(distant bleating) COMM: Previously... (rousing music) COMM: ... the knitters tackled their second Solo Challenge, to make iconic outfits for pets... I'm winging it.

David Bowie's wig.

COMM: ...before going back in time, to create dramatic '80s jumpers in the team knit.

Stephanie: Can't thread my needle fast enough!

(gasping) Oh, good grief!

We did it.

Kttsch.

COMM: Holger was best in show... For me, Holger nailed it.

COMM: ...earning him the Big Knitter of the Week badge.

(all laughing) COMM: Stephanie found herself in the danger zone.

Sheila: This is a bit messier than the rest.

COMM: But ultimately, Meadow was cast off... I've loved every minute of it.

COMM: ...leaving eight knitters remaining.

Now... It's week three, and for our eight remaining knitters, they're going to try and get away from it all, because it's Holiday Week.

I hope they're ready, 'cause I am.

(seagulls calling) Welcome to Game of Wool.

(rousing music fades) (birds chirping and sheep bleating) Welcome back, knitters.

I mean, I feel like there's relaxation in the air, which is good, because it's Holiday Week.

First up is your solo knit.

So, for this week, for your individual challenge, we would like you to make some amazing swimwear.

(hypnotic music) So, we'd like a striking and glamorous design.

You can knit or crochet, or a bit of both.

And these are going to be close-fitting garments, so fit and fastenings are going to be not just important, they're going to be critical.

So, good luck.

Indeed.

I think fit is definitely the word that stands out there, because I have some of my Team GB diving friends who are going to be coming along to try on your swimwear.

Tracy: Wow.

Yes.

So, I don't want to see any more of them than is completely necessary.

You have 12 hours to complete this challenge, so let's dive in there, like swimwear.

Let's get knitting.

COMM: This week's solo challenge is about making a splash, with small, perfectly fitting design.

So, are you making, like, shorts?

Yeah, short shorts.

COMM: Working to the exact measurements of Team GB, the knitters must design swimsuits with Olympic precision fit, alongside gold medal-style glam.

I'm hoping that the frills will, sort of, add a little bit of modesty.

COMM: The knitters may choose to create their swimwear using knit or crochet.

They can design a one-piece, bikini, or trunks, tailor-made to fit their model.

Crocheters will work in panels, manipulating basic granny squares, and-or varying stitch size, to create shapes that contour the body.

Knitters will work in the round, decreasing and increasing the number of stitches to create a form-fitting shape.

Once the base garment is complete, knitters can bring the glam with embellishments such as tassels, fringing, or motifs.

Finally, any knitters creating trunks must create an accompanying accessory, such as a bag, a belt, or even a vest.

(hypnotic music fades) So, swimwear.

This is a tough knit.

-Absolutely.

-There's so many directions that they can go with this design.

What are you hoping for, in terms of design concept?

It's got to be innovative, it's got to be fun, light.

Sheila: Di's all about glam this week, aren't you?

Di: I'm all about glam, yes.

We want them to get the shaping right, and fit is going to be huge.

Tom: It's getting to that point in the competition now where we are really nitpicking, right?

Really putting them to the test.

(suspenseful music) COMM: Inspired by their favourite holiday destinations, this challenge is all about posing poolside in style.

Don't you hate it when you lose the top of your treble?

Tracy, laughing: Yeah.

COMM: Dipti is kicking off the challenge with crochet, and working up the body of her bikini using the granny square.

A classic crochet motif, which creates a lacy appearance, and currently enjoying a retro comeback.

(suspenseful music fades) Dipti: It is simple, but you don't have to make squares, so I'm going to make triangles, and I'm going to make the iconic triangle halter neck bikini with it.

(dreamy music) COMM: Dipti's bikini incorporates granny triangles, crocheted using black and gold metallic yarn, for a glam colour scheme inspired by a trip to Las Vegas with her choir.

I'm a member of a choir called the Lace City Chorus.

We're a competitive chorus.

