Game of Wool - Q&A with Tracy

AGE: 63

LOCATION: London

JOB: Psychotherapist

You’re going to be competing in the first competitive knitting show. Are you thrilled? 
I’m so excited. I’m so passionate about it. There isn’t not much I don’t know about knitting and crochet. I think this is going to be really difficult because there is a clock on all the challenges, but I’m really excited for the challenge. 

What is your unique style of knitting? 
I screw up everyone I teach to crochet, I have a way of doing it that works for me but doesn’t work for them!

What is the most ambitious project you’ve knitted?
There have been so many. I’ve done an ankle length coat and crochet blankets. I have a massive competitive streak with myself. 
 

What is it that you love most about knitting? 
I have ADHD and knitting makes me feel like I’m everybody else. I use my hands to knit so it helps me to meditate and keeps me calm. 
 

Go on, there must be a part of the knitting process that you dislike - what is it? 
Sewing up – it’s crap!

How do you go about preparing for a competition like Game of Wool?
Not sleeping. Doing a moodboard…I just think about it a lot! It’s taking up all my brain space.

Have you done a knitting competition before? 
Never! But we are about to find out what it looks like. 

What are you hoping some of the challenges will be? 
I’ve pushed myself with everything. Over 40 years, there isn’t much I haven’t done. I just need to focus on the brief and to simplify things. Hopefully I’ll inspire some people to see what I’ve done and inspire them to take it up themselves.

Are you just a knitting wiz or are you multi-skilled? 
I’ve done a bit of pottery. I’m a fantastic therapist and counsellor.

How does knitting make you feel? 
Sometimes really angry [laughs], but it relaxes me, and I love to knit. I always have something on the go. Whatever I’m doing, I’ll be knitting. I’ll be at the doctors – and I’ll be knitting. I love the feeling of nice wool and looking at nice wool. It gives me a purpose in life. I have lots of projects on the go at any one time.

Knitting is becoming cool again, why do you think this is? 
I think more and more people are realising that this is open to anybody. As meditation and mindfulness goes, it’s up there. It’s also a really great eco-project for someone. 

 

If you had to give one piece of advice to someone picking up needles for the first time, what would you say to them? 
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! 

 

Finally, if you could create one thing with absolutely no budget restrictions or brief, what would you make? 
I would like to make something like a massive big blanket in the nicest wool. The wool would have to have sparkles!

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

ENDS