Game of Wool - Q&A with Gordon

AGE: 47

LOCATION: East Ayrshire 

JOB: Cruise Ship Singer 

You’re going to be competing in the first competitive knitting show. Are you thrilled?
I should say I am! And shocked! And terrified! I never, for a minute, thought when I applied that I would get past the first audition stage. Of course, I also acutely feel the disadvantage of being in the first series of the first show of its kind, as it is hard to imagine what it will be like, having never been able to see a previous series.

What is your unique style of knitting?

The knitting style which appeals to me most has revolved around the Shetland traditions, especially Fair Isle and lace knitting. I love the art and the intricacy of these styles.

What is the most ambitious project you’ve knitted
I knitted an all-over Fair Isle jumper for myself a few years ago, but started it when I had lost four stones in weight on a brutal meal-replacement diet. By the time I was most of the way through knitting it, I had put the weight back on, so it has never quite been finished, as I didn’t think it worthwhile if couldn’t actually put it on. I was also incredibly annoyed at myself, because I had spent a fortune on the wool!
When one of our nieces was having a baby, I also knitted a Shetland lace Christening shawl, which was intricate and a bit of a labour of love.

What is it that you love most about knitting?
I love the peace and relative stillness of it. I love the mathematical and geometric systems involved. I love the revealing when the text on a page starts to become a physical pattern. I love the finished article and, being totally honest, I love when people admire and appreciate the work and skill that has gone into creating the finished piece.

Go on, there must be a part of the knitting process that you dislike - what is it?
I’m not 100% thrilled about sewing up finished articles and weaving in ends. This is part of why I love the Shetland tradition, as there are so many techniques which have developed to either minimise or completely negate the need to sew anything up. I don’t particularly love pinning out and blocking, although I think the difference between patterns before and after washing and blocking is staggering, and appreciate the need for it. I would also never decline any kind offer from anyone to knit a 1x1 rib for me.

How do you go about preparing for a competition like Game of Wool?
I have certainly been reminding myself of different stitches and techniques – especially crochet stitches, which I’ve done less extensively, especially in more recent times. It is going to require quite a lot of work on very large-gauge needles with very thick yarns, and I am really not at all used to this, so this has required a bit of practice and getting-used-to. Other than that, I think you just need to focus your mind, and look around at out-of-the-ordinary pieces of knitwear for unusual ideas and inspiration.

Have you done a knitting competition before?
Never! I’ve never even had the courage to knit in a public place before, let alone on national television.

Are you just a knitting wiz or are you multi-skilled?
If ever a question encouraged immodesty…. I do like to delude myself that I have many skills. To be honest, anything I do, I do reasonably well - that’s because I just abandon anything/everything I can’t do well and never speak of it again! My working life demands several quite complex skills, and I do think many of these transfer to other activities, including crafts like knitting. There is an enormous eye-brain-hand circle of connection and reaction in both playing an instrument and doing crafts like knitting.

How does knitting make you feel?
Peaceful, focussed, relaxed, creative, homely.

Knitting is becoming cool again, why do you think this is?
I think humans are inherently creative and innovative. In an age where everything – including thought and language – is being done by technology, I think people are beginning to see value in good old-fashioned hands-on, physical creativity. I also believe that thinking is getting more and free and less and less formal. Fewer activities carry the stigma of being “un-cool”. I think there is barely such a concept these days.

If you had to give one piece of advice to someone picking up needles for the first time, what would you say to them?
Knit like no-one’s watching and don’t panic over the imperfect. A friend of mine, who is an internationally renowned knitter and knitting designer, has a great phrase if anything doesn’t quite go to plan and things have to be fudged a little: “There are no knitting police.”

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

ENDS