It's always about striving to be better, and I'm taking that practice into this competition as well.

Were you just talking about Vegas?

Yeah.

Where we sung is where they hold boxing matches.

-Oh, right.

-Yeah.

It's ma-hoo-sive.

So, does that mean you're now officially a Vegas showgirl?

(dreamy music fades) No.

No.

No.

COMM: Also taking a granny square to the next level is Holger.

But rather than a triangle, Holger is using the granny stitch as a building block to create his trunks, with the usual precision we've come to expect of him.

The shape I'm creating here, there has been a hell of a lot of work, which involves some complicated calculating.

COMM: Inspired by Deia, a coastal village in Mallorca, Holger is shaping granny squares around the legs to create tight-fitting trunks.

His shorts will be paired with a loose-fitting mesh top, to bring the glam to the granny square.

It's more of a posing trunk, isn't it?

Let's face it.

Nobody wants to go into the water with that.

Tom: Lydia.

-Hi, Tom.

-How's it going?

Lydia: It is going.

Women's bodies, there's just so much to it to get it to fit properly.

COMM: Inspired by an Australian holiday, Lydia is attempting to knit an entire swimsuit.

Her complex pattern requires shaping around the top and bottom, and an intricate lace panel inserted through the centre to synch the garment in and reflect the curves of the female body.

Struth!

Are you planning to make it like a tube all the way up, or are you, kind of, going to go a bit skimpier to save on time?

Lydia: There's loads of shaping here, so this bit was always the narrowest bit anyway, so the top part you've got shaping, where it increases.

But the sand bit is the skimpiest bit, because I want it to look dramatic.

Well, it's not like you're designing very basic stuff.

This has got, like, so many stitches.

You've got all kinds of different textures going on there.

This competition is the first time I've been designing things, and I just thought, "Wow, it's really gone from zero to 100."

Well, best of luck.

I mean, it looks like it's coming together really nicely, so... -Lydia: Thank you so much, Tom.

-Tom: Can't wait to see it finished.

Lydia: Thank you.

COMM: While the knitters work their way through the bodies of their cossies, the judges will be expecting a close fit through clever shaping or via fastenings to the body.

Ailsa: Can't believe I'm sat here agonising over the length of an Olympian's crotch.

-Ailsa.

-Hello.

What have we got going on here?

The inspiration behind this was a trip to Venice with my friend Kate.

Tom: What are these going to be?

Ailsa: That is going to form the top in a, sort of, harlequin design.

-Tom: Wow.

-Ailsa: So, alternate the colours and lay them out.

COMM: Ailsa is also making a full swimsuit like Lydia, but instead of knitting, she plans to crochet 21 diamonds, which will then be stitched together to create a swimsuit fitted to the body.

It was quite a challenge to get it to curve round the chest properly, so I've got these two triangles which will join here to create a bit of a curve.

Okay.

Who is your competition this week, do you think?

Well, just seeing what Lydia's up to.

Knits at the speed of light.

(Tom laughing) With her lace, it's looking good.

COMM: Also taking inspiration from a recent trip, but a more magical themed one, is Simon.

And despite last week's failed crochet attempt, this week he's at it again.

Simon: It's a pair of shorts.

It's inspired by Disneyland Paris and the colours of the castle.

We just love going there.

-Here's a... -Holger: Yeah.

COMM: Rookie crocheter Simon is boldly using freeform crochet to create his golden board shorts, with inset granny circles on the back, to reflect those iconic mouse ears.

Inspired by his time in the Marines and current career as a builder, he's planning to accessorise his swimwear with a utility belt, for all those holiday essentials, also decorated with granny circles.

I'm going to, kind of, try and just stitch them together.

Like, just make it up as I go along.

I don't crochet, but I feel that you can adjust it more quickly.

Stephanie, it seems like you've been on a lot of really cool holidays.

Yes.

I've been very, very fortunate.

I got married in the Seychelles.

-Isaac: That's crazy!

