid knitter and recently stumbled onto loom knitting as my 5 year old daughter received a small kid's loom over the holiday weekend and I could not put it down!!! The only bad thing I have noticed so far is the severe lack of proper instructions included with the set. I spent all day trying to figure out how to make some basic stitches (knit, purl, etc.) to no avail. Even my mother who has been knitting and crocheting since she was a teenager was annoyed and confused with the instruction guide. The only good thing about the directions included is that they had nice pictures, but only included directions for a scarf. I would have thought from the outside of the package that there would have been more a more comprehensive booklet included. There are patterns and instructions on the provocraft site, but nothing with any kind of pictures and very limited information for someone who is new to the craft of looming. Needless to say, I was very frustrated by this evening and was debating whether or not to take the set back. I am glad I did not as I just spent the last couple of hours watching some great Youtube videos including one must see video with Isela Phelps, located at [...], which goes step-by-step through all the basics (casting on, basic stitches and casting off) to which I have already made a sample swatch of all these techniques for quick reference in the future. Isela Phelps has 4 books listed here on Amazon. I am getting ready to order, "Loom Knitting Primer: A Beginner's Guide to Knitting on a Loom with over 30 Fun Projects". From all the reviews I have seen online, this books seems to get high marks for beginners. She also has a website, [...], and blog which I will be following closely for more info as I get going with this whole looming thing! Had I not found this resource, I would be returning the set.

I have been trying to knit since I was a little girl watching my grandmother knitting. I'm not sure what you would call what I did with needles, but it could not be called knit and purl--I wasn't even sure of the difference between the two stitches. I saw these looms on sale and decided I had to try them and am so glad I did. It is so much fun to actually complete a project! Usually I made so many mistakes and dropped so many stitches that I would get discouraged and quit. With these looms it is almost impossible to drop a stitch. The scarves and shawls come out beautifully. I have made everyone in the family a hat and scarf (and it is only May) so now I am looking for local charities who might need hats and scarves for next winter. (The hats are made with the Knifty Knitter round looms that are not in this package.) The long looms are a little too big to carry around like needles and a ball of yarn, but the small pink loom in the package is perfect for narrower scarves and could be taken along in a tote bag. There are lots of free patterns on the internet and knitting blogs devoted to using the Knifty Knitter looms. Provo Craft, who makes these looms, has a great website with lots of advice and free patterns. I know I will get many happy hours of creative knitting with my Knifty Knitter looms.

The loom is hard plastic and completely consistent with expectations. I bought thru Ben Franklin Stores and was totally SHOCKED at the shipping fees - I could have bought the looms for the cost os shipping! There were two products on my order (one from another vendor) and it cost what the shipping did so I didn't notice the cost until the order was confirmed. Live and learn and don't buy from Franklin

I bought the Knifty Knitter Long Loom Set today after spending a few days trying to learn to knit with needles. I am a new stay-at-home Mom and needle knitting takes more concentration than I have with a 7 month old around. The Knifty Knitter takes far less concentration and I am far less worried about losing a stitch if I need to set it down. As I am new to knitting I thought that there would be far better instructions. The instructions are great if you only want to make one thing and only one type of stitch. I had no idea which loom to use for the project I wanted to work on or even what kind of yarn would be best for it. To make matters worse one of the pegs fell off one of the looms while I was taking them out of the box. Luckily I found the peg before I even knew what it was. Now 4 hours later a peg has fallen of the loom I was using. These pegs are small and now I can't find it. My biggest concern is that they are most certainly a choking hazard for small children. So, not only am I not able to work on my project, but I am fearful for the safety of my child!

Reviews

I had seen other yarn ball winders for $50 in stores and purchased this one because it was half the cost. I received this one and found it to be very cheaply made. The yarn holder keeps popping off while in use and the wire arm keeps falling down from its upright position as well. I recently compared the one I purchased to the more expensive model in the store and found it to be much higher quality and much sturdier. I was also able to try the more expensive one and I had MUCH more success with it. Save your money for the $50 model. This one is not worth the headache. I will be returning mine.

