Thanks to ChrissyG (and 42 others), we have met the first p/hop target…. £500!

Well done and thank you all. Next up: quadruple figures.

Better go and donate for the wool from Jacqui and the needles from Isobel then. Put my money where my mouth is. First lesson on Wednesday!

Harry Potter and the Sleeping Commuter

P/hop swapping is frenzied in the p/hop world at the moment, turning the forum in ravelry into a veritable market place. Except with less tat. As I wander past the various stands and stalls, I see Thimblina p/hopping some cobweb yarn from the back of a white van.  Our very own Lou is browsing over at Yellowpurplezebra’s stall as they work out what size needles she might need for her first project. In another corner, Natalie is doing a line in antique patterns, announcing her wares through the brisk winter’s morning like Delboy himself.

Other swappers are busy all over the place and the atmosphere is great, the sun is shining.

But what’s this?? Hilltopkatie is offering a Harry Potter DVD?? Is this to do with knitting? Is it Harry Potter and the Needles of Newport? No, it is not. As news spreads through the market, a hush falls… “That’s nothing to do with knitting” is heard murmured from place to place……     A tumbleweed blows through the scene………

Then, and at the same time, the traders and customers come to a communal realisation. P/hop isn’t about knitting! It is because of, and thanks to knitters, but really it’s about compassion and sharing and recycling and supporting a great cause!

People turn again to Hilltopkatie with smiles in their eyes. Villain to visionary in 8.3 seconds… Not bad.

So, you can p/hop swap anything. And it will all benefit MSF. I wonder what time the market closes….

By msf-pete. Photo by gunnisal, courtesy of Flickr.

Pete's knitting status...

So, my name is Pete and I am the web editor for MSF UK. I am very happy to be writing my first post for the p/hop blog! It has been a little while coming….

I have a confession to make. I can’t knit! But, don’t leave… my involvement with p/hop, ravelry.com and Natalie and the knitters has inspired me and I am about to embark on my first project. How could I resist a hobby where you can ‘frog’.

I own no knitting paraphanelia, no wool, no yarn. If I’m honest, I still don’t know the difference between the two, although I am sure this will change. When I asked Natalie where one could acquire such things, she said ‘p/hop them’… Assuming she was suggesting that I knit my own knitting needles (a conceptual leap I was struggling with), I asked her to explain. “p/hop has moved on” was here nonchalant response. And she was right.

Not only have people started to give to MSF for the first donated pattern (courtesy of Jacqui), but people are starting to give materials and equipment to each other in exchange for p/hop donations. So far, DianneB has p/hopped some cobweb yarn,  Natalie has p/hopped a Yarn Harlot calendar and Katie p/hopped a spinning wheel! Check out the justgiving comments for loads more as well…

And with that I’m gonna leave you. Welcome to p/hop and I hope you enjoy the patterns. I’m off to work out how many pennies of pleasure a set of knitting needles and a ball of yarn (or wool) are going to cost me…

Happy frogging.

If you already offer a free pattern on ravelry would you consider offering it as a p/hop pattern?

p/hop patterns use “generic” yarn. Yarn which is not linked to any particular company, dyer or business.
If your pattern uses “standard” sock yarn, or a laceweight yarn which gives 700m/100g or 1000m/100g (or any other weight), or “everyday” DK, then it could be a p/hop pattern.

It’s very important that p/hop is not seen to promote a particular brand, obviously we all have our favourites, but p/hop is not about making money for yarn companies.

It’s obviously OK that if there is a photo, it can say “knitted in The Fabulous Yarn Company’s Splendiferous Sock yarn. But in the section where you write about quantities, gauge etc, it should say “Use any yarn which has 400-420m/100g or to get gauge”.

If a knitter can download a pattern and then go and dig in their stash for a skein (or ten) of yarn then that’s perfect.

Patterns must be your own design, and they must have been test-knitted by someone independent.

If you think you have a suitable pattern already, or would like to design one, please contact Pete or Louise for the code you can insert on your pattern to make it a p/hop pattern.

Your original pattern is unchanged, but it will then include brief information about MSF, and about where a donation can be made.

Please get in touch!

If you have visited the Justgiving donations page lately, you will notice there’s more to p/hop than just knitting free patterns. Swapping. Books, Yarn Harlot calenders, spinning wheels, you name it. In return - a small donation to p/hop. How much joy did you get from your new goody!

If you are looking for something in particular why not post a message here on the blog or in the p/hop group on Ravelry (if your not already a free member of Ravelry, you will need to sign up to see this group).

We would love to hear about your swaps! Write us a message or send in some pics.

Crocheted Twirly Scarf by Pixeldiva

You can now join in on a knitalong for the p/hop Flowers in the Rain pattern created by karmastitch on Ravelry.

Jacqui Walker, designer of Flowers in the Rain, writes about the online phenomenon of knitting and knitalongs!

Knitting used to be a solitary activity. You bought the pattern, chose your yarn and off you went. The only feedback you would get was from the recipient of the finished design and, if you were lucky, maybe you could ask your mum or gran for help if you got stuck and didn’t understand something in the pattern.

Not anymore! The internet and the rise of knitting forums like Ravelry have changed all that. Knitting is now a social activity. Not just on line but in the non-virtual world too. Knitters meet in cafes and bars to share their knitting and fondle each others yarn.

They also Knitalong!

A ‘knitalong’ turns a new knitting adventure into a shared journey. Lots of knitters all working on the same pattern at the same time means lots of help and companionship. Knitalongs are especially helpful if you are attempting a new knitting technique like lace knitting for example.

The first pattern donated to the MSF p/hop project is a lace scarf or stole. Many people find lace knitting intimidating. Knitting with very fine yarn on small needles and using charts for the first time can seem daunting. If you knit the pattern with someone with more experience you can pick up useful tips and tricks to help you master the skill necessary to successfully complete your first project. Knitters share their experiences and receive encouragement to keep trying and to overcome the initial set backs that learning a new technique often involves. Additionally there’s a ready made audience who appreciates the time and dedication needed to complete a long project and who will offer the feedback and praise the novice lace knitter needs and the experienced lace knitter deserves Often a knitalong makes the difference between an unfinished project languishing unloved and a jubilantly completed one.

These posts on my blog may help with lace knitting.
lifelines
swatching
blocking

Flowers in the rain by Jacqui Walker