Game of Wool - Q&A with Lydia

AGE: 32

LOCATION: Hertfordshire

JOB: Charity Partnerships Director

You’re going to be competing in the first competitive knitting show. Are you thrilled? 
I am! I’m really excited and apprehensive at the same time.

What is your unique style of knitting? 
I’m an aggressive blocker – so where I can, I will aggressively block to get it to the right length, however it doesn’t always work. I also hold my needles in a very funny way to get the right level of tension so I’m too scared to learn another way of knitting as my tension is perfect with my weird way of knitting.

What is the most ambitious project you’ve knitted
One of the hardest thing I’ve knitted was a 3mm needle cardigan for my mum, it had cabling, a button band, increases all over the place so that for me was quite an ambitious project. I haven’t knit a cardigan on that size needle since. She loved it, so she’s asked me to make another one with pockets.

Go on, there must be a part of the knitting process that you dislike - what is it?
Never ending rows of stocking knit stick, weaving in my ends and gauge swatches. Pretty much everything required to make a nice item.

How do you go about preparing for a competition like Game of Wool? 
You talk to anyone about me and I’m a fly by the seat of my pants sort of girl, so I’m trying my hardest to prepare. It’s hard to prepare for the unknown. I’m trying to currently brush up on different skills, but in reality, I’ve got to hope I just do well.

Have you done a knitting competition before? 
No, never.

What are you hoping some of the challenges will be? 
I just hope that the competition shows the breadth of the skills required to knit and crochet. Whilst it is a timed competition, it shows that they are both slow crafts and takes a long time to make beautiful items. I hope that will be reflected.

Are you just a knitting wiz or are you multi-skilled? 
I dabble in crochet. I’m not very artistic. It’s mainly running. Collecting bags, collecting yarn – that’s about it.

How does knitting make you feel? 
I really enjoy it, but caveat that it is extremely stressful! It is something I do every day and is part of my daily life. I like the process of knitting. It’s very relaxing to see a project grow. It also infuriates me and makes me very stressed! If I’m trying to count and someone is having a conversation with me, then I can’t concentrate. 

Knitting is becoming cool again, why do you think this is? 
I would like to say knitting has always been cool! But it used to be something that everyone did. I don’t know why the perception become that it is for older people. I think people have learnt that you can knit multiple things – so much so that it is getting more covered on social media.

If you had to give one piece of advice to someone picking up needles for the first time, what would you say to them?
Don’t be afraid to undo it and start again. People want to be perfect straight away, and that’s not how it works. Projects are going to have mistakes and you’re going to drop stitches, but take the time and start again.

Finally, if you could create one thing with absolutely no budget restrictions or brief, what would you make? 
I would make the cabled cardigan of my dreams. A long cardigan down to my knees, textured in really nice yarn. 

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

ENDS