Tom Daley to Host Knitting Competition Show

There’s been talk recently that a British knitting competition show was in the works, and Tom Daley has announced on Instagram that he’s going to be the host.

With the working title of “The Game of Wool,” the program will be on Channel 4 and is currently looking for contestants.

According to a post on Gathered, the show will feature 10 contestants and each episode will involve two challenges. One will be a team project and one for individual knitters that aims to test their skills and their style.

I have no idea how this will work in the real world, since knitting takes a lot of time and there’s not really any way to speed it up. It’s also not super dramatic when you fail like it is when cooking or baking (or even in fashion design when you cut something wrong and it ends up not fitting).

In any case, the post says the judges will be Di Gilpin and Sheila Greenwell, who have knit for numerous fashion brands and will judge both knitting technique and creative approaches and the knitters are put through their paces on a variety of projects in both type and scale.

I’ll let you know more about it as we hear more about it.

In the meantime, if you happen to be a British knitter with an interest in figuring out what a knitting competition show looks like before the rest of us, you can apply to become one of the contestants at the Game of Wool website. According to the site, participants must be 18 or older and need to be able to commit to filming away from home for eight weeks.

The application states that they are looking for people with a passion for the craft, who are able to both knit and crochet, are honest about their skills and can share photos of their work. The deadline to apply is midnight on January 5, 2025.

If you apply I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo via Instagram]

There is something wonderfully nostalgic about a pair of handmade bed socks, isn’t there? They are practical, pretty, and just the sort of project that feels like it belongs beside a cup of tea, a good film, and a basket of wool that is pretending not to be overflowing.

This vintage Bed Socks knitting pattern is one of those sweet little patterns that still feels useful today. Originally from the Jaeger Hand-Knit Series No. 44, the design features a simple garter-stitch foot, a ribbed cuff, eyelet holes, a crochet chain tie, and little tassel-style pom-poms at the front. The original pattern even describes them as “a very acceptable present,” and honestly, I don’t think much has changed there.

These would make a lovely handmade gift for someone who is always cold, someone recovering or resting, or anyone who appreciates a bit of old-fashioned comfort. They would also be beautiful as a Mother’s Day gift, a winter birthday present, a Christmas stocking filler, or a “just because you deserve cozy feet” project.

The pattern itself is delightfully simple in construction. The socks are knitted flat, beginning at the lower edge, with the foot worked in garter stitch before moving into the ribbed upper section. The decorative eyelet row allows for a crochet chain cord to be threaded through, and the finishing tassels give the socks that charming vintage look. The top edge is finished with a row of double crochet, which adds a neat handmade touch.

The original measurements list the socks as approximately 10½ inches from the top to the lower edge of the heel, with a 9¾ inch foot length, and the pattern notes that the size can be adapted. As with many vintage knitting patterns, modern knitters will want to check gauge carefully and choose a soft yarn that feels comfortable against the skin. A cozy wool blend, soft acrylic, or washable yarn would all work depending on whether you are making these for everyday use or as a special gift.

I especially love that this pattern has that “giftable” quality without being a massive project. It is small enough to feel achievable, but still special enough that the finished pair looks thoughtful. And let’s be honest, handmade socks with pom-poms are always going to beat a last-minute candle from the supermarket.

The PDF version has been cleaned up and formatted for easier reading while keeping the original vintage design intact. It also includes a modern pink mockup image and the original vintage scan, so you get both the historical charm and a fresh idea of how the finished socks could look today.

If you enjoy vintage knitting patterns, cozy handmade gifts, or quick projects that feel useful rather than just decorative, this sweet little bed socks pattern is a lovely one to add to your collection.

You can find the Vintage Bed Socks Knitting Pattern PDF in the CraftGossip Etsy store.

For supplies, this is also a nice stash-friendly project. A soft yarn from Mary Maxim or Amazon would work well, and if you make pom-poms regularly, a small pom-pom maker is one of those inexpensive tools that saves a surprising amount of fiddling.

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