Knitting patterns and saving lives

It's easy enough to buy a knitting pattern online. They're everywhere. Google it, wander through Ravelry's pattern pile, meander through the millions on Etsy. You get a lovely pattern to give you hours of knitting pleasure, the seller gets some lovely money. All is right with the world. But wouldn't it be fabulous if you could get your pattern and be a superhero to someone who needs it all at once?

A year ago a project called P/hop (Pennies Per Hour of Pleasure) was born to help knitters do just that and today is its first birthday.

P/hop is charity knitting project which raises funds for worthy emergency medical aid organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders.

It's a plethora of ever so lovely patterns, all donated by incredibly generous designers. The patterns are available for you to download on the site. You donate based on how many hours of pleasure you'll get from knitting your p/hop pattern. There's no set price for a pattern; you can donate 50p or £50. It's entirely up to you.

You can donate in pounds or in dollars and the patterns are well worth your money and time.

Read over the jump for more on the patterns and a special birthday announcement.

A quick browse turns up a Tim-Burtonesque Trinity Shawlette, the flowery floaty fabulous Flowers in the Rain scarf, and the toe-warmingly tempting Socks for Little Wizards.

What's more in their birthday week they're featuring a new pattern every day. Jane Lithgow's Karenina Socks are practically begging for you to start stitching them.

They also encourage knitters to blog along so you have a wealth of people knitting what you're knitting to compare your purling pleasures with.

Do something that is good for you, good for knittingkind and good for those who really need some good in their lives. Happy birthday, P/hop!

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