The Game of Wool: Britain's Best Knitter – a complete guide with a weekly episode recap!
Tom Daley is swapping the pool for the wool and is set to host Channel 4's brand new competitive knitting show, The Game of Wool. Set against the picturesque landscapes of rural Scotland, the show is a competitive knitting series where ten contestants face weekly challenges, judged by a panel of knitting experts.
Keep reading to find out all the Game of Wool gossip, as well as a weekly episode recap.
What you need to know about Channel 4's The Game of Wool...
When does The Game of Wool start?
The first episode of The Game of Wool aired on Sunday 2nd of November 2025.
Where can I watch The Game of Wool?
You can watch the Game of Wool on Channel 4 in the UK, or online at Channel4.com.
Who are the judges on The Game of Wool?
Knitting and textile experts Di Gilpin and Sheila Greenwell will be judging The Game of Wool. There will also be a celebrity guest judge each week.
Who is presenting The Game of Wool?
Tom Daley, Olympic gold medalist and keen knitter, will be hosting The Game of Wool.
The Game of Wool episode guide
Episode seven: The semi-finals
It was the semi-final of Game of Wool, and the competition was intense. Holger, Issac, Ailsa and Lydia battled it out to secure a place in the final. This week’s theme was' Rags to Riches. ' It was all about refashioning, repurposing and upcycling.
For the group challenge, the knitters were split into two groups of two and asked to refashion a charity shop Aran jumper into a dress fit for the runway. The haberdashery was stocked with a variety of materials for the contestants to use, but it was essential the beauty of the Aran jumper was celebrated in order to impress the judges.
‘This will take a certain amount of boldness and bravery’
- Shelia
Ailsa and Issac were paired up and opted for a halter-style dress with a Tinkerbell-inspired skirt. Holger and Lydia took a more creative approach with a balloon sleeved, patchworked front dress.
Knit your own fitted dress
Head over to our dress knitting pattern to make your own couture outfit.
As the halfway mark approached, Ailsa and Issac worried their design wasn’t up to mark and changed their skirt. However, by the end of ten hours, there were two incredible dresses, ready for the judges to critique.
Ailsa and Issac were praised for their fit but were criticised for their messy sewing and lack of impact. However, Holger and Lydia’s dress wowed the judges (and us) with their dramatic sleeves, coloured godeys.
‘The stakes are very, very high’
- Issac
For the solo challenge, our final four needed to make a practical bag using unexpected materials. Ailsa opted for an activewear bag made from gym leggings, Holger went for a festival fringed bag, Lydia chose to turn wax print fabric into a handled-topped, and Issac made a humbag from t-shirt yarn!
Make your own unique yarn
Learn how to make T-shirt yarn here on Gathered.
Issac struggled with his timing while Ailsa worried her bag wouldn’t hold the judge's weight challenge. Lydia’s wax print bag and Holger’s bag both passed the challenge, producing beautiful, unique accessories. We especially loved Holger's button and fringing! Ailsa's loose-fitting bag and Isaac’s unfinished humbug put them at risk of elimination.
Holger was awarded the semi-final sheep baaadge, giving him three fuzzy friends to wear! While Issac was sadly sent home from the competition, we will miss seeing his creativity every week.
Patterns similar to those on the show:
- Crochet bag patterns for every occasion
- Free crochet clutch bag pattern
- 33 upcycling clothes ideas to elevate your wardrobe
Episode six: It's statement week!
It's statement week in the Yarn Barn, and the judges were looking for a striking jewellery set. The knitters had 10 hours to create a dramatic necklace and a cuff. This challenge was all about delicacy, intricacy and embellishments.
We loved what Lydia said about being a role model for young girls - imposter syndrome gets the better of a lot of us crafters. How sweet was Simon’s love story, too? He’s a great role model!
‘They’ve reached this far, now they really need to work hard’
- Di
There were some fun methods used on this week’s show: Viking knitting, hook and bead, and bin bag yarn! Watching Simon stretch his chain was a terrifying process while Holger strode ahead with his Victorian design.
