Ch 4 Game of Wool. Britain’s Best Knitter

alie2oxon Janie Crow and Tom Daley chat on Instagram @thegameofwool while she's wearing that gorgeous shawl. It was posted yesterday

I did not agree with the judges decision this week in who should win the baaaadge.
I thought Simon deserved it. They were very impressed with his breakfast food, especially the bacon. Holger's was original but at the end of the day is was long strings of knitted noodles.
All the slouchy cardigans had faults but I thought Holger and Ailsa's cardigan which had one whole side attached upside down was not a worthy winner. Simon & Lydia's fault on their cardigan was minor by comparison.

The contestants have come on in leaps and bounds! Especially Simon (?) who was very inexperienced. His plate of breakfast food was exceptional.

I do think this should be taken into account because Holger is always winning and getting great comments from the judges but he is a designer after all, so in my opinion has a headstart.

I'm watching it now. What on earth is that judge with the knitting needles in her hair wearing????

WARNING! I tried to find out the date of the final by googling, and AI told me the winner!

Further to last Monday’s post. Even though the programme format is dull, the series does continue to grow on me - although I could do with some clear distinction between knitting and crocheting - which Daley tends to refer to as one craft.

Isaac did really well this week. A quiet young man growing in confidence. Ailsa is consistently good.

Right person cast off this week. Out of their depth. Their part in the group challenge threw the whole thing out of kilter. I bet Holger was quietly furious. He’d much rather work alone.

As a none knitter. I’ve tried for years but even a scarf goes wrong🙄. This doesn’t inspire me at all. I watched the first episode and last night’s. Silly tasks and judges with no noticeable enthusiasm for the job in hand. It’s a no from me.

I think Simon may be gone next week. He doesn't seem to have the range of knitting stitches that some of the others have. Isaac was a revelation. After almost being cast off last week he was Knitter of the Week. Still not in love with this programme. It's like a car crash, you know you shouldn't look but can't resist a sneaky peek.

Projects much more manageable in the time last night. The toddlers looked adorable in their fancy dress costumes. Judges again looked uncomfortable. Was the one with needles in her hair wearing knitted dungerees? How strange and impractical.

That’s great to hear Primrose.
I was thinking people would be put off; so glad to be wrong.

Saw a post on FB where a wool shop owner was saying how good the prog has been for her business. She says she has loads of new customers coming in for yarn and hooks and needles!

If it inspires more people to have a go then that’s great. Once you know the basics and get a feel for it then you decide what you want to make and you don’t have to make sofa covers and dog coats! 😝

Primrose53

Enjoyed it tonight and I think most of the knitters have improved quite a lot.

Judges very critical tonight and the judge with the knitting needles sticking out of her head!!!

Right person sent home tonight.

She was probably relieved!

Enjoyed it tonight and I think most of the knitters have improved quite a lot.

Judges very critical tonight and the judge with the knitting needles sticking out of her head!!!

Right person sent home tonight.

I haven’t watched this, I would probably find it too irritating judging by some of the comments on here anyway.

There are so many instructional videos available on YouTube some very good that it would be difficult to give the same level of support needed on a tv programme.
Years and years ago (around the time that the Open University was broadcast on BBC 2 there was a lot of “teachy” content but also adult education was in it’s hey day too.

By contrast today for the past 20 years every skill based series singing, cooking, baking, dressmaking, pottery, and so on has had to have some element of jeapody or working against the clock, followed by someone being eliminated each episode. This is presumably because the producers feel that audiences would be too bored with straight forward “how to” nowdays.

I think of Delia Smith and how it was all about the food and not about her, no showboating -then compare and contrast with Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson, Gordon Ramsey, all very “lifestyle” I know which of these I preferred and learned most from.
Although having said all this I have enjoyed The Great Pottery Throwdown mainly because there is hardly any crying in it…well not from the contestants anyway.😃

Thank you everyone 😊

Let's hope tonight's programme has something we can all aspire to make. I'm not holding my breath though.

So relieved that it's not just me! Just finished yet another 'using the stash' blanket, with enough left over for cushions, which may or may not need just a few new purchases ...

A knitted throw is too big for 12hrs, but a baby blanket would show similar skills.

Sorry to be difficult but I like Tom Daley. I like him as a presenter, but most of all I like how he's got younger people knitting and crocheting, and men knitting and crocheting

Millie22

I'd like to take over the programme and make a few changes 🤣

Get rid of those two women judges or maybe just the one with the hair who keeps crying

Each week show a tutorial about how to knit or crochet for beginners

Have a project that people can try themselves like...
A hat and scarf
A knitted throw
Something Christmassy like the candle and bottle holders

Nobody knits a sofa cover or a deckchair thing. I rest my case!

You’re absolutely right. The format as it is would put off anyone wanting to try knitting or crocheting for the first time.
An explanation of stitches and types of yarn would also be helpful to a beginner.
The judges actually say very little that is either helpful or constructive criticism. Their demeanour is not up to date and would make a younger person think knitting and crocheting are for ‘Grannies’. In fact I’m a knitting Granny and they put me off!

I’ll vote for you too Millie22.

Swimwear ! Deckchairs ! In November?

I have seen lots of clever beautiful Xmas hats scarves dolls teddies etc - much more appropriate in my humble opinion. At least they could be completed in the time perhaps.

I'll vote for you, Millie22 👏👏👏

I'd like to take over the programme and make a few changes 🤣

Get rid of those two women judges or maybe just the one with the hair who keeps crying

Each week show a tutorial about how to knit or crochet for beginners

Have a project that people can try themselves like...
A hat and scarf
A knitted throw
Something Christmassy like the candle and bottle holders

Nobody knits a sofa cover or a deckchair thing. I rest my case!

I packed in watching after two weeks. I love knitting and crocheting too much for them to spoilt it for me. Each to their own.

Crossstitchfan

I couldn’t agree more, Allira. The programme has nothing much going for it at all. I skim through it just in case there is anything interesting (who am I kidding?) but I wouldn’t even start to watch any more if another series is coming up.

I compared the lovely stole that the guest, Jane Crowfoot, was wearing with the efforts of the contestants!
Surely we want to see smaller items, if possible beautifully made?

I couldn’t agree more, Allira. The programme has nothing much going for it at all. I skim through it just in case there is anything interesting (who am I kidding?) but I wouldn’t even start to watch any more if another series is coming up.

Well, I've just watched the 3rd (?) episode, mostly, although I'll admit to 😴 through some of it.

The only thought that comes to mind is that knitting and crocheting has had quite a revival recently, as retro has become popular, but if anything is guaranteed to halt that revival, then this programme is it!