COMM: Previously... (captivating music) COMM: During Holiday Week, knitters tackled their third Solo Challenge to create glamorous swimwear for Team GB... Stephanie: The pants, they're not quite going according to plan.

COMM: ...before using their crochet skills to make a deckchair.

Can someone grab me a pina colada, please?

COMM: Lydia was named Big Knitter of the Week.

You should be proud because the fit is lovely.

Sheila: A feat of engineering.

COMM: Simon lacked a plan.

Simon: Just trying to make it up as I go along.

COMM: Tracy missed the mark.

I'm not sure the flowers have worked terribly well.

COMM: But it was Stephanie who was cast off.

Thank you very much indeed, thank you.

COMM: Now... It's week four and our seven remaining knitters better have brought their creativity, their A-game, and of course, some adorable baby lambs.

Because it's Kids' Week on Game of Wool.

(captivating music fades) (birds chirping) Hello, knitters and welcome back.

I hope everyone's up for a bit of fun this week because it's Kids' Week.

So, for this week's Solo Challenge, Di and Sheila would love for you to make a costume that a toddler can wear to a kid's fancy dress party.

(hypnotic music) So everyone, for this Solo Challenge, we would like you to make a unique outfit, a standout design, and lovely stitchwork so that when we look at it, we're wowed.

So, crochet only.

Your outfit should have three elements to it.

It should be an instantly recognisable design.

And as Di said, the best possible choice of crochet stitches.

By now in the competition, we really expect to see a range of stitches used.

(hypnotic music fades) Later on, we are going to have some feral two-year-olds wearing your outfits.

You've got 12 hours.

So, let's get this party started, and let's get hooking.

(suspenseful music) COMM: This Solo Challenge will test the knitter's ability to use crochet stitches alone to bring a character to life.

Nearing the halfway point of the competition, the judges expect originality, structural strength and maximum impact.

Only the best are in with a chance of securing the coveted Sheep Badge.

My first goal was to be here.

And then I was like, "Well, now I have a new goal.

I want to get one of those sheep".

COMM: First, the knitters must crochet the main body of the garment, carefully considering stitches and fastenings to ensure the best possible fit.

Next, they must complete a piece of characterful headgear to really bring their outfit to life.

Finally, knitters must add embellishments and accessories, which can withstand the rough and tumble of playtime.

The judges will be expecting all three elements to work together to create an original and imaginative character.

Designs like these might take more than 30 hours, but in the Yarn Barn, they have just 12.

(suspenseful music fades) We only have seven knitters left.

What are you expecting to see when you walk into the Yarn Barn?

That it's really imaginative.

Also, that their technical ability is shining through, too, because it's always a balance.

It's always the two, Tom.

It's always creative and technical.

You've got to be able to do both to win Game of Wool.

(playful music) COMM: Still buzzing from her first Big Knitter win last week, mum-of-two Lydia is starting to create the body of her outfit in this, our first solo crochet challenge.

I gave the choice to my girls.

I said, what would you like mummy to make?

And they said, a lion.

COMM: Lydia is making a lion romper suit using double and treble crochet worked in the round, a technique that builds up from a central point to create a seamless shape and flexible fit.

She's also making a tail, wrist cuffs and a hood using the loop stitch, a technique which forms decorative loops of yarn to create her mane.

(playful music fades) Lydia, what inspired the lion?

Lydia: Um, my, my girls.

Oh.

So, this is my very detailed plan.

Tom: Oh.

Okay.

-The girls helped.

-Did they draw it?

Tom: That is so cute.

-You're planning to do it in the round?

-In the round.

-Okay, in the round.

-Completely in the round, yes.

Right, so for kids, that's great.

They can pull it on and there's no sewing up at the end.

-Exactly.

-Well, I wish you the best of luck with your roar-mper.

Oh my God.

(suspenseful music and sheep bleating) COMM: Also kicking off with the body of his outfit, and determined to make it count, is Isaac.

I was talking to my mum and I was like, "Man, I really need an idea for a kid's costume".

And she said "Explorer".

And I was like, "Okay, we can work with that".

I'm putting an intarsia globe on it.

I've just finished South America, then getting to the top of Africa.

COMM: Isaac's Explorer wears a pocketed safari jacket.

He has carefully charted a globe using the intarsia technique, and plans to create a canvas-style fabric using a time-consuming spike stitch.

To make a spike stitch, you work down into the row below, pulling the new loop up to the height of the current row to create a longer vertical stitch.

He's accessorised with binoculars, a compass and an ambitious pith helmet demanding clever engineering.

(suspenseful music fades) COMM: For this crochet-only challenge, the judges have specifically asked for creative crochet stitches to elevate basic fancy dress into full-blown characters.

Isaac's hoping his choice will help navigate him into the next round.

My eye has been caught.

Yes.

I've chosen to do a spike stitch in the main fabric of the vest.

It's going to take a lot longer for it to work up, but I do think it provides, like, a slightly more elegant look.

It does look much more like a woven fabric.

Yes, because they're typically made of, like, canvas.

Sheila: Yes, exactly.

It seems a really considered stitch to use.

(anticipatory music) Lydia: It's so much harder when you don't have a huge arsenal of crochet stitches.

Simon: Oh, I've never crocheted before in my life.

Lydia: I... Did I say that?

I said I was a novice.

I didn't say I haven't crocheted, because I obviously have.

I've crocheted a deckchair, okay?

Yeah, not many of us can say that.

COMM: No stranger to making outfits, fashion designer Holger is reimagining a childhood friend.

As a three-year-old, I had a little fox.

Fox in German is Fuchs.

As a three-year-old, I wasn't able to pronounce the K sound, so whenever I wanted to say Fuchs, I said Futs.

COMM: Holger's Futs the Fox costume is made up of striped dungarees secured with a shoulder strap and hand-crocheted buttons.

His foxy elements include cuffs, a bushy tail and a headpiece using a brushed yarn technique to create whiskery sideburns.

Just started the second panel of my trousers.

COMM: For her solo knit, librarian worker Dipti has been inspired by a children's novel, The Day The Crayons Quit.

Once the child puts it on, hopefully they will look like a crayon.

The hat is the tip, and I'm going to make a little bag that looks like a crayon in which to put all your crayons in.

So, it's crayon, crayon, crayon, crayon.

COMM: Dipti is creating a crayon-shaped outfit in a basic double crochet stitch.

She's looking to impress with intricate lettering using intarsia crochet on the front, a technique she's not tried before.

The hat will be a crayon tip, and a third component is a matching bag for actual crayons.

Instead of shaping around the body, Dipti has got started with just a simple tube.

Dipti: Shaping-wise, it is really simple.

You know, I'm changing the shape of the child.

The child is going to look like a crayon.

(bleating) COMM: Two hours into the challenge, knitters should be well into the body of their costumes and starting to consider how to add characterisation to their outfits.

Last week, it was Tracy's lack of embellishments with her bikini that put her in the danger zone.

Di: What have we here?

Tracy: This is a bee.

I'm working on the body at the moment.

Sheila: Can I just see which different stitches you've been using?

So, I've used trebles and clusters.

COMM: Treble stitches are tall and loose.

Cluster stitches add raised texture.

-Sheila: I do like the cluster effect.

-Di: Very nice.

It's giving a really nice added texture to it.

Tracy: Thank you.

COMM: Tracy's bee outfit has a stripy body in two stitch techniques, and this Queen Bee will also wear a crown.

To construct the wings, she has decided to use two hair-curling bands, which she will wrap in yarn.

(anticipatory music fades) What's the structure of the wings?

I'm bending these.

I'm going to wrap around and tie them.

COMM: Hair-curling bands will add weight to the wings, making them trickier to attach.

How will that attach?

Tracy: Um, I'm going to attach like that, so then I will crochet that bit on.

(metallic jingling) Yeah, okay.

(jingling fades) (adventurous music) Tom: Ailsa.

I've got the body piece.

Tom: It's so cute.

It looks random, but it's actually quite calculated.

COMM: Ailsa's zebra costume will feature a hat with added facial features and leg warmers.

On the body, she will use multiple stitches of different sizes, creating a natural-looking stripe.

Inspired by a knitting pattern she unearthed from the 1950s.

(adventurous music fades) I liked the way the stitches were done, and I managed to do this in such a way that I'd create sort of irregular stripes.

Creating that weird flow to make them irregular makes it like an actual zebra, right?

(anticipatory music) COMM: By the four-hour mark, knitters should have moved onto their second element, crocheted headgear, to really transform the toddlers into their characters.

Ta-da!

It's going to have little ears on.

I'm going to add a little bit of extra material so it gets really, really fluffy when you brush it out.

Isaac: This is a little pith hat.

-I love it.

-I think it suits you.

It might fit.

You look amazing.

Sheila: Well, shucks.

COMM: Last week, Simon's lack of planning led to him being marked down by the judges.

It's definitely a more focused week.

Currently on the helmet.

I'm using a double crochet.

COMM: Simon's knight costume will feature body armour crocheted in a beginner-friendly granny square stitch to mimic chain mail.

There is more complexity in the helmet, but unlike last week, Simon's written a pattern.

His accessory is an ambitious mace with interlinking chains, all made from tight double crochet stitches, perfect for intricate shaping.

(anticipatory music fades) My biggest concern is my knowledge of crochet, and the simplicity of the stitches.

The judges said about using different stitches, but I've only got a few in my arsenal.

(fast-paced music) COMM: I think everyone is taking this challenge a little bit too seriously.

Luckily, I'm on hand with the party games.

Game of woolly pinata, anyone?

Oh.

(grunting) Oh.

Oh.

You have six hours to go.

COMM: By now, knitters should be finishing their bodies and headgear and moving onto the accessories.

At this stage of the competition, every element must embody technical prowess for knitters to stand out.

Stiff competition this week, what do you reckon?

Something arguably good will have to go.

COMM: Dipti is struggling with the lettering on the body of her crayon.

I think I've gone wrong somewhere.

(fast-paced music fades) Di: This is intarsia crochet.

Yes.

I had to learn just for this, and it's been quite a learning process.

-Yep.

-Um, I hope the lettering will be clear.

And you weren't tempted to surface crochet or afterwards, the lettering?

No, because I wanted to be able to show you that I could use this technique.

Yes.

Do you mind if I have a little look?

-Of course you can.

Very much so.

-Thank you.

Just... tidy it up a little bit.

Smarten them up?

-Smarten them up.

-Yeah.

Sheila: Good luck, Dipti.

-Good luck.

-Dipti: Thank you.

Let's give it a go.

Here we go.

(sheep bleating) (rousing music) COMM: It's Kids' Week in the Yarn Barn.

And while I get the party started outside... So, we go in the stitch, round the needle, pull it through, and off.

Got it?

COMM: ...inside, knitters are more than halfway through their Solo Challenge.

Original, crochet-only, fancy dress outfits for kids.

Some are well into the third and final stage of the challenge, the accessories.

I'm making the second monocular to form my binoculars.

Holger: The tail will be crocheted.

Ailsa: These are little leg warmers.

I'm making a mace.

Sheila: Mace handle.

This is the bit Tracy's worried about.

(laughing) Very worried about.

COMM: But others are still working on the main body of their garment.

My priority is to try and take Di and Sheila's advice, and work on the front of the outfit, make it look tidier and a bit more defined.

I can't decide whether that's better or worse.

Lydia's face says it all.

Dipti: That actually doesn't look too bad from far away.

-Yeah?

-She's still not convinced.

(Dipti and Lydia laughing) (rousing music fades) Tom: Simon.

Oh, this looks fun.

Oh, wow, look at that.

So, these are lots of loops that you made in double crochet?

Simon: Yeah, double crochet foundation chains.

Tom: Fantastic.

This is great.

(anticipatory music) COMM: Instead of using crochet alone, Tracy chose hair curling bands to create shape.

But they've made the wings much heavier and harder to attach.

I'm going to put a crochet plate across the back and put it in place.

So, put it right the way round both sides to hold it.

Flutter, flutter.

(Tracy laughing) I've mostly finished the romper.

I'll start my tail here.

Just a tube.

Like, you're literally looking round and there's all these incredible costumes coming to life.

(anticipatory music fades) Knitters, you have one hour until this paddling wool is going to be full of toddlers trying out your outfit.

Oh.

Holger: That kind of ramps up the pressure nicely.

That's what we want, you know, more pressure.

COMM: In this final hour, the knitters must complete their three elements ready for judgement.

Dipti is working on her hat.

So, the hat, it is going to tie under the child's head.

Not long to go now.

What's going on?

Getting there, putting some facial features on.

There's a wee bit of eye shadow.

-Isaac, where are you at?

-I'm just making my compass.

Tom: That is adorable.

Oh, my gosh.

-Okay, Lydia.

-Yeah?

Tom: Where are you at?

Lydia: I will attach a tail here.

Let's have a look at the tail attachment.

Lovely.

Okay, and Holger?

I am attaching the tail to the trousers.

Tom: Ooh, look at that tail!

I don't know whether it will be enough for the judges.

I've given it my best shot.

All finished.

Oh.

Time is up.

Playtime is over.

-I'm done, baby.

Yay!

-Yay!

I've had the opportunity to see everyone else's and they are all really fantastic.

The stakes are high this week.

