I thought this extreme knitting would be about the terrible knitters of Dent. There was an article I read years ago in an issue of 'The Dalesman' - apparently these knitters would carry their knitting around in a special holder, and knit at every spare moment at a furious pace. The 'terrible' adjective was not a character assassination of these tough Yorkshirewomen, but related to the terrible, or terrific speed at which they worked.
I don't fancy the broomstick thing - too much like hard work.
I've got another 'keen'... Ouch!