Who says a martini can't solve problems?

The idea for the Martini Cowl began as an exercise in problem solving. What if you don't know how much yarn you've got, especially if it's a bit of handspun or a charity shop buy which you're never going to be able to match? It might be beautiful but unless you actually measure the yardage, will you ever have the courage to start on a pattern which you might not be able to finish?

So I came up with a solution - a cowl where, once you've decided what needles to use and how many stitches to cast on, you can pretty much just keep going until you run out of yarn.

I needed both to experiment with what yarns worked and demonstrate how different versions of the pattern might look, so I started with a version in a sock/fingering weight yarn which I'd bought at Unravel, Shearer Girl Lustrous Sock in Antique Rose:

This made for a light, smokeringy type thing, which I've been wearing pretty much constantly since I finished it.

To show the versatility of the pattern, I then knitted it in Aran weight:

This was it works as an infinity scarf which can be twisted twice around the neck:

(The photos are part of the Clare Suffolk photo sesh).

The Martini name comes from the old ad - any time, any place, anywhere - this is any yarn, any length, any size!

So, the pattern is a great knitter's problem solver. What to do with spare bits of stash, and how to knit up quick Christmas presents with it.

What I hadn't appreciated from the beginning was that it might be helping to solve more serious problems. I decided to donate the pattern to p/hop, a knitters' project which raises money for Medicins sans Frontieres (MSF)- that's "Doctors without Borders". Every knitter who downloads the pattern is asked to make a donation to the charity. The same week the pattern came out, the typhoon hit the Philippines and MSF were on the front line in providing medical help to thousands of people facing disaster. So this pattern really is a win, win, win - use up your stash, make a gift for yourself or a friend, and maybe make a huge difference to someone in desperate straits.

Follow the links above to find out more about p/hop & MSF and to download the pattern or just make a donation.

Putting the Treat into Retreat

I've just got back from spending the weekend at the first Rocking Kitchen (this is the amalgamation of http://www.rockandpurl.com/ and http://joeliskitchen.com/ - actually not two websites but two fine people, Ruth and Joeli, respectively current and former tech editors at Knit Now magazine) designers' retreat, in Brighouse in West Yorkshire.

Now I will be honest here, I was thrilled and actually rather privileged to be invited, but somewhat apprehensive about the weekend. Firstly, I'm not someone who ever imagined herself going on something which calls itself a retreat (I had images of some kind of combination of yoga, vitamin water and primal scream therapy). Secondly, I'm well known for generally avoiding anything which involves spending time in large groups of women - I had both a stag and a hen do (and there was at least one man on the hen night). Thirdly, I had only actually met one of the people who was going to be there (and she I knew would have to leave early). Fourthly, the whole set up sounded rather like the plot of an episode of Midsomer Murders. I was carefully scanning the attendance list to make sure Joyce Barnaby had not found her way onto it.

On the plus side, going to Yorkshire is always a pleasure and never a chore, I knew everyone else would be knitters (and therefore a) predisposed to be decent types and b) there would always be something to talk about), and Joyce's named failed to show up in the Rav discussion group. Then as the day drew near, rumours began to circulate that Ruth, Joeli and Knit Now's Kate had been compiling retreat goodie bags of epic proportions, and also that we were to be joined by a special mystery celebrity guest. (Her identity being less of a mystery (but still special) after Woolly Wormhead herself posted in the group to say it was her). This was on top of them organising accommodation, catering, logistics etc for everyone.

I drove up from London with another retreatee (http://www.porpoisefur.com/ also not actually a website but a person), which was a good move as it meant we both felt like we knew someone by the time we arrived. In fact I think we felt like we had been through a deeply traumatic bounding experience together, this being the spectacular Friday night traffic jam which meant the last 6 miles took over an hour to cover. On arrival, there was the somewhat disconcerting experience of learning the actual names of people one only knew by Twitter/Rav handles, though I admit I still kept calling Woolly Wormhead Woolly. The goodie bags were being compiled in a Secret Room but we were shown around the rest of the enormous Victorian pile where we were staying and, after a few glasses of wine, it became easier to remember people's real names, helped by the fact that many were wearing their own sock patterns, and actually rather relaxing to be in company where a discussion about, for instance, the pilling propensity or otherwise of fibre was regarded not only as not weird but even engaging. It was also good to chat to Kate from Knit Now about the awesomeness of Artesano yarns and the rubbishness of Luton, both topics dear to my heart.

Any question about how the weekend was to be spent was answered when the bounty was revealed. Clearly we could happily spend the next two days poking yarn. There was enough to insulate a small housing estate. As well as a take home stash of sufficient size I have had to hide it from my husband, there was a huge pile of yarn for us to try out and swatch (and needles from Chiagoo and Hiya Hiya for us to try it out with).

When the swatching, poking, and squishing got too much, Woolly Wormhead turned out to have brought all the hats in the world and was happy for us to try them on and give us each basically a personal hat styling session (we did all participate in giving each other advice on this) as to what style suited us (during the course of which it was agreed that Runway and Camden rather helpfully suit everyone). Then we swatched a bit more. People span. And do you know what, it turned out we all got on rather well.

I did manage to leave the house at one point for a walk, and we discovered that there was a miniature railway opposite. It is just as well my husband didn't know this beforehand as I think he would have banned me from going in absolute certainty that I would be murdered in a cosy Sunday night TV drama.

Yarn highlights:

Yarns I had been wanting to try for ages: Island Wool Snaelden; Blacker Yarns Falkland Island Wool.

Yarns I'd never heard of and am glad I got to try: Kettle Yarn Co; Cascade Yarns Souk.

Yarn I am really looking forward to working out something fab to do with: West Yorkshire Spinners BFL; Dirty Water Dye Works Paula; Space Cadet mini skeins; Manos del Uruguay Serena; Milla Mia Naturally Soft Merino; Lorna's Laces Sportmate.

Yarns I already have a plan for: Manos del Uruguay Wool Classica; Araucania Maipo.

On our final morning there was a thick frost - I'd forgotten what Yorkshire weather can do - but the nightmare traffic jam had cleared and I headed back to London, this time with three of us and a car bursting at the seams with yarn. It would have made an interesting "shed load" on  the M1.

I just had time, prior to hiding everything from my husband, to review what I had, and get the cat to model some: 

 

Here Bluey is modelling Malabrigo Laceweight.

I'll be blogging again to let you know what exciting designs I come up with, and also very soon to tell you more about my Martini Cowl which has just been released for p/hop to raise much needed funds for Medicins sans Frontieres.