Game of Wool - Q&A with Isaac

AGE: 23
LOCATION: Milton Keynes
JOB: Cybersecurity Student 

You’re going to be competing in the first competitive knitting show. Are you thrilled? 
It’s so cool. I saw the opportunity to do something that I enjoy doing, with other people who enjoy doing it, so thought that would be awesome. 

What is your unique style of knitting? 
I’m really into colorwork at the moment. 

 

What is it that you love most about knitting? 
Being able to make something. Being able to look at something I think is cool and being able to do it myself. 

 

Go on, there must be a part of the knitting process that you dislike - what is it? 
Probably weaving in ends, everyone says it but it’s true. 

 

How do you go about preparing for a competition like Game of Wool? 
A lot of knitting. Lots of research, which I never thought I would do. I’ve been reading up old patterns that I have and patterns from books I wouldn’t usually read. 

 

What are you hoping some of the challenges will be? 
My favourite thing to make is a tank top. I would like to be forced to do something new. If there was a challenge to create a new cable pattern, that would be interesting. 

 

Are you just a knitting wiz or are you multi-skilled? 
I’ve been playing saxophone for many years now. I rock climb. I really like the outdoors. I can solve a Rubik’s cube in 30 seconds. 

 

How does knitting make you feel? 
It gives me something to do. I love seeing people come up with new ways of knitting. 

 

Knitting is becoming cool again, why do you think this is? 
I have no idea. I have never done something in my life because other people have thought it was cool. I’ve always thought knitting was cool and I do things that I think are cool. It’s interesting. It’s cool to share the passion with other people who knit. 

 

If you had to give one piece of advice to someone picking up needles for the first time, what would you say to them? 
I would say don’t ask someone you know who knits if they can teach you. I know that I’m not a good teacher and I know it would frustrate me more if I couldn’t teach them it. The internet is the best place to learn. There are plenty of ways to find out. 

 

Finally, if you could create one thing with absolutely no budget restrictions or brief, what would you make? 
Something with really nice high-quality wool. 

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

ENDS