I must be doing something wrong as my yarn just doesn't wind up in a nice-looking shape. I have tried different yarns and still do not get the results shown in the video. Also the bolt-down device doesn't hold the winder in place very well on my table. I hesitate to tighten it too much in fear of breaking the winder. It is still a useful item and does wind up my yarn faster than I can do it by hand.

I dont know how many times I had to fix this thing or have my husband fix it for me but today I had it my favorite part about it says that " Fullly Sealed Wheels Never Eat Yarn " Well their wrong! I bought one because I needed one and it eats my yarn creating hours of dissatisfaction untangling the thing the little arm doesnt even stand up barely .. thats why I am going with a better one now.

Works as expected. I have to hand feed the winder so it must be done slowly to keep yarn from getting knotted. Product works pretty good for the price!!

I always rolled my own centre pull balls until some cobweb reeled silk got the better of me. I bought this because the sale price made it a little cheaper than the next highest one. I worried about the quality when I saw it, but it works fine, as long as I have no illusions about it being a $25 ball winder. Frankly, I don't see the difference between it and the $50 ones, though the gears on the latter might be better. I used a friend's Lacis for awhile and messed up the gears (well, I thought they were messed up when I got it, but bought her a new one anyway).

Reviews

The plastic connecting the two needles is amazingly flexible. I'm not fighting the coil in the middle as i have with other circular needles. Bamboo has the warm smooth feel that makes knitting nearly effortless. The price was also unbelievable - less than $2 per set.

I am very pleased with these needles and the delivery was fast and prompt. Also the price was a bit lower than I had seen on other sites.

The price was right for these knitting needles. The joins do not snag yarn and they work well for addi style sock knitting.

This is my second purchase from this manufacturer - I bought the straight needles and was very satisfied with my purchase. They weren't quite as nice as Clover bamboo needles, but for what I paid for the Stanwood set, I was satisfied. Then I bought this set of circulars, and my money went down the toilet. Within a few weeks of knitting on the circulars, one of the needles separated from the cord. I attribute this to poor construction. These circulars consist of two bamboo needles joined by a hollow plastic tube and a little bit of glue. The hollow plastic tube separated from one of the needles, so I glued it. I repeated this process about four times (and with more than one needle size) before I gave up and threw the needles into my bottom drawer. It's irritating to have your needles break, but it's even more irritating to drop stitches on your project as the needles fail. Instead of putting $25 into this set of circulars, try to save up $50 more and go with an interchangeable set that is well-designed and will last. (Knit Picks' Harmony set was a great buy for me.)

I love my circular bamboo knitting needles. I've always found circulars easier to knit with than regular straight needles. With the bamboo ones you can knit so much smoother they are great. I'm so glad I got the set. I ended up giving a friend some of the sizes and she loves them too.

Reviews

One word of warning, at least about the CD version: it was clearly recorded in a large room, and it sounds like the recording equipment wasn't properly placed. This occasionally results in the performers sounding distant or ever-so-slightly muffled. Definitely worth the purchase, especially if you love the Revels -- this recording has a lot going for it. Just be aware that, at least on some transfers, the recording is less than stellar.

This album is strange and wonderful. It is a recording of Christmas Revels sung by two very contrasting choirs, a Russian one and an African American one. There is occasionally a children's choir and some other ensembles joining the performance. What I found most interesting and thrilling about it was that the two main choirs were not entirely "academic" in style but had a rather folklore wildness to them, and they sang sometimes individually and sometimes together juxtaposing their contrasting carols in a surprising mixture. The result (sometimes powerful, sometimes ethnic and wild) gives you a sense of celebration, spirituality, and a joining of cultures that is hard to describe, and all of it with a Christmas flavor on top. I warn you, there is occasional foot stamping, and howls, and some autochthonous instruments, all of which I found rather exciting. Many of the Carols are sung in Swedish or in Scandinavian languages, others in some African language I couldn't identify (but I loved it) and a few in English. I'm personally familiar with Swedish carols(some of them are hauntingly beautiful) because I once conducted a Santa Lucia Choir in the year 1995; so my love and curiosity for Scandinavian carols was the first thing that led me to this recording. This CD is not for those who are looking for recordings of the same old traditional carols. It is rather a departure from that to a different Christmas realm, a far more spontaneous one. Don't take me wrong, I love Christmas recordings of the King's Singer, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and other more traditional choirs. But the originality of this album was rather refreshing.