‘Your hands aren’t designed for anything smaller than a sledgehammer!’
- Holger
Lydia strove for perfection while Isaac worried his daisy chain wasn’t statement enough. We thought the judges were particularly harsh this week - we loved Simon’s metal design and Issac’s chain! But agreed with the judges that Lydia’s set was just gorgeous.
Work with lace this weekend
If you'd like to master lace knitting, head over to our collection of guides, tips and tutorials.
For the group challenge, the knitters were tasked with making statement lighting. They were given linen yarn, a lace pattern and ten hours to create their individual panels.
That pattern looked incredibly difficult, and it got the better of Lydia. We can’t imagine how stressful that must have been for her, but luckily, supportive Simon was on hand.
‘It’s very impressive, isn’t it!’
- Shelia
Issac did an incredible job considering he’d never worked lace before - Di said she could spot no mistakes! Simon took last place while Issac took the top spot.
Di got emotional awarding Lydia the title of Big Knitter! This hopefully proved to her how incredible she is. We were so sad to see Simon cast off. We will miss his positive presence on the show.
Techniques used on the show:
Episode five: Knitted food and textured cardigans
From fancy dress fittings to funky food! This week was all about texture, and the solo challenge took this to new heights. The judges were looking for ‘serious amigurumi’. No smiling faces (we’re pretty sad about that, but the octopus on Tom's shoulder was adorable), just hyper-realistic food items.
Make your own realistic food items
Explore the world of amigurumi here on Gathered.
The six contestants had to make a plate of food, comprising three components. There were some pretty tasty options on the menu: Issac’s bacon, egg and cheese bagel, Ailsa’s Sunday roast, Holger’s seafood ramen.
'I’m not telling you what’s happening because A) I want you to be surprised and B) it might not happen…’
- Holger
Lydia opted for brushed crochet to create mashed potatoes while Simon chose free-form crochet for his full English breakfast. By the halfway point, Issac and Simon were battling it out to create the best egg! While the judges worried that Tracey’s pasta shapes weren’t to scale.
We genuinely loved every item. The construction of Isaac’s pull-apart bagel, Simon’s complex full English and of course Holger's incredible anamatronic noodle bowl. It was truly a work of art.
'I’m really, really sad to see this…'
- Di
Next up was creating a slouchy cardigan! The knitters were split into teams of two and let loose in the haberdashery to select their colourful yarns. Will Issac’s smiley design have enough texture? Will Tracey master the bubble stitch? Will Simon stop winding up Holger? Who knows!
Create your own cardi
Knit your own slouchy cardigan with our free knitting pattern.
With only one hour to go, it was all to play for. Tracey made some stitching errors, and disaster struck Holger and Ailsa as they realised they’d sewn their piecing together wrong.
The judges critiqued all of the cardigans, but it was Ailsa and Holdger's red cardigan which stole the show (much to Lydia’s dismay). Holger was awarded the sheep baaadge this week, and sadly, we said goodbye to Tracey. That dropped stitch sent her home from the competition.
Techniques used on the show:
Episode four: Crochet kids' fancy dress and wall hangings
This week was all about the little ones! The solo challenge for kids' week was to design a crocheted, fancy dress outfit for a child. The judges were looking for a range of stitches and recognisable costumes that were original and creative.
“Now I have a new goal, I want to get one of those badges!”
- Issac
Lydia opted for a sweet lion romper suit while Isaac made an adventurous explorer costume. How sweet did Shelia look in that lion headpiece?
Dipti went for an ambitious crochet crayon and struggled with her intarsia crochet lettering. Tracey opted for a queen bee look, but her hooped wings fell short on construction. Simon wrote a clever pattern for his knight costume, which included a cool chainmail headpiece.
The mini models looked like they had great fun playing in their new fancy dress costumes. Our favourites were Holger’s imaginary fox friend outfit, Issac’s crochet intarsia world and Ailsa’s zebra costume - we want to make our own jacket with that retro striped pattern.
“I’m never as happy as when I’m surrounded by glitter and things!”
- Tracey
Then it was on to the group challenge. The contestants were split into two teams and tasked with making a wall hanging for a child’s bedroom. It needed to be an interactive wall panel which included sensory elements.
Team one went for an abstract creature featuring a ball of wool as the body, while team two went for an underwater sea creature. Team one opted for more sensory elements while team two included more interactive embellishments. As the final hour closed in, team two struggled to finish in time, and there was some rather frantic seaming going on!
Make your own wall hanging
Knit your own wall hanging just like they did on Game of Wool with Simply Knitting's free knitted wall hanging pattern 🧶
We also have to shout out Holger’s one-liners - “I love sprouts” - he’s very entertaining to watch.
Team two’s wall hanging features lots of fun and elements, but their crochet panel didn’t sit quite flush. The judges loved team one’s character with its moving legs, shoe lace tying and cohesive background. Despite its lack of interactive parts, Team One won the challenge.
Issac and Ailsa impressed the judges this week while Dipti and Simon were on the firing line. Issac was awarded Big Knitter by Di and Shelia. Sadly, Dipti was cast off, leaving us with just six knitters left.
Techniques used on the show
Episode three: Swimsuits and crochet deck chairs
It was week three on the Game of Wool, and the contestants were off on their holidays! For the solo challenge, the judges asked the contestants to create fitted swimwear using knitting, crochet or a mixture of both. They had 12 hours to make a swimsuit, trunks or a bikini for Tom's GB diving friends.
Most of the contestants opted for crochet, making the most of the humble granny square, but Issac and Lydia bravely used knitting to make their swimwear. Stephanie worried about her embellishments, while others pondered over whether their swimsuits were too skimpy...
“It’s been a massive risk, I’ve just got to hope the judges will take into account how I’ve pushed myself”
- Stephanie
Once the 12 hours were up, Team GB took to the catwalk to model the contestant's work. We loved Lydia’s chic knitted swimsuit - that lace middle panel was a feat of engineering! Holger's swim trunks with a crochet vest also impressed the judges with its contemporary look.
Make your own swimwear!
Check out our round-up of the best crochet beachwear patterns and hook up a holiday look.
Issac, Stephanie and Simon just missed the mark with their designs, but it was all to play for as they went into the group challenge.
Split into pairs, the duos were tasked with crocheting a traditional deckchair sling in just eight hours. It needed to be practical but with a fun, holiday design. Renowned crocheter Janie Crow came to help Di and Shelia with the judging.
“Deckchairs are iconic!”
- Di
Issac and Holger decided to go all out using intarsia and the finest yarn for their sling, which meant creating over 6,000 stitches! Ailsa and Simon sped ahead of the competition while Dipti and Stephanie realised their sling wasn’t sturdy enough.
“How can you be stressed when you’re crocheting and knitting? They relieve stress… right?”
- Tom
Holger and Issac opted for a last-minute stitch swap, risking it with treble crochet to get their design finished.
Then it was time for the judging. Dipti and Stephanie failed to meet the mark, and the judges didn’t like the placement of flowers on Tracey and Lydia’s deckchair. Holger and Issac’s chip design blew us away; we loved the look despite it being very unfit for purpose… The judges (and us!) loved the motifs on Ailsa and Simon’s deckchair, especially that mini ice-cream.
Lydia clinched the sheep baa-dge this week while we said a sad goodbye to Stephanie. Crochet got the best of her, but what an incredible knitter she is!
Techniques used on the show:
- Make your own granny squares
- Knit your own mini ice cream like Ailsa!
- Learn how to crochet
- Knit a beach bag!
Episode two: Dog coats and '80s jumpers
Welcome to icons week! For episode two, the knitters were tasked with making a two-piece outfit for man’s best friend. Their design needed to feature both crochet and knitting and be aesthetic as well as practical. Good shaping and sizing were the key to this task, causing the knitters to feel the pressure.
