I haven’t talked about the Game of Wool for a week or so, but I’m afraid that I have to go back to it this week. The most recent episode involved knitted/crocheted food and chunky textured cardigans. I’m not sure I really want to dwell on the knitted food stuffs. The program was a little bit misleading and called them amigurumi. In fact, Amigurumi is the Japanese art of crocheting small animals. These were just small things. The contestants did an excellent job under the circumstances. I am always impressed by people who knit or crochet tiny things, because they are extremely difficult to do and require quite a lot of talent, patience, and an eye for detail. Just think of all those amazing toppers on post boxes, or the woman who knitted the whole of Sandringham house in intricate detail as in the photo below.
On the other hand, I feel more comfortable talking about chunky, textured cardigans. This was the group challenge and pairs of the contestants were challenged to knit a cardigan using a variety of textured stitches and extremely chunky wool. They only had 10 hours to complete the task. It was impressive that they finished their cardigans at all and the one that won was the most impressive of all because it had been knitted sideways (although sewn together back to front). It is very hard to watch these challenges. Apart from anything else, everyone has a different tension when they knit so most of the cardigans looked quite lopsided! I was not impressed by the judges being so horrible to lovely Isaac about his smiley face on the back of the cardigan. They said it wasn’t textured enough, but in fact, he was making a nod to Gansey Knitting where you use purl stitches to create texture on an otherwise smooth surface. My husband, who was watching (reluctantly) with me, said to me that he associated knitting with beautiful things and he was not seeing anything beautiful on this programme, and I think he has a point.
I have become very keen on trying out different types of textured stitches in knitting, inspired by my favourite designer, Stephen West. His Dustland shawl is an excellent show case for different textures and I loved knitting it. Mandy has knitted his Dustland sweater as well, and my sister, as mentioned in an earlier blog, has knitted her dog a coat using the same pattern. And I have recently come around to cable knitting, which provides texture in all sorts of garments, from jumpers to hats.
There is a definite fashion for chunky cardigans at the moment. So much so that we are planning a knit along of the Sunday Cardigan by PetiteKnit in the New Year. This cardigan is knitted using aran weight wool held together with two strands of mohair and is super soft and squishy. I have been inspired by Claire Howard (see below) who knitted it recently and I’m looking forward to the challenge of knitting a cardigan as I have never done one before. Although this is a chunky garment, the wool itself is not chunky and I think that creates some more interesting texture within the cardigan itself. Of course you may not want to do this particular pattern, so I would recommend that you look at Ravelry and see if there is something else that you prefer. You will have to let me know in advance about the wool as well so that we can be sure to have it in stock!
Next week, I believe The Game of Wool will be looking at lace knitting. It will be interesting to see how it goes. Overall, I’m still not very impressed by the programme but I continue to persevere! My current concern is that they are too gimmicky and making knitting look rather ridiculous, when in fact it is an amazing craft, but I do have to accept that they don’t have much time to create beautiful things. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
That Dustland shawl is beautiful! I only watched the first 2 episodes of the programme as I hate seeing items made under time pressure: I find it stressful to watch. I can see that many skills are needed to complete the tasks but the items are mostly not use-able/wear-able afterwards!
Thank you! In all honesty I would not be watching it if it weren’t work!
I’m finding it a tough watch but somehow it’s compulsive viewing! I live in hope. I feel it must be frustrating for the knitters too as they aren’t using their skills but equally I’m not sure how they can use fine yarns. The only thing I could think of was that rather than entire garments each week, maybe have a garment made throughout the series which is following the “agreed design” and then other pieces could be squares of fair isle, cables, lace knitting, texture etc and then all put together to make a blanket (s) and sold or auctioned off for a homeless charity at the end of the series.
Ooh. That sounds good!
Really sad that the Game of Wool does not celebrate the craft of knitting – why not have technical challenges like turning a heel, steeking etc. these could be more successfully completed in a sensible timeframe, why not have a challenge to create something useable out of a charity shop bundle, give a new lease of life to an old knitted garment.There are loads of challenges which would be interesting, make good telly but most importantly allow the fabulous contestants to showcase their skills.
More top alternative ideas. Lets submit them to the producers