Game of Wool Renewed for Second Series

Game of Wool, the controversial (among knitters, anyway) knitting competition series set in Scotland and hosted by Olympic knitter Tom Daley, has been renewed for a second series, according to Channel 4.

The Great British Bake Off style knitting competition challenged eight knitters with team and individual challenges in knitting and crochet, ranging from a super bulky sleeveless pullover to amigurumi food, knit jewelry to children’s play clothes.

Knitters had a lot to say about the show, finding the challenges silly (who really knits an entire couch cover or a deck chair, least of all over the course of 12 hours?), too short and not really indicative of the knitters’ skills. Only one challenge, to knit a lace panel for a lamp, actually showed the all important knitting skills of being able to read and follow a pattern, and it’s the only time the knitters all made the same thing so they could accurately be judged against each other.

All the same, viewers in general seemed to like it, with Channel 4 reporting it was among the top 8pm shows among 16-34 year olds last year.

Daley will return as host of the show, and Di Gilpin and Sheila Greenwell will be back as judges.

“I was blown away by the response to the first series of Game of Wool,” Daley said in a news release. “Knitting is such a creative and joyful craft and it’s been amazing to see so many people inspired to pick up their needles. I can’t wait for the show to return and to meet a whole new group of brilliant knitters ready to take on the challenge.”

Clemency Green, commissioning editor at Channel 4, said the next series will have “an even stronger focus on knitting” as well as some “exciting new elements in the competition.” Here’s hoping that means fewer crochet challenges and more technical tests.

Game of Wool will be back in the fall, and if you’re in the UK and want to subject yourself to the rigors of the Yarn Barn, you can apply to be on the show now. Participants must be at least 18 years old, residents of the UK and their “primary income” shouldn’t come from “commercial knitting activities.”

[Photo via Channel 4]

Adding a bit of knitting to your fall decor is a lot of fun, whether it’s knit pumpkins or a bunch of adorable knit ghosts like these.

Knit ghosts can be super simple like this free ghost knitting pattern from Trixie Zynch on Ravelry. Using about 50 yards of worsted weight yarn, they’re worked from the bottom up and are super cute as a pair.

This fuzzy little ghost from Forest Knitting Toys is holding a pumpkin and wearing a witch hat, though of course the accessories are optional, as is the fuzzy yarn. The main yarn is chunky and the ghost measures about 10 cm/4 inches tall. It’s worked in the round.

Another fuzzy ghost in more of a Pacman style is this ghost plushie form South Stitch Girls. It’s worked in the round with bulky yarn and includes a sweet little bow you can make in whatever color you like.

The ghost doll from Edith Grace Designs has little arms and a curl at the top of its head. The body is worked flat using DK weight yarn and you could also work it in glow in the dark yarn for extra fun. The body and head are worked in one piece with the arms knit separately.

The Grim Grinning Ghosts from Susan Claudino are super cute and you can knit them in any yarn and gauge you like to make ghosts of different sizes. These are worked in the round with the body done in one piece and the arms are knit separately. The ghosts shown were knit in sock yarn, DK and worsted weight yarn. You can find the pattern on Ravelry.

Make a ghost with funny striped legs with this ghost shelf sitter design from Claire Fairall Designs. It’s worked in three colors of DK weight yarn, and the letters spelling out boo are made with strips of garter stitch sewn into shape.

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