Britain’s best knitter C4

[2Rebecca]

With Tom Daley who annoys me but I like that it’s proper knitting not dumbed down and they’re starting with a fairisle tank top

My issue at the moment is I don’t know the judges and we’re not getting to know them.
But also yes I’d live a demo of each technique, it’s all so vague with a vocabulary me the casual non-crafty viewer feel excluded with.

They seemed to come over better in episode two. But I'm still not convinced there is room for two crying judges in reality TV. She's always going to seem like a faint copy of Keith BJ. Perhaps it's just that I can't imagine crying over someone else's knitting, however beautifully done.

Yes, I would like to see more evidence they actually know about knitting; all I have picked up so far is that they designed sweaters in the 80s.
I can think of several ladies in my knitting group who would do a better job, not just because they have the technical skill themselves but because they can talk more articulately about other people’s work.

Well, you say that, but it's very different doing it in front of a camera. I think many technical expert reality show judges take their time to find their voice on camera.

You’re right of course, but the point remains they’re not really adding anything to what you can learn from the women at a typical craft group. Ideally a show like this could have been educational for the experienced knitter as well as inspirational for the beginner.
I bet Holger could teach many of us a lot. Or they could have got someone in like Hazel Tindall.

When Bake Off started they had segments about the techniquescand history - here's how crème patisserie is made.and it originated among the poor weavers of Brittany (I may have made that bit up). Now it's just "crem pat" with no explanation.

Describing intarsia and the pitfalls of holes would have taken less than three minutes.

So - knitted swimwear? Are we optimistic?

I just have memories of my parent's generation talking about the humiliation of saggy home made knitted swimming costumes. Hard to get beyond that, to be honest, though I'm guessing we're not going to see them used in the pool.

There have been crocheted bikinis around more recently, I think. Might look Ok on an Olympic level sportsperson. At least it's a challenge that might be doable in a limited time.

Oh dear. Were the first two episodes so bad I am literally the only person left watching it?

I kind of watched the first half while cleaning the kitchen but haven't seen the completed deckchairs.

I just find it annoying. I don't know why. Tom Daley annoys me, the crying judge annoys me. In fact both the judges annoy me. They're like school teachers. And the way they spoke to Meadow last week put me right off.

I want to enjoy it. I love knitting. But it's just a bit weird.

There is another thread so a few people did watch it but it’s not very active either.
I haven’t bothered. Did they say at the end what they will be doing next week? If I like the sound of it I will catch up on this one.

I haven’t watched last night’s episode yet. I’m still recovering from those flipping dog outfits last week. In saying that, I was hugely impressed with the fit and neatness of Holger’s creation. I am going to watch the third episode on catch up. It’s strange when I’m flicking through Facebook reels (mine are full of knitting and crochet videos, thanks algorithm😊) there is such a mixture of opinions. Some people think it’s a fabulous show and that everyone else is being sarcastic and rude. It’s a bit of fun. It’s a showcase for creativity. We should just relax and not be so uptight about it. But I think that people who work with yarn, whether creating their own patterns or following often very complex set patterns, have waited a long time for some acknowledgment of their skills. DP read some of the opinions of the show online and we had a discussion about knitting (ha!) He sees me sitting there working away on something and there’s that attitude of ‘oh there she is click clacking away on her needles’. I explained that I can, for example, keep a complicated cable pattern in my brain after a few rows. Or remember colour changes in stranded knitting without checking. Like most knitters. He was a bit surprised at the complexity and I think maybe a wee bit impressed for the first time😃

It was ridiculous.

Crocheted and knitted bikinis, one pieces and shorts with an accessory.

Why don't they show how to knit? How to crochet? The difference between a double crochet and a triple?

They could have interesting sections on yarn (they did try this time), needle size, intarsia and how to change colour without making a hole etc.

It’s billed as a search for Britain’s best knitter, so I don’t think it fulfils the brief. I like to see garments constructed using a range of techniques. I don’t think I see anyone wanting to wear a knitted swimsuit, but a dress with shaping and different stitches would be great to see, but not possible in the time frame of course. Deck chair covers though?

I found it really weird that people who professed not to be crocheters were voluntarily going for crochet options. I mean, you just wouldn't, would you, especially if you have to produce something credible in public and within a limited time frame? You would stick to your comfort zone.

And I don't really understand why the crochet judge agreed to adjudicate on such a ridiculous challenge. She must have been itching to insist on something more realistic like a shawl or blanket, which can be every bit as complex as anything they produced by way of deckchair covers, and much more practical.

Just watched the third episode there and must admit I enjoyed it more than the others. Would I wear a crocheted bikini? No. Nor any manifestation of a bikini these days for that matter🤣 But I liked the fact that swimwear was something they could realistically get finished without resorting to chunky yarn and there was scope for plenty of creativity. I wasn’t keen on Lydia’s, even though the judges raved about it. It fitted reasonably well, but was a bit dull. The deck chairs were like sofa week all over again, but the fact they were working in pairs was better than the giant groups trying to scrabble everything together.

I'm finding watching some of the reviews of the show as interesting as watching the show. A Canadian knitter ( French Canada she does podcasts and videos in English and French) has an interesting series of youtube videos on the series. Her videos on colourwork and sock knitting are also good. Her review of episode 3 is I liked Tom's outfit this week although it was completely bonkers. The knitted swimwear was just a silly idea. Do a glove or a hat.

The judge is a walking health & safety issue with that knitting needle/space bun monstrosity

Crochet only???

The kiddie mannequin has been recycled from sewing bee

It's not good, is it?

Good god the judge with knitting needles in her hair? Does she think it makes her look wacky or something? This programme is so bad it’s unmissable. Car crash tv at its best. Tbh if there was anything else on on a Sunday evening it wouldn’t get a look in!

We're still watching but only just. I think Tom Daley is a perfectly acceptable host and I like him more than I expected to. But we decided tonight there are too many shots of the knitters just looking quite miserable, and the judges aren't animated enough to counteract that.

I think there is a decent programme lurking somewhere within this, and the fact it's not quite working is down to the production team. It's not the same people who do Bake Off and Throwdown (Love Productions) and I think this lot are slightly missing the tone and failing to create an engaging narrative.

They should make Holgar a judge next time, his dry and slightly sardonic manner would be a good foil for one of the current judges. Though I suspect there may not be another time.

I agree there just isn't the energy between the judges that you see in Sewing Bee or Bake Off.

I really loved the kids' costumes this week, but doing it all in crochet? When some people learned the stitches that week? And we didn't get to see how to crochet those stitches?

I thought the wall hanging was ridiculous.

Disgusting that the poor girls had to model those crappy bikinis that didnt fit properly and showed their arse etc. Should have been on mannequins.

Not only that they weren't texted in the water they would have sagged and looked awful. Nobody in their right mind would wear that swimming.

Whoever decided on this and dog hats etc wants sacking....

When did you last see a hand made deckchair seat either?

It’s grim. As an intermediate knitter with lots still to learn, I was hoping it would be a bit more informative about how to actually produce attractive items.

The judges seems shy which is not a great attribute for TV.