Reviews

If you like British Humor like Monty Python and friends you will certainly appreciate these Calssics. All the episodes on this tape and the other two tapes are incredibly funny. I can't believe they are no longer available even on video, if that is the case...WHERE ARE THE DVD'S?

Michael Palin is what is called a 'national institution' in Britain. An ex-Python man, he is also renowned for the simple charm of a series of travel programmes -- Around the World in 80 Days, etc. -- where his good manners, stiff upper lip, and self-deprecating humour are his true passport. Ripping Yarns was a series of 30-minute comical tales filmed for the BBC, written with the help of fellow Pythoneer Terry Jones. The name evokes the old fashioned qualities of endurance, bravery, and heroism that you might find in an old book for boys from the period of the British Empire, and, indeed, most of the tales are set in the past and start out as mock heroic tales. Although these yarns from the late 1970s actually make fun of the virtues on which the British Empire was supposedly based, there is clearly a lot of affection for that lost World as well. In episode one, 'Tompkinson's Schooldays,' Palin playing an unhappy student makes fun of the brutality of the English public school sytem. One reviewer said this wasn't your typical English public school because the headmaster gets caned, the students are made to fight with a grizzly bear or are nailed to a wall as punishment, and the most important person at the school is the school bully who apparently occupies some kind of official position. In a strange way, however, this range of comic devises captures the sado-masochistic essence of what an old-fashioned English public school was like. It was this kind of institution that built up the self-control, hierarchy, discipline, and genial brutality necessary to build up and adminster a great empire as well as two World Wars. Speaking of World War, episode 2 - 'Escape from Stalag Luft 112B' - takes aim at POW movies, portraying the rigid habits and stiff upper lip so essential to the self-worth of British officers. The lifestyle of the officers and the pointless meanderings of the escape committee, which exists more as a gentleman's club than an effective escape committee, is ridiculed. Palin plays a prisoner who arrives at Stalag Luft 112B not quite knowing the social rules of the prisoner officer class and tries to escape without going through the proper channels. In an odd way this seems to be criticising the inefficiency of British industry in the 1970s, which, entangled with old-fashioned procedures and official red-tape, was in a steep relative decline. This story also reflects some of the class tension that Palin probably felt in real life when he left his working class background in Yorkshire to mix with upper class types at Oxford. The third episode on the tape, 'Golden Gordon,' reflects this working class culture with Palin playing Gordon Ottershaw, a dedicated fan of the local and very unsuccessful football team, Barnestoneworth United. The plot is reminiscent of the Magnificent Seven with Gordon cycling all over the Yorkshire dales to reassemble a team of old great players to fend off an attempt to sell the team and its stadium to a scrap dealer. These tales are not only endearing and heart-warming, they are almost historical documents of a Britain that is fast disappearing -- losing its culture to America and its economy to Europe.

Great stuff here. All 3 of the Ripping Yarns vids are excellent, & this, the first, is the strongest. Tomkinson's Schooldays & Golden Gordon are 2 of my favourite episodes from the series, & Escape From Stalag Luft 112B is right up there, too. Check it out.

This was just fantastic, by far the best of the Ripping Yarns!

If you like Michael Palin and Terry Jones in Monty Python, then you will like this video. This is the first of the Ripping Yarn series and I guarantee you will want to add the other two series as well to your video collection.Episode 1-Tomkinsons School Days (1913): Beating the headmaster, fighting with a grizzly bear, and being nailed to the school wall. This isn't your typical English public school, but then you have never attended Graybridge. Michael Palin has two roles. He plays the main character Tomkinson, a young school boy who will do anything to escape from school. Michael also plays the head schoolmaster. Every school has a bully, and Grayson is not only mean, but very well dressed. My favorite scene is where Tomkinson is in the school sanatorium (hospital), and his mom comes to visit. He begs his mother to let him come home and he looks and sounds so innocent. Terry Jones appears in this only episode as one of the teachers and the guest speaker. Later on Tomkinson gets into big trouble and is punished by doing the 30 mile hop. This is my favorite episode and has plenty of laughs.Episode 2- Escape from Stalag Luft 112B (1917): In this episode the narrator tells us the story of Major Edwin Phipps. Major Phipps played by Michael Palin has attempted over 500 escapes. Now in real life if you escaped from prison and was caught, you either would be shot or punished. Instead, Major Phipps is sent to Stalag Luft 112B, a prison camp for the privilege British officers. It's kind of a summer camp except with guards. The guards are funny characters, and so is the General. Michael also has a small role as a blond hair solider who cries because his ex-wife got remarried. One thing I like about this episode is Major Phipps determination and how he makes an airplane out of toliet roll holders. Episode 3- Golden Gordon (1935): Michael Palin plays Gordon Ottershaw. Gordon is a very avid fan of his favorite English football team Barnestoneworth United. English football is soccer for us Americans. His son is even named Barnestoneworth. He comes home after his team loses and begins to throw things. He then takes off and begins to throw things at the pub. He is very depressed and to make things worse the team is being sold to a scrap company. Now what to do? He pedals his bike all over the English countryside to bring the old team back. It's an episode that is fun and Gordon's behavior reminds me when my favorite hockey team loses, but I don't go to the extreme of throwing things. If you watch carefully, you may even spot an ex-Python. See the credits if you don't know who it is.

Reviews

McSwain reckons he's an honest cop, though he's happy to go along with the kickbacks from the precinct 'Widows and Orphans Fund'. When it comes to murder he's definitely on the right side and is irritated to find his latest investigation being followed by Anne Osborne from the D.A.'s office. Out of work they hit it off pretty quickly, making it difficult for Anne to handle when his more questionable activities come to light and she has to prosecute him. In turn McSwain starts to suspect that he's investigating something more than mob slayings. Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin have phenomenal chemistry in this movie as Remy McSwain and Anne Osborne. "The Big Easy" is a good straightforward thriller about police corruption, a little predictable, but with occasional clever touches. Just watch and enjoy.

Released in 1987, The Big Easy is a smooth, rich thriller with a great gumbo of characters. The two stars are fantastic: Dennis Quaid, is perfect as New Orleans police Lieutenant Remy McSwain, and Ellen Barkin is Anne Osborn, a beautiful but somewhat clumsy Louisiana District Attorney sent to investigate police corruption. In the opening scenes, a hood's murder starts a gangland drug war. Smart and sexy Detective Remy McSwain is out to find who is behind it. Ann Osborn, a district attorney from northern Louisiana shows up in his office the next day. She has been sent to investigate New Orleans Police Corruption. Remy wants to do his job the usual way, sort of off-beat and over the line. Anne is there to be a stickler on ethics. They are opposites in personality yet the chemistry between them is there. As they work together through a mass of inter-twisted threads of evidence, family secrets and white lies they realize that higher ups in the Police Department are part of the crime. Together they solve the crime and discover the dark secret of what is going on. A satisfying rich story.

I bought The Big Easy dvd. It was new and when I tried to play it (tried on three separate dvd units) I could not get rid of the sub-titles. The sub-titles made it unwatchable. I tried to change the settings but nothing got rid of the subtitles.

This is New Orleans, or across the river, Algiers. Dennis and Ellen really have chemistry in this film. Good plot (with a couple of holes) and good acting. Buy used and you won't be disappointed.