-Stephanie: Yeah.

Stephanie: Unfortunately, the marriage didn't last, but c'est la vie.

The memories are brilliant.

COMM: Stephanie is bravely ditching her knitting needles to give crochet a go, with her tropical island bikini.

She plans to embellish with surface crochet, to add a beachy design, complete with a sun, sea, and even a palm tree.

-I see you're crocheting.

-Yes.

Stephanie: I'm not a crochet person, that's not my thing.

But I decided to take a gamble.

And I've got two bust cups almost completed.

-Tom: Lovely.

-Stephanie: What I have learnt is that I can use a paper pattern, and so this is my lower garment that will fold up into... -Okay.

-So, that's my template for when I come to do this part.

Seems like quite a big risk to take on crochet.

Stephanie: Well, I decided that it was time for me to show some diversity.

I'm going for it.

(birds chirping) (sheep bleating) COMM: By this stage in the challenge, the judges will be looking for knitters to be working up a perfect fit.

-Hi, Tracy.

-Hiya.

Sheila: How are you doing, Tracy?

So, the design for this, I wanted it to have something that was quite blocked in the middle, so that we don't have any nipple exposure.

You've made a longer stitch, and then for this section you've just nicely shortened it.

-Yes.

-Create shape, isn't it?

Yeah, to create a shape.

COMM: Channelling memories of Isle of Wight holidays, Tracy is adjusting her stitch size to sculpt the cup shape for her white and gold crochet bikini.

She's planning an opulent display of pink and purple fuchsias to complete the look.

-What are you going to do next?

-My idea was to do fuchsias, and the flowers are going to hang.

Hopefully the booby bit won't.

(Tracy laughing) Di: Fuchsias are really glamorous, lots of petals, and you need to make good choices about how you're going to do that.

-Yeah.

-I would say.

Fingers crossed I make the best ones, then.

Stephanie: Oh, my gosh.

Isaac: Yeah, it's fine, we don't need to talk about it.

COMM: While Tracy is using crochet flowers to bring the glam, Isaac is planning to embellish his trunks with glamorous lettering.

I don't really have a lot of experience with, like, glamour.

But yeah, I am doing some sparkly letters on the bum that say 'NRG' for 'New River Gorge'.

COMM: Isaac is knitting board shorts with a rock climbing design on the front and sparkly letters on the back, inspired by a trip to the New River Gorge in West Virginia.

His accessory is a crochet chalk bag to complete the rock climbing theme.

So, obviously, because I'm doing just the swim shorts, I have to have an additional item, and the accessory I've chosen to make is a chalk bag, which you would use for rock climbing.

You could put your phone in it, you could put your keys in it, it's great for hanging by the pool.

Di and Sheila are going to love it.

(ethereal music) Knitters, you are halfway through this challenge.

You have six hours remaining.

Simon: Oh, god.

I'm definitely behind.

COMM: At the halfway point, knitters should be well into the body of their garments and starting to add their glamorous details.

Stephanie: The pants, they're not quite going according to plan.

I think my shaping isn't quite right.

(sighs) I thought that was going to be the front, but I think it might have to be the back.

Er, I've got to say, I'm worried about this challenge.

I am worried.

(ethereal music fades) (adventurous music) COMM: It's week three in the Yarn Barn, and the knitters are over halfway through their solo challenge, to create glamorous swimwear modelled by Team GB.

Measurement-wise, the guy's, like, exactly the same size as me.

So, obviously if the fit is bad, I don't have any excuse.

Maybe we should cut that bit out.

-Hi, Lydia.

-Hi!

COMM: Lydia is halfway through her complicated lace panel, which she hopes will create the perfect fit for her swimsuit.

(adventurous music fades) Once you start introducing a lace section to swimwear, it becomes much sexier, and more glamorous.

-Lydia: Amazing.

-Di: And I'm really looking forward to seeing it, and the shaping as it progresses.

Fit is everything.

-Lydia: Yeah.

-Sheila: It is critical.

-Di: Keep it going.

-Sheila: Keep going, keep going.

Di: You've achieved a huge amount there.

Thank you.

I just really wanted to make something that would make you and Sheila proud with how it fits and... Di: Sorry.

Feel quite emotional.

Sorry.

Going to go red.

Lydia: I just... I bet nobody else gets like this over knitting.

It just makes me feel incredibly emotional, so I'm crying, but I'm actually really happy!

Sheila: Tears of joy.

-You've just got to pull it off.

-No pressure.

No pressure.

(birds chirping and sheep bleating) (playful music) COMM: Simon has now completed his trunks, and is using a unique method to ensure a successful fit.

Lacing.

(playful music fades) Simon: Oh, the boss is here.

How are you doing with this?

So, I'm just trying to pick up a waistband, and then I was going to either do, like, a lace-up side, to make it a bit sexier.

-Tom: Wow, okay.

-Simon: They're pretty risqué, so I hope your friend... Oh, they don't... We're athletes, we don't mind.

We don't see our bodies as anything other than a vessel to perform, to be honest, so, you know.

And you can see the really sparkly, glam look.

I just hope it fits her.

COMM: In the final hours of the challenge, knitters should be adding embellishments and creating any accessories, but novice crocheter Stephanie is yet to add any of her tropical details.

The plan is to have a palm tree.

I want it 3D.

That nice surface 3D.

-Stephanie: Yeah.

-Absolutely.

Sheila: We will look forward to seeing what else you can add to your basic pieces.

I'm interested to see what I'm going to add as well.

You like to see it too, Stephanie.

COMM: While Stephanie races to complete her embellishments, Tracy has managed to complete her fuchsias, but with less flower power than she had hoped.

So, Tracy, how's it going?

-Panicked.

-Panicked?

-Tracy: Yeah, very.

-What are you panicking about?

-This is the bottom.

-Okay, so you... So, we might be exposing your friend's bottom.

Have you got the flower covered?

Tracy: Yeah, I've got her flower covered.

Might end up being a one-shoulder affair at this rate.

Knitters, you have one hour remaining.

I mean, at this point, what am I doing?

COMM: In the remaining hour, any knitters presenting trunks to the judges must now complete the coordinated accessory to match.

Holger is crocheting a string vest.

Holger: Very, very open mesh, so very little substance, but once the top is done, I can work from here downwards.

It's kind of a little bit sexy having a bit of a crop, though.

-Yeah.

-Not for you?

Well, not for me personally, definitely, but, er... Well, you know, you never know.

COMM: With Isaac's shorts taking longer than he had anticipated, he is now rushing to crochet up a chalk bag.

Now, I'm making a loose representation of a chalk bag.

COMM: And Simon's accessory utility belt is also far less refined than he had intended.

Simon: Holger?

There's no glamour in this one.

My utility belt.

I mean, it goes amazing with my sheep badge.

Thirty minutes to go.

Let's check in on them, shall we?

Stephanie, how's it going?

The palm tree's proving more difficult than I thought.

I'm trying to attach the leaves to make it look like a palm tree than a black stripe.

Ailsa, where are you at right now?

Ailsa: Just putting the last of the diamonds together.

COMM: In the final moments, knitters have one last chance to add any last-minute details.

-Tom: Tracy, how's it going?

-Tracy: It feels very glam.

Tom: Dipti.

You know.

Don't put that on TV!

-Tom: Not much time to go.

-Holger: Yes.

Go, go, go.

No urgency here!

It's coming, it's coming, it's coming.

And I've just lost my needle.

(tense music) Let's stretch it, make it a bit longer.

That's all I can do.

Haven't got time.

(tense music fades) Knitters, time is up, that's 12 hours done.

It's now time for Team GB to try on your swimwear.

Let's hope it fits.

COMM: The knitters were asked to produce glamorous form-fitting swimwear.

Twelve hours later, it's time for eight beach-ready looks to be judged.

Stephanie: It's been a massive risk.

I've just got to trust the judges will take into account just how much I've pushed myself out of my comfort zone.

I'm not a glamorous person, I don't do glamour, so to have that is completely out of my wheelhouse.

COMM: Diving into our swimwear today are Team GB superstars with three Olympic medals between them.

Noah Williams, Yasmin Harper and Jordan Houlden.

Well done, knitters.

That's eight glamorous swimsuits made.

And now it's time for my fellow Team GB Olympians to try them on and find out who will sink and who will swim.

First up, we have Lydia.

(foreboding music) (cheering and clapping) COMM: Sporting Lydia's swimsuit is Olympic bronze medallist, Yasmin Harper.

I love this piece.

I think the word might be chic.

It has a glamour because you've brought the lace panel in.

Sheila: I think what makes it fit well, the shaping, which is a feat of engineering.

I'm proud that I've got it out, and it fits.

-Amen.

-You should be proud, because the fit is lovely.

Sheila: Thank you, Lydia.

Thank you, Lydia.

Next up we have Dipti.

Wow.

That's amazing.

The glamour of Las Vegas really shines through.

The stitch work is lovely, the shaping is very elegant.

Is it comfortable to wear?

Would you like to tell me?

(all laughing) Would I wear it without pants on underneath?

Probably not.

-Sheila: No.

-Di: Yes.

But... (all laughing) It's a little revealing, isn't it?

But it... -Yeah.

-Di: Yeah.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Tom: Up next is Ailsa.

Sheila: I really love the way it's all joined together.

A couple of different shapes there, to fit the body.

I'm unsure about here.

You've got your cut threads here, and you can see them.

But there's a lot of really fine crochet work.

Which is absolutely excellent.

-Di: Thank you.

-Ailsa: Thank you.

Sheila: Thank you very much, Ailsa.

Thank you.

Tom: Next up we have Isaac.

COMM: Modelling Isaac's shorts is double Olympic medallist, and my diving partner, Noah Williams.

(foreboding music fades) Would you mind turning round so we can see the back?

Di: For me, it's not quite glam enough.

-Yeah.

That's fair.

-It's difficult with a subject, which is rock climbing.

-Isaac: Yeah, to make it glam.

-Di: ...to, kind of, add a lot of glam into it.

Sheila: So, the bag.

You were aiming for a different palette.

Yeah.

I did want it to be, sort of like, a bright accompaniment, 'cause I know that the colours to the shorts themselves are relatively dull.

I think it just needed to be a little bit more wow.

-Thank you, Isaac.

-Thanks, Noah.

No, thank you.

Next up is Stephanie.

Sheila: I can't help feeling that the bottom half is just a little on the skimpy side.

-Okay.

-It's not quite as glamour as I would have imagined.

Not all of the detailing works.

Some of it is on the simple side.

Di: I'm not sure about the palm tree.

Stephanie: Okay.

Di: Even some palm fronds coming over would have been more exotic.

-Sheila: Yes.

-Yeah.

-Thank you.

-Di: Thank you, Stephanie.

Stephanie: Thank you.

Okay, Tracy, you're up next.

Are you ready?

Up we go, help you through, there you go.

-Thank you.

-Hi, Tracy.

Hiya.

So, in terms of fit, the top works really well.

Di: Yeah, I'm not sure the flowers have worked.

Fuchsias are really opulent, with lots of petals and gorgeousness, and they don't quite make it for me as a fuchsia.

(clapping) Tom: Next up is Holger.

I would not have thought a string vest and a granny squares pair of trunks could be sexy and glamorous, but they are.

You've manipulated them to create shape and form.

It's really sculptural.

It's a really good fit.

Really well done.

-Thank you.

-Thank you, Holger.

(clapping) And next up is Simon.

COMM: The Olympian in Simon's shorts is Jordan Houlden.

(clapping) So... Sheila: Ah.

Di: The lacing is interesting.

Do you really like it?

-I didn't say I liked it.

-Oh, right, okay.

Simon: So, obviously I wanted it to be a bit more, like, chic.

It's ended up with some, sort of, bunched-up bits.

Simon: Yeah.

Sheila: The fit is compromised.

Di: Thank you.

(clapping) Simon: My biggest takeaway from this challenge is I'm really not a crocheter.

I'm just going to shut the door on this one, move on, let's not worry about it.

Move on and do my best.

(captivating music) COMM: With eight swimsuits now packed away for the holidays, the knitters have one more chance to prove themselves and avoid the cast off.

And for this team challenge, they'll want a seat.

(captivating music fades) Tom: This week for our team challenge, Di and Sheila would love for you to work in pairs... to crochet... a deckchair.

-Wow.

-What?

Tom: Yes.

A deckchair.

Cornerstone of British seaside summer.

And because this is our first only crochet challenge, we have enlisted some help from an amazing crochet judge.

COMM: Her designs have been worn by Justin Bieber, and she's an expert in high-end contemporary floral design.

Please welcome... Janie Crow.

(clapping) Janie: Hi, guys.

I really feel that crochet has the potential to be an amazing platform for creativity, amazing colour palettes, and I just can't wait to see what you all come up with.

-Good luck.

-Thank you.

This week, we would like you, in your pairs, to crochet a traditional deckchair sling.

Sheila: We would love to see a striking holiday design.

Practical, functional, and above all securely fitted, because while we won't be having a wee seat, our friend Tom here will.

Tom: Yes.

I don't want to fall through.

As always, the team challenge is judged blind, so I am now going to ask Di, Sheila and Janie to leave the Yarn Barn.

Sheila: Good luck.

Tom: Now, for your teams, you're going to be working in pairs.

So, in team one, we have Holger and Isaac.

In team two, we have Lydia... and Tracy.

Yeah!

In team three, we have Stephanie and Dipti.

And in team four, we have Ailsa and Simon.

For this challenge, you are going to have eight hours.

Let's get hooking.

COMM: Each of the teams have been given a simple deckchair frame to create a holiday-inspired design.

It's always the eternal question, how do those things fold and unfold?

COMM: Once they have crocheted together their seaside sling, they must attach it to the frame successfully.

Do you think squares of varying sizes, and then putting them together?

I think so.

COMM: Teams have a choice of three cotton yarns for the sling.

A thick cord yarn, a fine recycled yarn and a soft tape yarn.

Let's make sure we deck the competition.

Ailsa: Deck them all.

Tom: A deckchair.

Well, Tom, can I just say, deckchairs are iconic.

-Yeah, well, that's fair enough.

-Absolutely.

Are there stitches that work better for a deckchair?

Probably the densest crochet stitch is a double.

It's the sturdiest crochet stitch.

But the one I'm concerned they might use is a treble.

So, it's the same process through the stitch, but this time I've got three loops on my hook instead of two, so then it's through two.

Oh.

And through the final two.

And that then gives you this gap, you see?

The risky gap.

Sheila: Yeah.

Janie: Then it's going to be really stretchy.

And stretchy can be a disaster when it comes to sitting down in a deckchair.

-Yeah.

-Sheila: Needs to be firm.

I feel like a granny square is very much a classic in the crochet world.

Do you think that's a good idea to do within a deckchair?

Janie: The granny square has its place, but I'm hoping that they push it a little bit.

-Push it out.

-I want something different.

One of us starts from the top, one of us starts from the bottom.

COMM: Teams must select a yarn and a stitch that are up for the job.

Too stretchy, and I could end up bottomed out.

That's a technical diving term for hitting the floor.

Ailsa: That's the yarn that we liked, the thicker one, which will grow quicker.

Simon: Yeah, that will be alright on there, I think.

COMM: Simon and Ailsa are first to select the thick cord yarn.

Ailsa: First thing I can think of is the little beach huts.

-Simon: Yes.

