Game of Wool - Q&A with Dipti

Age: 42

LOCATION: Nottingham 

JOB: Library Worker 

You’re going to be competing in the first competitive knitting show. Are you thrilled? 
I am both excited and terrified in equal proportions. One day I’m stoked, and the next, i think – what have I let myself in for. I’m looking forward to seeing what I can achieve. It’s overwhelming thinking about the different challenges we have coming up, but it’s going to be so much fun.

What is your unique style of knitting? 
Most knitters have a unique style of knitting. My thing is watching telly and having my me time.

What is the most ambitious project you’ve knitted?
I made a blanket which I designed from start to beginning. I made the layout of how it was going to be and there were rules that you had to obey – ones that I didn’t even know. It taught me so many new skills. In the end, after a long time, it was a wow project. It was ambitious – and expensive to make.

What is it that you love most about knitting? 
The problem-solving aspect of knitting is what I love. 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.

Go on, there must be a part of the knitting process that you dislike - what is it? 
Going wrong is the first one, but I always try and turn this into a positive. Also – how long things take. Things can take a lot longer than you expect them to take. It’s also a very expensive hobby to have.

How do you go about preparing for a competition like Game of Wool?
I’ve done nothing but knit and crochet. My family have already forgotten what I look like, I don’t think I’ve seen them. I’ve been making lots of templates!

Have you done a knitting competition before? 
Never!

What are you hoping some of the challenges will be? 
I really like things such as illusion cakes – things that look like something but aren’t. I would LOVE to be able to do that in knitting in this competition.

Are you just a knitting wiz or are you multi-skilled? 
I’m a singer and my hidden talent is that I had a carer in chemistry before I had a family, so technically I am a chemist.

How does knitting make you feel? 
Happy and joyful. Most of the things I make are to give away, so seeing the joy on people’s faces when I give them away makes me feel happy and joyful – it’s the pride.

Knitting is becoming cool again, why do you think this is? 
Influencers – there are a lot of people out there knitting. A lot of young people are doing it – it’s not something just your nanna does, it’s a very sociable thing.

If you had to give one piece of advice to someone picking up needles for the first time, what would you say to them? 
Persistence is the key. If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. Also – ask someone who can do it show you how to do it.

Finally, if you could create one thing with absolutely no budget restrictions or brief, what would you make? 
There are so many things I’d love to make. I would love to crochet my family, life size. That would be incredible.

Game of Wool: Britain’s Best Knitter starts Sunday 2 November at 8pm on Channel 4.

ENDS