A mystery set in New Orleans -- with Cajun music, sexy love scenes, and a great cast. This movie manages to be fun and suspenseful at the same time. Remy McSwain is a New Orleans police lieutenant (played with a grin by Dennis Quaid), and Ann Osbourne is a district attorney. She's come to New Orleans to investigate police corruption. He takes her out on the town, and when he scores a free meal at a restaurant, she berates him for taking advantage of police "perks". McSwain says perks are part of the job, and he refuses to believe the police are corrupt. "You investigate cops for a living? We're the good guys, Ann!" Despite their differences, he flirts outrageously with her, and soon they're romantically involved. In the meantime, a gruesome series of murders are piling up in New Orleans. Two witnesses claim to have seen an unmarked police car leaving the scene of a homicide. At first McSwain doesn't believe the police could be suspects, no matter what Ann says. He thinks the murders are part of a gang war. Yet as the violence escalates, he realizes there might be killers in his squad. Dennis Quaid has terrific chemistry with Ellen Barkin (who plays the district attorney). The movie evokes New Orleans, it works as a romance, and it works as a thriller, too.

Reviews

As a lifelong fan of Monty Python, I was very excited to discover this series - and very surprised that it isn't more widely known. Perhaps this is because a lot of the humour of Ripping Yarns is aimed at people who grew up in England at a particular time, and are familiar with the literature that the series is based on - yet plenty of the humour (as with Monty Python) is universal & timeless. The surreal style of Monty Python is present in Yarns, but the show also has a more understated sort of humour that is all its own - and which I only completely appreciated once I'd gotten to know the show quite well. The humour is in the stories and the characters as much as it is in the jokes, and what is particularly distinctive and innovative for the time is that it is played completely straight, with mostly serious dramatic actors rather than comedians (which makes me wonder if it could have been an influence on the film 'Airplane!'). There are several episodes, namely 'Across the Andes by Frog' and 'Golden Gordon', which I felt were slightly below par - but maybe they'll grow on me after repeat viewings. Every other episode is a gem, my personal favourite being 'Curse of the Claw' (followed closely by 'The Testing of Eric Olthwaite' and 'Escape from Stalag Luft 112B'). Extras are very good and include commentaries on each episode, a documentary by Michael Palin about his childhood & comedic development, and an optional laughter-free track on every episode except for 'Tomkinson' and 'Murder' (needless to say it's much, much funnier without canned laughter). Recommended for anyone who is a fan of Monty Python, or of comedy generally.

This is the first significant work by Python alum Terry Jones and Michael Palin after Python close up the TV show in 1974. I remember renting these on a cruddy VHS copy, and laughing hysterically at them. This series is really an offshoot of the final (and least seen) season of Monty Python. After John Cleese left the series after season three, Jones and Palin took over the writing and wrote long form sketches, some lasting the whole 30 minutes of an episode (there was an earlier episode in Python Season Three called "The Cycling Tour" that followed this formula as well, and it featured Jones and Palin prominently). In this series, they parody the historical tales of the British empire, and much of it is amazingly funny. My favorite episodes have to be Tomkinson's Schooldays (with a great guest turn by Ian Oglivy as "school bully"), Escape from Stalag Luft 112B (with Roy Kinnear), and The Testing of Eric Olthwaite (where Palin plays a dunce of a boy). The others are fine as well, but these 3 have always stood out the most. The only one I didn't care for was The Curse of the Claw. It's not bad, but the subject matter (creepy old house owned by creepy old man) has been parodied to death (no pun intended). It's also good to have the whole series (nine episodes), as the original VHS releases only had six episodes (on two tapes). They never released the other three episodes until now. The DVD is excellent, with commentary by Jones and Palin, a 1983 TV documentary about Palin, and a booklet detailing the filming and the release of the show and the mishandling of it by British TV executives. This show belongs in the parthenon of great British TV, and I'm glad my good friends at Acorn Media (who also put out Brideshead Revisited) put this out.