COMM: The stakes will be even higher when our seven costumes face their true test.

Toddlers.

(laughing) (cheerful music) (camera clicks) (cheerful music fades) COMM: Toddler test passed, it's judgement time.

It's now time for Di and Sheila to get critical with the crochet.

So, first up, we have Holger.

(light music) So, Holger, lots of nice stitch details, design details.

-You teazled.

-It is a bit of fluff.

Works incredibly well.

Sheila: So, three elements, the head.

The little dungarees.

I love the tail.

You know, you've thought about the construction, the weight of this fabric.

-Holger: Yeah.

Di: And the crocheted button is great.

Sheila: I think it is a success, yes.

Thank you.

This challenge wasn't just about creating a toddler's outfit.

We were looking for something that was original and special, and that's what you've done.

So, thank you.

(light music fades) Thank you very much, Holger.

Next up, we have Tracy.

Queen bee.

You have cleverly used clusters here to give it really nice texture.

And also breaking up the fact that they are essentially yellow and black stripes.

Buttons.

Slightly sad these aren't crocheted.

Sheila: I'm not sure that the wings work.

I think they're a bit too heavy.

Because of the weight of these, you needed to compensate.

It's pulled it right away from the back.

They don't quite look like wings.

Tom: Next up, we have Lydia.

(regal music) Di: Wow.

That is a real romper suit.

There's some great embellishments to this.

These lovely cufflets, the echo on the bottom, the mane, the tail.

It does all tie together.

It ties together really well.

The tail has actually got quite a nice shape, hasn't it?

I know it's a small detail, but again, crocheted, please.

Those are quite important details.

-Lydia: Okay.

Di: That you've made everything yourself.

-Yeah.

-Obviously, a lion suit is not super original.

-Yeah.

But I think it's got your mark on it, which I like.

-Thank you.

-Thank you, Lydia.

Thank you, Lydia.

Tom: Next up, we have Simon.

The helmet is a good, solid piece of construction.

You thought this through, didn't you?

I tried.

-You planned?

-Yeah, which is unusual for me.

When it comes to crochet, literally everything I've got is in... in that.

So, I can see you've really tried hard here, different crochet stitches.

Sheila: You're adapting what you know you can do to fit all the different requirements.

There is more that you could have done, I'm sure.

I actually really love this.

Very pleasing historical object.

And a great success earlier in the toddler arena.

Go on, Di, give it a swing.

You know you want to.

(group laughing) The detail you've put into this defines this costume.

Engineering like that really makes me happy.

I think you really stepped up making this.

(regal music fades) Tom: Next up, we have Ailsa.

(majestic music) She's quite something, isn't she?

-Thank you.

-Yeah.

A lot of fun.

I mean, a child's imagination can run wild wearing something like this.

One of the striking things is how you've manipulated your crochet stitches to uneven lines.

You have, I would guess, very carefully worked out the height of each crochet stitch.

-Yeah, that's right.

-It's a cracking pattern.

The detail in the eyes is exceptional.

The eye shadow with this offset top section, so you could then put the eye on top to raise it out.

The attention of fine detail in there is really, really amazing.

(majestic music fades) Love it.

Tom: And next up is Isaac.

(triumphant music) I love this, Isaac.

This lovely textured crochet stitching, which looks like a woven fabric from an explorer's jacket.

This is really complicated crochet intarsia.

And the countries are beautifully shaped.

It's very clear, and it's very good.

Sheila: And your pith helmet.

You have worked a set of spirals to your centre.

Very nicely engineered.

Di: Got some really amazing little elements.

Compass, which is a lovely surprise for a child.

But more exciting for a child to have... is a pair of binoculars.

I could see a child loving getting into character.

A small explorer.

(triumphant music fades) Yeah.

Next up, it's Dipti.

(atmospheric music) So, we've got... a crayon.

Great wee hat.

This is your little third element.

-Yes.

-The crayon bag.

Yes.

Di: Which is very sweet.

Nicely engineered.

So, you have been exploring intarsia.

-Crochet, yes.

-And crochet.

Yes.

Sheila: You've chosen to outline... Dipti: The letters.

Yeah.

It's difficult to... to see.

Sheila: I think when we were thinking about making these letters clearer, I wouldn't have expected such long lengths of yarn.

So, I think it's oversized.

-Sheila: It does gape at the back.

-Di: It gapes at the back.

I find the concept just slightly too simple.

Yeah.

It's not allowed you to create shape and form, which I would have liked to have seen more of.

-Hm-mm.

-Thank you very much, Dipti.

Thanks, Tom.

I just threw whatever I knew at it, which isn't a lot when it comes to crochet.

So, um, yeah, just, just gave it what I had.

After looking at everybody else's makes, mine is really, really quite simple.

Maybe I've reached my peak.

I don't know.

Maybe I'm out of my depth.

I don't know.

(atmospheric music fades) (sheep bleating) (adventurous music) COMM: It's time for the team knit, and one final chance to claim the prized Big Knitter badge and avoid being cast off.

(adventurous music fades) So, for this week's group challenge, Di and Sheila would love for you to make... a wall hanging for a children's bedroom.

(hypnotic music) Oh.

Tom: We're looking for something really imaginative.

Think fantastical beasts, think cosmic characters, superheroes, whatever you can dream up.

Now, it wouldn't be Game of Wool without something extra interesting thrown into the mix, because Di and Sheila have devised a little game.

It's a game we've all played when we were younger.

So, here's one I made earlier.

First person will design the first part.

The next person will then design the second part until the final design is revealed.

We'd like you to make it as imaginative as you can.

We'll also be looking for interactive and sensory elements.

(hypnotic music fades) Tom: And as always, the challenge is judged blind.

So, Di and Sheila, I'm going to have to ask you to leave the Yarn Barn.

(whispering) Okay.

Good luck.

Tom: Now, for the teams.

In team one, Dipti, Holger, Lydia and Simon.

In team two, Tracy, Isaac and Elsa.

You have eight hours to complete this challenge.

Let's get knitting.

(foreboding music) COMM: For this team challenge, they'll need their imaginations and stitches to run wild.

Each knitter is creating their own interactive decorative panel, which will then all be joined together to form one wall hanging.

Team one's piece will be made up of four panels, while team two's will have three.

But their first task is playing the game.

Tracy, laughing: I really want to look.

(foreboding music fades) Oh!

Ooh!

(laughing) This is, like, really out there, isn't it?

We're really going for shapes.

-Ailsa: Yeah.

-Tracy: And that's really important for children to recognise shapes.

Actually, I... I had a thought.

Cause it's so varied, it might be worth having the same background colour.

So that it is cohesive across the whole design.

Is everyone cool with that?

COMM: The Shapes team have created a geometric creature on a creamed stocking stitch background.

Tracy's striking triangular face features intarsia, appliqué eyes, sparkly yarn hair, beads and buttons for sensory impact.

Isaac's circular caterpillar body mixes waffle and cable knit with textured yarns, plus i-cord legs that push and pull.

Ailsa finishes the design with a colour block intarsia skirt, tieable lace-up shoes and a furry friend with a jingly bell.

The whole wall hanging is framed in neat garter stitch.

Instead of just jumping straight in, the other team are coming up with a character before taking pen to paper.

What immediately comes to your mind for a character?

Could be under the sea, like a sea creature.

A sea creature will give us more opportunity to make it, like, interactive and fun.

-Yeah.

-Right.

Shall we just draw?

Go for it.

Start again.

Dipti: I mean... I like it.

COMM: The Sea Creature team are building an ambitious underwater world, complete with a monster rising from the depths, panel by panel, packed with interactive features.

Above the surface, Simon's human head sits on a blue stocking stitch sky, with a zipped mouth, pom-pom nose and appliqué sunglasses.

Below, Lydia's torso has bobble-y yarn tentacle arms, and a working crochet zip-up vest on sparkly seaweed yarn.

Dipti's fully crocheted panel adds textured legs and removable swimming trunks.

At the seabed, Holger's intarsia feet rest on richly stitched textures with tactile pom-pom toenails.

With the two creatures dreamt up, the team's cast on, but with two very different approaches.

Holger: I like the idea of doing four distinct backgrounds.

Isaac: I think as long as, like, the background colours are the same throughout, it can sort of look like it's one thing.

Tracy: Yeah.

(birds chirping) When you were growing up, what was your favourite game?

This was one of mine.

-Really?

-Yes.

Create something as outrageous as we could get away with, basically.

I can only imagine what went through your mind, Sheila.

Well... What kind of designs are you hoping for in this challenge?

I'm looking for something really creative.

It's their chance to communicate fun.

What do you think could go wrong?

The working out of how it's all going to hang together.

How they actually decide to make all the panels join.

We have asked for playful and wildly imaginative, but, of course, people could tip over the edge.

(ticking rhythm) COMM: The knitters have started by creating their individual panels.

So, what colour shall I do the face?

-Ailsa: Yellow may be nice.

-Tracy: I'm thinking yellow would be nice.

Necklace, bobbles for the hat.

I'm never more happy than when I'm surrounded by glitter and things, and stuff.

Isaac: I'm doing the crazy belly of our creature.

I'm using a lot of different textures of yarn.

I've got sparkle, I've got fluffy, and then I'm also doing waffle stitch.

COMM: Knitting doesn't like to hang vertically, so the Shapes team are knitting a border to avoid the entire wall hanging curling in on itself.

We're doing garter stitch at the sides so that we have a cohesive pattern going up the sides of the panel.

This frame not only gives it a uniform frame that we don't need to worry about when we've completed it, um, but it also helps to prevent the stockinette from curling as much.

Has anyone ever made a panel for a wall before?

Isaac: Uh, I have not.

I've got a big tapestry crochet in my kitchen.

Cool.

And how long did it take you?

Ailsa: Uh... Please tell me under eight hours.

Because I'm quite a slow knitter, I have opted to crochet.

It will look different, but it's supposed to look different because everybody's panels are going to look different when they get put together anyway.

COMM: Knits and crochet stitches differ in size and tension.

Making the panels match requires careful swatching, measuring and adjusting stitch counts.

Dipti: I thought I'd measured it, but it's come out too big.

It can be layered together as well.

(ethereal music) Lydia: Quite considerably smaller.

I'll start again and I'll reduce it to see if I can get it to fit Lydia's better.

I hope this doesn't mean that I don't finish it.

I really do hope.

Yeah.

Okay, team, where... where are we at?

God knows.

I'm lagging vastly behind.

COMM: The more varied the stitches, textures and yarn weights, the harder it will be to join the individual panels, and for it to hang smoothly.

(ethereal music fades) Tom: Okay, so what is this?

We have a human head.

What is that?

-It's like tentacle arms, okay?

-Tom: Tentacle arms.

(playful music) Which part are you do-- So, which part is the red?

-Lydia: Arms.

-Holger: The arms.

The arms are red, but the body's purple?

-Yeah.

-Tom: Okay.

-Why not?

-Great.

Uh, why not?

It's playfully imaginative.

And the interactive bits are going to be stuck on top.

-Okay.

-Lydia's going to do a jacket for her body.

I'm going to try and do some trunks.

It's always good to include as many different things as possible.

Okay.

Is there any part of anyone that's a little bit worried and concerned about time?

-I mean, absolutely.

-Dipti: It's... it's delirium.

Well, I will leave you to all of your beastly activities, and I will see you soon.

(playful music fades) Tom: How's it going, team?

So, how did you come up with that?

As soon as we opened it up, we saw that there were circles there and then we thought shapes, shapes just come to mind.

-Educational.

-Absolutely.

It all kind of matches and like you say, you found a common ground.

Like, yeah, it's supposed to look like it was done by three different people.

-Yeah.

-But by having the same background across all three parts, when we join them together, it's a bit more cohesive.

What are some of the interactive ideas that you've got as part of your wall hanging?

Has anybody got anything interactive?

Ailsa: Just got a bit of glitter and a bit of fluff here.

Also be adding shoelaces, so that the kids can learn how to tie shoes.

Yeah, we decided to keep it simple just because our design has a lot of colour, and a lot going on.

(suspenseful music) Tracy: She's got a little bit of a face like a lemon now, sour-mouthed.

(Tracy laughs) How are you, Isaac?

How's it going?

Um, it's going.

So, on this pink one that I've done down here, I've done a waffle stitch, and then I've got this, like, really sparkly stuff over here.

And lots of texture.

Tracy: That is fantastic.

That's so lovely, Isaac.

Isaac: This is so fun.

COMM: But while the Shapes team are focused on the sensory, the Sea Creature team are leaning into interactivity.

Lydia: Now it's just adding as much interactive nature as we can.

He'll have a jacket with a zip.

I am embarking on hair.

We'll have applications of toes and seaweed and anything that's on the seabed.

I'm going to put some Velcro on the swimming briefs.

So, they're going to be removable and put on-able.

(suspenseful music fades) Knitters, you're halfway through this challenge.

You have four hours remaining.

Well, clearly nobody wants to play with me.

(clears throat) (light music) COMM: In the final four hours, knitters should be finishing their interactive elements and joining their panels to make a creature that hangs as one.

Ailsa: I'm very glad we went with the same background colours.

Isaac: Yeah.

Although I do look at this now and think, "Oh, God, it's so plain".

I don't know if I like it.

The whole team has been very cohesive in terms of the background colour, and also created a border factored into each panel.

