Ch 4 Game of Wool. Britain’s Best Knitter

Is it crochet tonight ? Wonder what kind of mess they can produce with that lovely craft

It’s on again tonight. More controversy. Animal charity PETA have complained that they should not have made dogs wear those knitted coats and hats.

No idea what they’re doing tonight.

I am an experienced knitter, yet I had to look up what interstasia (sic) is (found that I actually do this with some types of designs and did not know it had a name!)
I’m surprised you found anything!
Did you mean intarsia ?

Allira sorry didn't see your post . I don't knit but when I did I used the correct yarn for the pattern . I can understand why the Shetland knitters would be up in arms. It would be like knitting a fishmans jumper using the wrong yarn and pattern . Or calling a double knit jumper Aran when not made with Aran wool.

My grandfather knitted! (He had relatives who were fishermen and sailors, which may have had something to do with it.)
He made me a large beret/tam-o-shanter... in purple and mustard.
I thanked him - but I'm afraid I didn't wear it.

I do think it is a great opportunity lost!!!! This show could have been a must for all knitters and should have been promoting knitting,

Surely, each week they should have had a short section on 'how to knit', explaining different stitches and different yarns.

Could have used life size models to display knitted items, all being made in appropriate types of yarn and using appropriate sized needles.

I am an experienced knitter, yet I had to look up what interstasia is (found that I actually do this with some types of designs and did not know it had a name!).

I understand that Tom Daley wanted to use the show to advertise his own new knitting designs and this was given (properly) a definite NO NO, by the producers. So, he seems to be getting his own back with wearing those ridiculous items. Does not reflect well on him!!!

Would like to see at least one young judge. By having those two older ladies it carries on the impression that knitting, etc is just for the elderly.

The first weeks fairisle should have been done with appropriate yarn and needles, as for the dogs outfits - well hated seeing how uncomfortable the animal was with those stupid hats - they gave their verdicts by shaking them off.

Wondering about next weeks - can remember the knitted two piece my Mum made for me back in the the 1940's. Could never go anywhere near the water in it.

Ok, I'll take your word for it

But I'd be embarrassed if I had to wear something like that. 😀

Iggys and whippets always look either worried or embarrassed.

Yes, they do, Millie22.

Just watching the dog coat episode, zipping through most of it quickly to get to the fashion show.

Oh dear, oh dear, those poor dogs look quite embarrassed and, in some cases uncomfortable.
I'm sure I heard one mutter that she'd called the RSPCA.

Allira
Just realised you asked about the candle houses. I don't have the patterns for them unfortunately but thought they looked really nice.

I’m loving it! Have always been in awe of people being able to knit. I did just nod off so need to rewatch some of it. I also get the dog coat bit as I’ve got a whippet and our dog walking group dresses the dogs up ( albeit not in woolly outfits). Holger seems very bossy from what I’ve seen. I’ve still got a jumper my mum knitted for me when I was a child, even though it’s a bit moth eaten. Along with the last thing she knitted for me which was a waistcoat. And all the matinee jackets she knitted for my children. I love going into wool shops, too, even though I can’t knit. I’m looking back on all of the woolly things I’ve had over the years , including an Arran sweater that my MIL knitted for my ex that the cat ate; such hard work had gone into it.

Retroladywriting

Crossstitchfan

I think this programme is about as disappointing as a programme could be! The idea is not bad but why, oh why, did they choose such dislikable presenters? Tom is irritating, and that dreadful judge with ‘the hair’! What is she thinking? I wouldn’t go out into my own private garden with hair that looked as bad as that.
To my mind, if presenters think it’s ok to look so scruffy, it tells me that they couldn’t give a sh*t about their viewers. Frankly, I despise them and won’t be watching this car crash of a programme ever again. Can’t think how it ever passed the test to actually be broadcast!

Wow! Don't hold back, will you?

How do you know I didn’t?? 🤣

Whiff

Has anyone read the open letter from Shetland knitters about what the show called fair isle. They made a mockery of an ancient tradition. Shetland knitters use only Shetland wool for fair isle and it's knitted using 2 strands of fine Shetland wool. Not what the show showed.

Google open letter from Shetland knitters and see for yourselves.

I posted earlier, Whiff, about what the MSP for the Shetland Islands, Beatrice Wishart, thought about the programme.

It was not exactly complimentary!

I'm another one that had a knitted (or was it crocheted) bikini! It had plastic rings at either side of the bottoms and in the middle of the bust. It was definitely itsy bitsy teeny weeny but it was at least lined!

I feel the same about watching it. If they water test next weeks knitted swimwear it could get really exciting! 🤣
😂😂
If they knit enough for the GB swimming team I reckon they would win the next Olympics hands ( or should that be something else) down!

Crossstitchfan

I think this programme is about as disappointing as a programme could be! The idea is not bad but why, oh why, did they choose such dislikable presenters? Tom is irritating, and that dreadful judge with ‘the hair’! What is she thinking? I wouldn’t go out into my own private garden with hair that looked as bad as that.
To my mind, if presenters think it’s ok to look so scruffy, it tells me that they couldn’t give a sh*t about their viewers. Frankly, I despise them and won’t be watching this car crash of a programme ever again. Can’t think how it ever passed the test to actually be broadcast!

Wow! Don't hold back, will you?

Mainly, I was very sorry for the dogs. They got no attention that I saw - only what they were wearing...! - and I am not even a 'dog person'!
I may try next week, but suspect I will turn off.

Has anyone read the open letter from Shetland knitters about what the show called fair isle. They made a mockery of an ancient tradition. Shetland knitters use only Shetland wool for fair isle and it's knitted using 2 strands of fine Shetland wool. Not what the show showed.

Google open letter from Shetland knitters and see for yourselves.

Crossstitchfan

I think this programme is about as disappointing as a programme could be! The idea is not bad but why, oh why, did they choose such dislikable presenters? Tom is irritating, and that dreadful judge with ‘the hair’! What is she thinking? I wouldn’t go out into my own private garden with hair that looked as bad as that.
To my mind, if presenters think it’s ok to look so scruffy, it tells me that they couldn’t give a sh*t about their viewers. Frankly, I despise them and won’t be watching this car crash of a programme ever again. Can’t think how it ever passed the test to actually be broadcast!

Careful crossstitchfan 😉. I was told by a GNer earlier on this thread to “maybe think about how you have internalised misogyny and ageism” and my comments were very watered down. I was also told my comments were “Disgusting”.

I think this programme is about as disappointing as a programme could be! The idea is not bad but why, oh why, did they choose such dislikable presenters? Tom is irritating, and that dreadful judge with ‘the hair’! What is she thinking? I wouldn’t go out into my own private garden with hair that looked as bad as that.
To my mind, if presenters think it’s ok to look so scruffy, it tells me that they couldn’t give a sh*t about their viewers. Frankly, I despise them and won’t be watching this car crash of a programme ever again. Can’t think how it ever passed the test to actually be broadcast!

I have no strong feelings about the judges. They've got the 'not all knitters are like Miss Marple' thing going on with TD, and both of them know what they are doing.

I think mohair is quite forgiving. Horrible to knit back if you make a mistake, but minor things like twisted stitches are hidden, and you can use bigger needles because of the hairiness.

I think it's difficult to compare the show with ones like Bake Off, as knitting takes ages, but this one doesn't have an 'angle' of its own, which is where the problems are, IMO. I agree that there is not enough 'educational' content for people who want to learn more about knitting, but not all expert knitters can put their skill into words or know how to teach, so I don't know how that would work, unless they had a segment where one of the judges (or a guest expert) demonstrated a technique. I would rather see that than the group task, I think. Both episodes have featured Intarsia, for instance, and I'm sure a lot of people won't know what it is or how to do it, so it would have been good to see that, and some tips on Fair Isle in the first episode.

I suppose the producers had to decide whether to have an educational programme or an entertainment show.

PaynesGrey. I also crocheted a tiny bikini and pretty sure that was from Golden Hands. My Mum used to buy that magazine.

The first thing I ever made was a waistcoat in DK yarn which looked like a spiders web on the back. I was 15 or 16 and that type of thing was very much in fashion. I also made several little crochet hats which were so popular then.

Gave it a try last night found it a bit boring to be honest won't be bothering again

Millie22

I don't want to be mean but I really want to give that judge woman a comb to sort out her hair and take those silly needles out.

Poor Meadow .... an intarsia pattern of a guitar with mohair wool. Really hard to do.

On another forum one woman said the judges looked like a pair of down and outs. harsh!

The programme would be a lot more interesting to average knitters like me if there was an accompanying tutorial like a book or magazine devoted to the show itself which explains in more detail the techniques used week by week.
The tasks are impossible to follow if you are not familiar with the terminology but that doesn’t mean they can’t be followed if given a bit more information and guidance.