These are quite frankly the funniest spoofs of the old "Boy's Own" stories I have ever seen. I grew up in Scotland and so was introduced to the original series as a young boy and find that I laugh at them just as heartily over 30 years later. When I return to the old country for a visit, my brother and I still have 'Ripping Yarn nights':) If your a Monty Python fan these are most definately for you. Micheal Palen at his comic best!!!!!!!!!!

This DVD set contains the original BBC pilot episode "Tomkinsons Schooldays" first broadcast in 1976. The first series of 5 episodes broadcast in 1977 and the second series of 3 episodes originally broadcast in 1979. The idea was prompted by an old Ripping Yarns annual that Michael Palin had given to Terry Jones as a gift. The episodes all have Pythonesque elements and there are many great moments in nearly all the episodes. John Cleese makes a brief and very funny cameo role appearance in "Golden Gordon" which is amongst the best episodes. The plots cover obessions about Football (soccer), saving the empire, wartime exploits and it is done with tongue firmly in the cheek, with that edge of absurdity you'd would expect from two members of the Monty Python team. There are some great extras on the DVD. Perhaps best of all you can watch the episodes without the laughter track. There are commentaries from Michael Palin and Terry Jones as well as a documentary made in 1982. Very funny and well worth watching over and over.

I saw Ripping Yarns when originally broadcast in the States and yet I enjoy them even more now. Any Python fan will recognize the style of "humour". RYs take a different direction from the original MP show mainly due to the half-hour story format and the specific talents of Palin and Jones. The show succeeds because the strengths of the two writers mesh very well to create some brilliant comedy. In other Python work Jones was adept with keeping themes and plots moving along while Palin's strengths were the odd characters and bits of sheer silliness (eg. fish slapping dance). One probably has to be an anglophile or a fairly intense Python fan to really enjoy these. The humor targets British social and political conventions. While most everyone can appreciate that, those who are not familiar with British society and history will miss out on some of the richness of the humor. I believe this show is a bit less accessible to the average Yank than MP or Fawlty Towers. (But I actually prefer Ripping Yarns to Fawlty Towers.) Palin plays one or two leading roles wonderfully in each show and he is backed by some outstanding talent. I've always loved Palin's portrayal of northern characters and his Olthwaite role is "spot on". For support, Joan Sanderson and Richard Vernon not only play their roles well (Raj), but their characters counterpoint each other hilariously. Ken Colley in Olthwaite is also wonderful to watch. I could go on and on... One of the big treats of the series are the many excellent and familiar British actors popping up in the oddest roles. Kate Beckinsale's mother, Judy Loe, shows up in a small but nicely done role. I enjoy British literature, TV and film frequently due to the language. Ripping Yarns reminds me of why I also like work from others such as authors P. G. Wodehouse or even non-humor authors like John Le Carre. The language is wonderful even if I don't always understand the full context. Joan Sanderson's role uses many wonderful expressions. And then on a sillier note there is a scene in "Tomkinson's" when the ceremonial Gundy gives palfreys to the hoppers. This confuses me but I love the scene anyway. I've got no idea if "Gundy" and "palfrey" are made-up words used to stand in for this silly scene or if they actually refer to something. (BTW: palfrey is a word but not in the episode's sense of the term.) The extra features add good value. The 1983 show on Palin is wonderful. It features him in an open, casual way and introduces us to many important people in his life outside of the Pythons. The episode commentaries are enjoyable but a little sparse because they are done 25+ years after the show which puts the memories of Jones and Palin to the test. The capability to omit the laugh track while playing the shows is not to be minimized. It's much better without the laughtrack. As a long time Python fan and lover of British humor, I am delighted to have this on my shelf. There are 2-3 episodes that have major problems with them, but the good material is outstanding and pulls this up to a 5 star rating in my view. For the right viewer, Ripping Yarns is highly recommended.

Reviews

This DVD was very easy to follow. If you are a visual person in particular, you will appreciate the step-by-step directions for each process. They even cover how to fix mistakes. There are 4 projects covered, hats, scarves, slippers and socks. I've already tackled the first 3 and feel pretty confident I can try the socks next. I only knew how to cast off of regular knitting needles (long ago) before I started using the looms. Since then, using books, I have been able to do hats and (sort of) scarves. This DVD made things much more clear than any of the books or instructions I have. I highly recommend this DVD. I borrowed the library's copy and liked it enough to actually buy the DVD so I think that says it all.