-Ailsa: We could do a textured, sort of, stitch here, for the sand.

COMM: For their deckchair, Simon and Ailsa have come up with a classic beach hut design, using the dense shell and double crochet stitches for the base, with seaside motifs stitched on as extra details.

Stephanie and Dipti have also opted for the thickest yarn.

Stephanie: We could do a cocktail.

Something like this, and we could have an umbrella in it.

-Dipti: Yeah.

Yeah.

-Stephanie: How's that?

COMM: Stephanie and Dipti have concocted a cocktails-on-the beach design.

They will connect cord yarn granny squares for the sling, before adding their crochet cocktail motif.

Lydia: This is actually lovely.

-Tracy: Is it?

-Yeah, I like it.

I really like the feel of it.

COMM: Tracy and Lydia have gone for the soft and stretchy tape yarn.

Lydia: What stitch is going to provide the best security for the base of it?

I think we do something plain, so keep that fairly basic, and then flower the whole thing.

Lydia: It should transport you to the Hawaiian beach.

Tracy: It's going to be all about the embellishments.

COMM: Their Hawaiian beach theme incorporates a stripey sling, embellished with an abundance of tropical flowers.

With the amount of effort that you're putting into working with this, we could make something faster with the... -Slimmer one?

Yeah.

-Yeah.

COMM: Holger and Isaac are the only team to choose the fine cotton yarn.

Holger: I mean, it could be something as simple as those cones that are wound from newspaper, with the chips in.

Isaac: Yeah.

I think what we could do is make the background the classic stripes.

COMM: A cone of chips is on the menu for the boys.

They will be using intarsia to crochet their chip design into their sling, while using the thinnest yarn.

This means a total of 6,000 stitches will be needed to complete this intricate design.

We're planning on splitting the whole thing, essentially down the middle.

Holger: It's easier to split it this way, because then... Isaac: You can hide the join in.

The join in the motif will have to be done carefully, but the join in the stripe will be hidden.

We're going to have an uphill struggle to beat the crochet queens over there, but as long as we don't come last.

(sheep bleating) COMM: Two hours into the challenge and the base of the deckchair slings are taking shape.

Dipti: It's really like fighting, isn't it, working with this yarn?

Stephanie: Yeah.

-Dipti, Stephanie.

-Hi, Tom.

Tom: How are we doing?

-Come in.

Do you fancy a cocktail?

-I would love a cocktail.

-What have you got on offer?

-Er, grannies on the beach.

Grannies on the beach.

That's a good one.

Tom: How's it going?

Dipti: So, this is going to be the sling of our cover.

It is growing very quickly, to see it come together, and especially with the granny square, they just grow in all directions, where every round it gets bigger and bigger and bigger.

-I feel reasonably confident.

-Do you think so?

I think we've got a plan and we know what we're doing.

Ailsa: That's looking good.

Quick.

COMM: Ailsa and Simon are the only team doubling the length of the sling to fold it over.

All other teams plan to just attach one panel to the frame.

Tom: Ailsa and Simon.

Hello.

Ailsa: We've got the main sling finished.

Simon: But we're just going to adjust that slightly, 'cause what we're going to do is we're going to extend it all the way round and turn it into a tube, so when it sits on a deckchair, you've got two layers of fabric, and that will really feel supportive.

Tom: Hookers!

You are halfway through this challenge.

That is four hours until you need your deckchair ready.

I'm off on holiday.

Tom: Oh no!

COMM: In the remaining four hours, knitters must join together their slings with enough strength to pass the sit test.

That's holding.

COMM: And also add any final embellishments.

Stephanie: I'm doing our cocktail glass, and then the umbrella that goes in the top of it.

I'm doing some freeform crochet flowers.

Started to add a bit of detail to these.

That's just a wee anchor.

COMM: But having chosen the finest yarn... Holger: It's taking so long.

COMM: ...Holger and Isaac are beginning to fall behind.

You're planning on doing the whole deckchair in this thin yarn?