After many hours of intense knitting, the contestants produced nine fabulous dog coats, inspired by buildings, musicians and even the Chelsea Pensioners! We can’t get enough of the greyhound models Dobby and Danya. We loved Meadow’s crochet crown, Ailsa's traffic cone hat and Holger's balaclava.
Crochet your own dog coat
If you fancy making a yarn-tasic item for your pup, then use our free crochet dog coat pattern. This fun pattern will keep your dog warm all winter long.
We also loved Dipti’s sparkly unicorn coat and found her very relatable – we'd cry at the cuteness too! Sadly, Issac, Stephanie and Tracey fell just short with the shaping and practicality of their designs.
‘It’s beautifully made and I always cry when I see something beautiful!’
- Di
For the group knit, the contestants were split into three teams of three and given an 80s jumper knitting pattern to reinterpret. Mohair was the yarn of choice, and their designs had to feature motifs and intarsia.
There was a clash of opinions on the checkerboard team... to embellish or not to embellish, that is the question. Meadow was very brave tackling intarsia for the first time, and after an initial wobble, she did brilliantly.
‘Today doesn’t define you as a knitter… always bring it back to why you knit and the love for it.’
- Tom
There was a music-inspired jumper, a balloon-tastic number and a flamboyant checkerboard design. Our personal favourite had to be the checkerboard jumper; the intarsia was just so neat! Di and Shelia agreed too, awarding it the winning design.
Make your own mohair jumper
Head over to our roundup of the best mohair yarns and cast on your own jumper.
Holger achieved purl perfection this week and was given a sheep baa-dge. Meadow was sent home from the Yarn Barn this week, but we can’t wait to see her grow as a knitter. We think she's destined for big things.
Techniques used on the show:
Episode one: Tank tops and sofa covers!
We absolutely loved the first episode of Game of Wool! From students to ex-marine builders, the contestants represented the country's best knitters, and we're united by one thing: a passion for knitting.
For their first Solo Challenge, the knitters created Fair Isle tank tops reflecting their personalities. Our highlights have to include Holger’s emotional support chicken, Issac’s “silly goose” theme, and Lydia’s Ghanaian-inspired design (our personal favourite!)
For the Group Challenge, the contestants were split into teams to design sofa covers in just ten hours. Holger’s cable-knit ombre design triumphed over Issac’s ambitious but unfinished holiday-themed cover.
After Di and Shelia’s blind judging, Ailsa earned the “Big Knitter” title for her creative beach-themed tank, while Gordon was the first to be cast off.
Read our full, in-depth recap of episode one here
Head over to The Game of Wool’s Instagram, where they’re hosting a new weekly theme to showcase your very own creations. Last week it was all about mini makes, and this week it’s post box toppers. Share your most fabulous knitted or crocheted pieces, tag them, and you could see your work featured on their page!
Read our interview with Tom, Di and Shelia
We were very lucky to be allowed to interview Tom, Di and Shelia back in July! They were absolutely lovely, and we were blown away by their passion for all things yarn.
We sat down with them to ask about the show's conception, what it was like working together and what they hope Game of Wool will bring to the general public. Plus, they gave us lots of gossip and insight on what's to come on this year's show.
Read the full interview with Tom and the judges right here
Join our knit-along and crochet-along!
If you fancy knitting or crocheting along with the show, then we have just the projects for you! Join in with Simply Knitting's free Lace & Blooms blanket, designed by Nicola Valiji. We will be releasing a new part of the blanket pattern each Monday, ready for you to knit-along with the show on Sundays.
For those who prefer to crochet, Simply Crochet has a colourful Hook & Learn blanket for you to make. This beginner-friendly blanket is the perfect project to make while watching those talented knitters!
- Free knitted flower patterns for beginners
- Easy knitting patterns for beginners
- Easy scarf knitting pattern: Garter stitch cowl
Dive into knitting
If you’re catching the knitting bug, head over to our ultimate guide to knitting. It’s packed with everything you need to know, even if you’re casting on for the very first time.
Want to learn to crochet?
Crochet is such a fun and addictive craft, and great for beginners. Take a look at our beginner's guide to crochet to get started.
