Spring into spring with this gorgeous Chic Spring Beret kindly donated to p/hop by talented designer Jane Crowfoot and the staff at The Knitter magazine.

The beret uses four colours of DK yarn and is a good introduction to Fair Isle (stranded colour) knitting. If you’re new to Fair Isle knitting there are lots of good tutorials on the internet including one on the KnittingHelp.com website (scroll down for the video) or just ask in the p/hop group on Ravelry if you need any advice.

If you want to see what the beret looks like in other colourways take inspiration from what others have made on Ravelry.

To read more about the Chic Spring Beret pattern and download the PDF click here. Happy Knitting!

The stunning Dido Shawl and Dido Scarf pattern has been generously designed and donated to p/hop by Åsa Tricosa.

The pattern can be knit as either a shawl or scarf and uses 4ply yarn.

To find out more and download a copy of the pattern in return for a donation to Médecins Sans Frontières click here.

Don’t forget to follow us on twitter or join the p/hop Ravelry group to keep up with the latest news and new patterns. Happy Knitting!

Thanks to the generosity of designer Karen Wessel (aka quesselchen) we have a new p/hop sock pattern.

These gorgeous Stained Glass Window Socks work brilliantly with graduated yarn colours as well as combinations of solid and variegated yarns. Let your imagination run wild…

To find out more and download a copy of the pattern in return for a donation to Médecins Sans Frontières click here.

Don’t forget to follow us on twitter or join the p/hop Ravelry group to keep up with the latest news and new patterns. Happy Knitting!

swatches

The life of a textiles designer is ironically often quite frantic, due to the slow and steady nature of the crafts involved meaning some projects can go on for months.

Last week was one of those busy-busy weeks, with lots of long projects nearing completion at the same time.I have had four knitting and crochet projects to swatch, finish making and/or write patterns for, as well as the day job, a launch party, knitting lesson and Christmas market preparation and some embroidery projects to complete. Phew!

The picture above shows some grey garter stitch, which is a sample of the cowl we shall be knitting in a beginners class coming up this weekend, a mock houndstooth fairisle knit coming to a magazine near you very soon and a couple of crochet swatches for throws. The nice thing about working on so many different projects is that you don’t get bored, or suffer so acutely with RSI or tennis elbow due to the differing patterns of your fingers when working crochet and knitting or chunky and fine yarns.

I have also been planning more adventurous projects, dreaming up and sketching wonderfully glamourous knits for a possible new book, here’s a little exclusive preview of a fringed number. Have been wanting to make this for what seems like forever, perhaps now will be the big chance!

So glad that this week is panning out a little more relaxed so I have finally had a chance to blog and direct people to the fantastic p/hop cause; hopefully all you generous knitters will get huge pleasure from knitting something from the site and be able to take the time to enjoy the process as well as the donating.

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Thank you very much Claire. You can read more from Claire aka Montyknits here.

Remember you can get all the blog-a-long updates by following p/hop on twitter and in the p/hop Ravelry group.

Over the course of Woolfest last week, a staggering total of £894.78 was raised for p/hop! Special mention to the Kindred Knitters for their generous contribution and Joy Edwards for donating the Forest Canopy Shawl as a raffle prize.

A full Woolfest update from Ray to follow shortly.

Thanks for all the support! 

Ray, Sonja, Aisha and Lou

Just a reminder we are off to Cumbria this Friday and Saturday for Woolfest. 

We will have handouts of the patterns available, including the lastest Hopsox and Chevron De Paix Socks, and a display of the entire knitted p/hop collection. So if you haven’t yet got around to knitting up one of the patterns yourself, come and have a look at the end result.

As well as the Hopsox pattern, Joy Edwards has also donated the lovely Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl to be raffled off at Woolfest. Tickets will be available at the stall and all money raised goes to p/hop.

Joy Edwards has designed and donated the latest p/hop Hopsox pattern. Thanks Joy!

To download Hopsox click here.

Once you have knitted up these beautiful socks and would like to make a donation for the hours of enjoyment you had click here.  

If you have any queries or comments regarding the pattern, Joy can be contacted on Ravelry by clicking here.

Get your knitting needles ready for the latest p/hop pattern – the Jacob Beanie.

To download a PDF version click here.

Big thanks to Terri Bate for designing and donating this lovely pattern.

So.. now we have a scarf, some mittens, a beanie and with Debbie’s sock pattern on the way we are heading for a complete p/hop accessories set for next winter. An entire knitted p/hop outfit is surely worth a donation! Anyone interested in designing a sweater..

Happy knitting!

Lou

In a frenzy of SkipNorth swapping this week, p/hop donations rocketed over £1,000. Reaching this amount is a significant achievement and goes to show that £5 or £10 here and there really adds up!

Whether you enjoyed a free pattern, swapped some stash at SkipNorth or watched Pete knit up a mountain, your support of p/hop goes a long way.

Just how far….

Buy a 5,000 Litre water bladder which provides drinkable water for 1,000 people a day.

Buy 280 mosquito nets.

Buy enough delivery kits to help bring 125 babies safely into the world.

© François Dumont

Thanks to all you fabulous knitters and p/hoppers out there for making this possible. Here’s to the next target!

*Based on prices in 2008

Post photo: A mother and child in an MSF feeding programme in Ethiopia. By Francesco Zizola

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!