Ailsa Stephen
age: 30
hometown: North Ayrshire
occupation: assistant at a ferry company
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ailsa.makes.things
Ailsa has been knitting for over 20 years. She likes creating vintage styles: “Some of them are so wacky. I like doing older style designs but with modern textures and bright colours. “Her advice for first time knitters: “Don’t start with a scarf. You’ll learn 90% of what you need to know in the first five minutes, and then you’ll get bored. Learn something you want to make and you’ll feel better at the end.”
Dipti Patel
age: 42
hometown: Nottingham
occupation: library worker
Dipti is a singer and a former chemist. She loves the problem-solving aspect of knitting: “You can be absolutely despising a project and not able to work it out, and then you have that light bulb moment where suddenly everything clicks.”
Gordon Cree
age: 47
hometown: East Ayrshire
occupation: cruise ship singer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manknitted
Gordon says the knitting style which appeals to him most has revolved around the Shetland traditions, especially Fair Isle and lace knitting. He loves the art and the intricacy of these styles, as well as the math and geometry involved.
Holger Auffenberg
age: 55
hometown: London
occupation: Savile Row fashion designer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalhogbuffer
Holger learned to knit from his grandmother. He likes traditional knitting methods and styles. He also likes to sew, knit, crochet, needlepoint, cross stitch and quilt. He brought his nonchalant emotional support chicken with him.
Isaac
age: 23
hometown: Milton Keynes
occupation: cybersecurity student
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isaacmadeit.uk
Isaac is a fan of colour work and his favorite thing to make is a tank top. Even though he loves knitting, he admits he isn’t good at teaching other people to knit. Isaac plays the saxophone, enjoys rock climbing, and can solve a Rubik’s Cube in 30 seconds.
Lydia Amartey-Williams
age: 32
hometown: Hertfordshire
occupation: charity partnerships director
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wekuyarn
Lydia is a mom to three year old twins. She describes herself as “an aggressive blocker” and confesses to holding her knitting needles “in a very funny way.” But she says, “I’m too scared to learn another way of knitting as my tension is perfect with my weird way of knitting.”
Meadow Pollock
age 18
hometown: Belfast
occupation: fashion student
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snazzy.mj
Meadow started crocheting when she was struggling in school. She loves to make super chunky cardigans.She also plays the guitar.
Simon Fannon
age: 42
hometown: Kent
occupation: builder
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veteranknitter
Simon is an ex-Royal Marine who has been knitting for over ten years. He loves colour work and cable knit. He said, “Some people hate casting on and weaving in, but I like it. It’s the finality of a project.”
Stephanie Thompson
age: 65
hometown: Derby
occupation: life coach
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniethompsoncoaching
Stephanie has been knitting for 45 years. She knits cardigans and jumpers but also enjoys dress making, sewing, and baking cakes.
Tracy Callaghan
age: 63
hometown: London
occupation: psychotherapist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracythecreativetherapist
Tracy has ADHD and says knitting keeps her calm and helps her feel like everyone else. She is a grandmother of eight. Her advice for first time knitters: Her advice to first time knitters: “Find the knitting needles and wool that feels right. My aunt once gave me some advice – to find the dearest wool you can afford, find a difficult project and you’ll never give up on it, because it was so expensive to buy!”
1×8: Finale
In a fabric-flinging final, our three final knitters yarn bomb a post box and craft a showpiece hat. After their needles knock for the last time, it’s hats off for the winner!
solo challenge: showstopper hat (12 hours)
team challenge: create post box topper figures of Tom, Di, and Sheila (12 hours)
[Spoiler (click to open)]
winner: [Spoiler (click to open)]Holger
watch the full episode: