Clare aka Dragonflyknit is guest blogging about our current Cranford Mitt-a-long. Take it away Clare….

It has been fun this September to participate in another Ravelry knit-a-long for p/hop of Jane Lithgow’s wonderful Cranford mittens: fabulous to knit and to wear, and also very popular gifts. I signed up on August 3^rd when littlelixie suggested the idea, and began planning which yarn to use. Fellow Ravellers signed up to the knit-a-long quickly grew to twenty-eight, and more have joined in along the way. (It’s not too late to join us! Click here for the Ravelry thread).

Right, a confession: I already had a pair of Cranfords on my circular needle, so I had to get the knitting of these completed in order to cast on a new pair on September 1^st. However, the darning in of the ends of the pair I was knitting in August is not yet done, so my plan is do so this week. Thus by 30^th September, I will in fact have completed two pairs = two donations to P-Hop!

As ever, being part of a knit a long has been a very rewarding experience: it is such a pleasure to see the fabulous yarn and colour choices made for the mitts, and to check in frequently to see how my fellow knitters are progressing. It is also great to see the kindness, encouragement and assistance being offered to knitters who ask for help because the Cranford pattern presents them with the opportunity to learn new skills.

Thank you for sharing your experiences with us Clare. If you’re not a Ravelry member here are a few of the gorgeous pairs of mittens that have been made. Thank you to everyone in our Ravelry group who has shared their photos.

Extra repeats of the main pattern make for very elegant Cranfords as knitted by OneHandKnits. ©OneHandKnits

DarthKnitty aka Sefronia throwing some Gagaesque shapes with her coordinated Cranfords. ©Sefronia

Another fine pair by ©Crobbles

If you’ve blogged about the Mitts you’ve made we’d love to read about it. Please leave your comments and links to your blog below.

Tempted to join in? Please do. The official deadline is 30th September but as our knit-a-long is for fun we won’t mind if you’re knitting Cranfords into October, Christmas or 2012…

Speaking of Christmas check out this fun and festive pair made by Snail Hannah

Festive Cranfords by © Snailhannah

Happy knitting and as always thank you for supporting Médecins Sans Frontières.

We don’t often have fund-raising knitting here at p/hop but if you’re itching to make something for Medecins Sans Frontieres now is your chance.

The brilliant supporters in the Ravelry p/hop group are organising another knit-a-long to make squares for blankets which will be raffled at knitting festivals over the summer. If you remember last year the group made a beautiful barn raising blanket from sock weight yarn. The lucky person who won it in the raffle at the I Knit Weekender practically ran to claim it.

This year there are two patterns to choose from, the barn raising blanket or the Lizard Ridge blanket which can be found on Knitty.com.

If you want to take part you will find details in the Ravelry group.

Thank you and happy knitting…

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