So, it will sit flat.

My slight concern is that having, like, a plain cream background isn't... doesn't scream imagination and fun and excitement to me.

This team has spent more time on the interactiveness of it.

There's the embellishments and all the little bits.

They haven't necessarily thought about how everything links together.

It's looking a bit of chaos over here.

I've got 25 rows left.

We just haven't got that time.

Lydia: Okay.

Okay, okay, okay.

The end result is what counts.

We need to get it finished.

(light music fades) (adventurous music) COMM: It's Kids' Week and the knitters are working in teams to create interactive children's wall hangings.

By now, each team should have completed their individual panels and be attaching them together.

I am now casting off my panel, and I'm going to get ready to put these all together.

Tracy: Can you hang it under mine, Isaac?

-Tracy: Is it good?

-Ailsa: It's matching up, yeah.

COMM: But the Sea Creature team are drowning.

We're all individually trying to finish our panels at the moment.

(adventurous music fades) Knitters, one hour to go.

Oh no.

COMM: In the final hour, knitters must complete their wall hanging and attach them to dowels to be hung from the Yarn Barn roof.

But the Sea Creature team haven't even finished their panels, let alone worked out how to join them.

It might just be a case of, um, a quick invisible seam to join them all together.

We don't know.

How this thing is going to end up on the frame, I don't give a flying whatever about.

Simon: Monkeys.

Monkey, good idea.

How's it going over here?

You're sewing together.

Tracy: Embellishments are done.

We're sewing together.

Isaac: I'm doing mattress stitch so that the seam is invisible, just because I want the stitches to look as if they're knitted into each other.

-We are calm.

We are the zen group.

-You are very calm.

That's true.

I feel like the frantic is coming from over there.

Good.

I'm going to go check in on the other team, so I'll see you in a bit.

-Isaac: Bye, Tom.

-Tracy: Bye, Tom.

Okay.

We're doing that now.

Let's start thinking about getting the pieces together.

Dipti: Yeah, this is not coming along, is it?

When is the plan to start joining?

I see one panel is being joined right now.

Simon: About 25 minutes ago.

You do know that you have to have this on the pole, right?

-Yeah.

-And there's not much time left, right?

-Yeah.

Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Thank you.

Isaac: How do we think we want to attach this to the rods?

Ailsa: When I made my wall hanging, I just took one long thread and went round and round the dowel.

Isaac: With whip it?

Whip it.

COMM: The whip stitch wraps around the dowel and the edge of the fabric, holding both securely in place.

But it takes time to do well.

The Sea Creature team are now attempting to sew their panels together, whilst finishing their interactive elements at the same time.

I really need my panel to put my embellishments on.

I've got to put, um, Simon's on the top.

Lydia: Some small, sharp scissors.

I need small, sharp scissors.

Holger: Here, small scissors.

Oh, here.

Got them.

Got them.

Got them.

Got them.

Um.

Dipti: If you can sew one end while I sew it onto the pole.

Um, so what, when, what, what?

COMM: The Sea Creature team have no option but to roughly sew their top panel to the dowel.

-Lydia: Yeah, roll like this.

-Simon: Yeah, and stitch it on really quickly.

Isaac: Well, we finished it.

Well done, guys.

We've done well.

Done it.

Lydia: How long have we got?

Doesn't matter, just sew as fast as you can.

-Okay, okay.

-Simon: At this point.

Dipti: Yeah.

My pants are on.

Holger: Well, it's better than your pants off, so... Knitters, finish your rows.

Needles down.

Time is up.

Who's earned their pudding?

And who is having an extra serving of sprouts?

Holger: I love sprouts.

(ethereal music) No matter whether we win or lose, I'm really proud of this.

Holger: Ta-da.

Oh, dear.

COMM: Eight hours and approximately 36,000 stitches later, the teams have pulled off two intricate interactive wall hangings worthy of a child's bedroom.

(ethereal music fades) Well done, knitters.

That is two interactive wall hangings complete.

Come on in, judges.

Oh, my goodness.

Look at this.

(anticipatory music) Shall we look at this one first?

-Sheila: Yes.

-Di: Yeah.

COMM: On the top panel, Simon's created a head with a zip-up mouth and appliqué sunglasses.

Lydia created tentacle arms and a zip vest.

Dipti, a crochet panel with Velcro trunks.

Holger's contribution, intarsia feet with pom-pom toenails.

Well, there's a lot to unpick here.

There is a lot.

Lots of different texture, stitches, lots of different colour, obviously.

