Game of Wool

[KnickerlessParsons]

What did we all think of Game of Wool then?

Personally I thought it was mostly all about Tom Daley - did he really have to try all the tank tops on himself? And also that there is never going to be enough time for each challenge for the contestants to make something worthwhile. Who would actually use a knitted sofa cover?
It’s such a condensed version of the challenge, we won’t get time for much witty banter either.

The jury is still out for me.

Holger and Ailsa are head and shoulders above the rest.

I’m finding it very entertaining, it’s so bonkers.
I laughed like a drain at the dog outfits: I am a cat person.
I assumed Holger was knitting a Bagpuss outfit at first, but of course it was commedia dell’ arte.
I am looking forward to the swimwear already. DD, who has no interest in knitting or any craft, immediately spotted the issue…

Argh stop saying 'iconic'!
Thought this was better this week (except for the dog).

If Tom Daley was female no one would be impressed by his knitting. I find it annoying that a fantastic craft has been reduced to chunky knits and dog jackets. But what else could they do in the time?

PS i too saw him on Traitors and was totally put off him.

At the start, it was said that the search was for Britain’s best knitter. I don’t think they’re succeeding.

The premise was never going to work, because it’s just not possible to construct well knitted garments in that time frame. Because of that, some of the knitting was not good.

If Tom Daley has knitted the garments he is wearing, they are t a good advert for his skill. I haven’t warmed to the presenters either.

There are reasons that knitted swimwear stopped being a thing.

I reckon there’s a 50% chance that Holger will win and 50% that after one too many ridiculous challenges he’ll put down his needles, say, ‘this is a waste of time. It isn’t knitting’ and walk out.

Holger is a star.

His visible bristling at that woman wanting to add 'embellishments' was TV gold.

it’s just not possible to construct well knitted garments in that time frame

Adult garments maybe. But they could have been asked to make a baby cardigan, a beanie hat, a cowl, a pair of mitts, scarf. Or a challenge where they are all given a 100g skein of sock yarn and asked to use it in the most creative way. Or told to crochet 8 big granny squares and make into a tote bag.

There are loads of sensible challenges. So far it’s totally missed the mark.

I think Britain’s best knitter is a misnomer as several of them don’t even seem to be competent knitters. And yes there are loads of sensible challenges they could have done. Of course the show producers knew all of that and went for trashy, car crash TV. Again. Holger and Ailsa are clearly brilliant knitters.

Yez weird they chose someone who doesnt lnow she is doing basic knitting wrong. She is obvioysly gre
at at crochet, but they shiuld at least have contestants who are competant at both knitting and crochet.
She is obviously lovely with great design ideas but not ready for this.

Next week it’s going to be swimming costumes and deck chairs I think. What a waste of yarn, and people’s time.

The waste of good yarn is what I find annoying. The items are rarely finished or useful. I can only hope they unravel them to reuse!

Holger is great, obviously a very precise and knowledgable knitter. Ailsa is also excellent. The ‘britains best knitter’ thing is annoying me though, when clearly there are some very new crafters here. My mum and her friends are extremely skilled knitters! Way way better. But they wouldn’t want to do this sort of daft challenge against the clock.

Maybe they are skilled, but just not fast

I was looking forward to this but have been pretty disappointed and don’t think, so far, that it shows the real skill and beauty of knitting. Personally, I don’t like chunky great big knits but they’ve had to do that due to time constraints.

In the second episode, I thought people were getting quite snippy with each other (I thought I heard a couple of people saying ‘Stop talking’, or similar).

The whole thing misses the mark.

I think its about time TV celebrated boring things and people with no personality

Im not joking either, Im sick of seeing everything being really over the top, blingy, glitzy, out there personalities, loud.

Where are the quiet everyday people, where are the introverted hobbies.

Its not perfect because of the time issue, it doesnt need to be made 'exciting' in my view and as Im not a knitter I dont really understand the needle issue.

Love the German bloke

Anyone who liked Ailsa’s green jumper in ep1: I’ve found it!

There is a wonderful yarn shop in Shrewsbury and Oswestry, Ewe and Ply. They also do online sales.
As well as a wonderful range of lovely commercial yarns tending towards the natural and sustainable, they also do their own, Shropshire Ply.

They are selling the 1940s pattern for her jumper together with their own notes for if you want to do it in the round, either on its own or as part of a kit including the Shropshire Ply which she used.

I haven’t put a link but you can find it easily enough.

I like DIptas jumper in episode 2

Yes, it looked to me like it might be one of the ones that is done with 2 different size needles. Does anyone know?

I watched the dog ep BC I like dogs. Those poor little things.

Am aghast at the idea of knitted swimwear. Are they going to test it in a pool?

https://ariadnereviews.com/2025/11/16/game-of-wool-2025-episode-2-a-not-at-all-specific-cathedral/

I think your right because on the colour rows the changes go the full height, if theat makes sense

I would love to rootle through all the different yarns in the yarn barn. Thought the show was good but it's early days yet to see whether the contestants will generate a following. Most of them looked very uncomfortable and like they were about to burst into tears!

I certainly couldn't sit and knit for 12 hours straight without my hands and back seizing up! Good luck!

I dont know why I'm watching this again but surely there's an advantage for the ones doing mens trunks BC there's less to make

I know lots of knitters.

I do not know one knitter who has ever knitted or crocheted a swim suit, or trunks. Stupid challenge.

I would like to see if there’s any 4 ply in the yarn barn and if not I won’t bother watching the rest.
Imo ‘do everything chunky’ is not an acceptable solution to the problem of knitting being slower than baking and dressmaking.

I do because I have friends who do mad historical knitting so of course I know people who have knitted swimwear and tbh it’s on my to do list! 😂
Also a random old man once wandered in my knitting group and wanted to tell us all about how he used to crochet his wife bikinis 😮