I learned how to knit on the loom from excellent videos from everyday people on youtube.com. I got this dvd to learn NEW things. From other reviews it sounded like a goldmine of information, it wasn't. This video will NOT teach you the knit stitch or the purl stitch. It will NOT show you how to increase or decrease. Her idea of a "decrease" is not knitting the end pegs. The ONLY stitch used is the knit-over. That gives you stockinette stitch. That is all she knits on this video. Video shows how to knit a basic hat, scarf, a slipper and a sock. If you really want to knit a loom sock or slipper then buy it. You can find everything but those 2 on youtube.com

This is helpful for a true beginner that is trying to learn basics, but to someone that knows the basics and was looking to move up to the next level, it was a disappointment.

I wanted to learn how to loom & saw this video. It teaches you how to loom a scarf, hat, socks & slippers to get you started. A must have for beginners. It shows you how to loom from "your view" - easy to follow.

I purchased this dvd to learn how to loom knit. It's very good for teaching you the basics-if thats all you want to know. From glancing through books I know you can do other stitches on them and that's what I was hoping it would show. It would also have been nice if they showed you how to knit using "non circular" looms but that didn't happen either. Not sure if I would recommend it to anyone.

Reviews

Bought this mop at Wal-Mart for $10 since I couldn't locate the Libman twisting mop. (Which is the best mop I've ever used) This one left blue fuzz everywhere, was hard to ratchet/release, awkward to mop back and forth because it rattled in use, and didn't wring out enough water so the floor was very wet still after mopping. Don't buy this mop, you'll be sorry.

It was a good mop while it worked, however it broke while wringing out the water. Aparently there is a fragile plastic clip/pin that holds the mop head in place and that's what broke. Good idea, poorly executed unfortunately.

As one reviewer stated, the locking mechanism does not work well and it is also hard to wring out. It is also difficult to remove the mop head to wash it. It stays soaked even when finished using it. I hate having a wet smelly mop around. I put it in the sun to dry a few times but can't do this in the winter.

The mop squeezes the moisture out nicely with a twist of the handle. To get the mop super dry, the ratchet is used to really tighten up the cloth strands. Nice!

I actually bought this mop at wal-mart and never bothered buying a replacement head for it. I have used this mop for over 6 years, when I was a house cleaner and now for my own family. I remove the yarn part and wash/sanitize it in my washing machine. I am sure that is not recommended by the manufacture, but it works. Because I wash it, I had it(the yarn part) come undone where it attached to the ratchet part. I simply re-attached it with a zip strip(plastic belt like strip) and it has held better than before.

Reviews

I don't have arthritis or any other problem, so I can't speak to its effectiveness for that, but I have a bad habit of keeping tension with my index finger in a way that places severe strain on it. I was getting to the point where I was going to have to switch to mostly knitting, as I wrap the yarn around my wrist and finger for that without strain, until I found this device. I don't use it exactly the way they recommend, but the way I use it solves my problem, and I am able to keep my index finger straight. I place the yarn under the velcro bracelet, and under the main part of the ring against my finger (not the little ring on top like they suggest). The combination of these provides perfect tension and I'm able to crochet faster and without pain. You do need to make sure that your yarn doesn't get caught by the velcro, and if you use the ring the way I do, it occasionally slips out, but these are very minor problems. You also have to keep the ring from small children for both safety reasons and because they find it fascinating. My daughter thinks she's found a treasure if she gets ahold of it, and hides it from me with great amusement. She has also stretched it out some by opening the ring too much (i think it's silicone) and it isn't as tight as it was. As far as safety goes, I think the entire ring is too big for a baby to choke on, but I would worry about the attached little ring being the part that goes in first. I don't know if it would be enough to choke on, but it is a concern.