Hi guys, sorry for the non-knitting related post, but I think this is very important…

For the last five months, we have been running a multimedia project called Condition: Critical which gives a voice to the people living through the war in Eastern Congo – people all too often ignored by the world and the world’s media.

Today is Mother’s Day (I hope all you mothers are having an excellent one) and I just want to ask that you spare a moment for those women in Congo struggling to look after their children, giving birth in really difficult circumstances and having to flee their homes with their families to escape violence.

Giving birth for the 4th time

Please read Congolese women’s testimonies here and then, if you are willing, post about these women or share with your networks. We just want their stories heard by as many people as possible…

Thanks for your help,

Pete

Hello all, this is half showing off ( I was in the gorgeous Lesotho), half proving that I am still doing the knitting and half a little reminder of why p/hop exists. I know that is three halves, but that’s because p/hop just keeps on giving.

My trip to Lesotho was amazing. As I said it was for the BBC Lesotho diary projects, which can be found here. I will let you know when the next instalments go up and you can check out the handywork.

The Cranford Mitts pattern has been kindly donated to the p/hop project by Jane Lithgow.

As the title suggests, the inspiration for this pattern came from the BBC adaptation of Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell. Jane says, ‘This gentle drama, both humorous and touching took us into the lives of gentlewomen of certain age living in reduced circumstances. I noticed that many of their costumes included delicate mitts which they wore to ensure warm fingers in their draughty houses. I have adapted this idea to create some warm but delicately lacy mitts to take the edge off chilly spring mornings.’

To download a PDF version of ‘Cranford Mitts’ click here

We hope you enjoy knitting this free pattern and don’t forget to give it a p/hop rating!

“Come to the little knit meeting we have in Golders Green” said Jane over the phone.

Lovely, thought I. In a coffee shop, a couple of people around to chat to and get tips off. And, most importantly, no pressure….

Wednesday rolls around and I turn up at the the cafe. THERE ARE 19 KNITTERS! Small group? Suddenly I am immensely nervous. I walk straight through the cafe and order a medium black coffee and pop to the loo. I wash my face and return. The coffee is waiting for me – this must be an American style coffee shop as my medium coffee fills a vessel the size of a small bucket. I take a sip and, as casually as I can, stroll over.

Of course I am being ridiculous! The knitters are lovely and Jane and introduces me to the other 18. I forget each name as I am introduced and get my wool out.

Going so well.....

Jane is a great teacher and I am soon finishing a first row of twenty! This is easy! As I round the bend and start my second row, I am in very high spirits. Admittedly, I cannot knit and do anything else – such is the concentration I am devotingto the needles in my hands, but I am making progress…

Four rows in and Jane calls for a stop. This is a practice – the scarf needs to be much wider, so gotta do longer rows. ‘Piece of cake’ thinks I (also secretly glad that I get to “frog” so early in my knitting career).

I am a natural!

I tie my slip knot and off I go again. But something is different… It seems that the wool is tighter on the needles and I am having trouble maneouvering them properly. I begin to get stressed and tense (not helped by my two litres of thick, caffeine filled beverage)  and Jane wisely tells me to lower my shoulders from around my ears. But it’s no good, something has gone wrong. It seems like the needles are tiny and each movement restricts my movement more and more.

Uh-oh...

And they are kicking us out of the cafe.

I cannot believe I have learnt to knit and forgotten again in the space of two hours…I was so close.

But I am not easlily beaten and I will be back to Golders Green knitting group – at least I’ll have a chance to remember some names!