Mm.

Superb bit of textured knitting at the bottom there.

Sheila: Yeah, very nice.

Pants.

Oh.

Obviously, we have a different edge here because it's a crochet panel.

It has come in narrower.

We have this bulge, slight bulge.

-Yeah.

Yeah.

-Don't we?

Di: A zip!

Putting zips into knitwear can be really challenging.

What you always want is for it to sit flat, and that's what this is doing.

It's sitting beautifully.

And then we get to another zip.

But that's just... (Di and Sheila laughing) Di: It looks like he's talking.

Oh.

Sheila: I do like the idea of the garter stitch... Di: I like that very much, yes.

Although it sort of stops here, so they don't match.

Di: It looks as if it's been sewn on.

It's very visible.

You've got this slightly uneven effect.

Here, we've got the join between the panels.

It's not brilliant.

Do you know that's one of the things about... thinking about how you're finishing when you start?

Sheila: Yeah.

(anticipatory music fades) And then what do you think of the second one?

(playful music) COMM: Tracy has made an intarsia face with sparkly details.

Isaac, a textured caterpillar with movable legs.

And Ailsa's contribution, a skirt with tie-up shoes and a furry friend.

Sheila: It does actually make me smile, the way it follows through with all the different colours.

This is a much neater overall concept.

They've all gone for the same background colour, and created a very uniform wall hanging.

Their garter stitch at the edges, there's no tension problems.

I mean, I think that's really beautifully executed.

I'm really enchanted by the face.

It's just a fantastic character.

I just love this.

These panels are lovely.

Sheila: All the different textures.

The legs move.

Okay.

-Di: Look, this is cool.

-Sheila: Yeah.

I like that.

Di: And finally, we get to this section.

I'm practising my shoelace tying.

Sheila: Yeah, and it worked.

(playful music fades) Di: There's not as much interactive things happening.

There aren't really any little pouches or... Surprises.

Mm.

So, Di and Sheila, have you come to a decision?

This week's winning wall hanging is... this one.

(clapping) Which team worked on this one?

I loved it.

I can see a children's book opening with this character running all the way through it.

Tom: Well, a huge constitchulations to Isaac, Ailsa and Tracy.

COMM: It's now up to Di and Sheila to decide who will be cast off based on their performances across both challenges.

What a week is Kids' Week, huh?

Who in particular has impressed you this week?

Isaac has impressed me.

Talking about progression from week one, when he made the rather not great intarsia, to this week when we saw planet Earth beautifully defined.

I loved the texture of his explorer jacket.

I just thought that was one of the best things I've seen.

Very special.

And he also came up with the cohesive element from the group challenge.

Absolutely.

Yes, he's got a really clear vision.

I feel he's really stepped up this week.

Ailsa.

She has really interesting, quirky ideas.

She's bubbling with imagination.

Who's at risk of being cast off this week?

Dipti's in danger.

Sheila: She tried new techniques, but it didn't quite work.

She was in the losing panel.

It was too confusing, too many disparate elements.

Simon.

We're coming to a... a crunch point.

And speaking about the variety of stitches, I think he has used every crochet stitch that he knows.

We're at that point in the competition now.

Simon is not the strongest at this level.

Is a mace enough to take him through?

I just don't know.

Tom: What a week it's been.

It's time to find out who's knit big and whose time it is to sit on the Naughty Step.

So, the Big Knitter this week... is Isaac.

Sheila: Well done, well done.

-Well done.

-If you can all join me in giving a big... Everyone: Baaa... -To Isaac.

Congratulations.

-Isaac: Thank you.

(relaxed music) And as always, this part gets tougher and tougher as the weeks go by.

The person being cast off is... (relaxed music fades) Dipti.

I knew.

Oh.

You've been so fantastic.

Oh.

Dipti: I'm going to get a bit tearful because I'm sad to be leaving.

I've made such a good, good group of friends, um, but I was starting to feel out of my depth, to be absolutely honest with you.

I'm absolutely gassed to have this sheep badge.

Tom: Group hug.

You're in the middle.

Dipti: I'll be in the middle.

I'll do a little... Group: Dipti, Dipti, Dipti, Dipti, Dipti, Dipti, Dipti, Dipti.

Dipti: Don't, you'll make me cry.

(group laughing) COMM: Next time, knitted food good enough to eat.

I'm making Sunday roast, it's my favourite dinner.

COMM: And the ultimate textured cardigan.

There you go, beautiful.

Hold on, hold on, hold on.

Something has gone wrong, I think.

(rousing music)