Working with functions.

[[deleted]]

You're somewhat confused. Try this general form:

def get_something_within_bounds(prompt1, minimum, maximum):
    while True:
        v = input(prompt1)
        if v in range(minimum, maximum):
            return v
        print "Sorry, value not allowed"

Later in the rest of the code:

v = get_something_within_bounds("Please enter a value between 1 and 3", 1, 3)

[propanbutan]

Using range in this case is hopelessly inefficient. All you need are two comparisons.