Er... All going according to plan, and time-wise, sure.

Probably not.

The motif will be done, and then it will be finished off in whatever gets it finished.

Well, I'm going to leave you both to it.

You seem very focused and very, you know... Stressed?

Is that what you're looking for?

I wouldn't say stressed.

How can you be stressed when you're crocheting and knitting?

That's what you do to relieve stress, right?

Have you been here for the last two weeks?

Holger: Mmhmm.

Well, I'll leave you to it.

-Bye, Tom.

-Tom: Bye.

I mean, Holger and Isaac have taken a huge risk with going with the thin yarn, because although they can work slightly quicker with it, it grows so slowly.

So, they are probably the team that's worrying me the most at the moment.

Holger: We're going to sew together the two strips as soon as they have a length that we can work with.

COMM: While Holger and Isaac struggle to join their complicated design together, Dipti: What do I do?

Just give it a go?

COMM: it's the moment of truth for Dipti and Stephanie.

(anticipatory music) I'm in, but I'm sinking.

Stephanie: Right.

Dipti: It's got a lot more give to it than we were totally expecting at all.

I don't know what to do.

I think we undo the beach end and... cut?

No.

(anticipatory music fades) (adventurous music) COMM: The knitters are in the final stages of crocheting a true British design classic.

The deckchair.

I've put it on back-to-front.

COMM: Holger and Isaac have made a last-minute stitch swap to the dangerous treble crochet, to get their sling finally completed.

You know, it's going to be a weak spot in the fabric of the deckchair, but it gives more substance quicker, doesn't it?

COMM: But Stephanie and Dipti need to fix their over-sized sling before they can even fit it to the frame.

Get rid of that one.

Do it, Stephanie, 'cause I can't.

-Stephanie: Yes?

-Dipti: Yeah.

Do it.

-It breaks my heart to cut it, but... -I appreciate it breaks your heart, angel.

(adventurous music fades) Knitters, you have one hour until I am going to be sitting on your deckchairs.

The method I'm using is what's commonly known as pure and utter desperation.

COMM: In the last hour, knitters must attach their sling securely to the frame.

Dipti: We're chaining the bottom up to the top, attaching it straight to the wood, and then we can do the same with the sides.

Holger: There'll be no sit test, because... Isaac: I want to sit in it.

No, I'm not sitting in this and potentially break it.

Oh, yeah!

Can someone grab me a pina colada, please?

Tom: Oh, look at the flowers coming together!

Dipti: The black outline on Stephanie's stem, and the wine glass, make it pop from the surface.

Dipti: This whole thing's going to look great, I know it is.

-Simon: What about that?

-Ailsa: Yeah.

Ailsa: Wee ice cream for Tom.

Lovely.

Cut the ends!

Quick!

Tom: Hookers!

Hooks down.

Your time is up.

The holiday, is it just beginning, or is the holiday very much over?

-Isaac: Look at that!

-Holger: That's cute.

Yeah.

All ye doubters.

Er, yeah.

It looks very stretchy, guys.

(Holger sighs) I think that looks really nice, actually.

-Stephanie: Yeah.

-Dipti: Yeah.

Stephanie: I think we've done a marvellous job.

Well done.

(birds chirping) COMM: In just eight hours, that's four classic crochet deckchairs complete.

Holiday mode, activated.

Tom: Well done, hookers.

Four deckchairs completed.

It is now time to hear what Di, Sheila and Janie think of your amazing creations.

So, we'll start with team number one.

(foreboding music) Oh, wow.

Mm.

I like the flowers, but what I'm not so keen on is the placement of them.

Di: Yeah.

Janie: This curvature, I think that's probably happened because of the way it's been tied at the back.

Di: Absolutely.

Janie: It's nice to see some good stitch definition here, though.

This is, like, a cluster of three stitches, so it gives it that nice... it's almost sort of like a beach.

-Sheila: Yes.

-Janie: And I guess the sea.

So, that's really nice.

Tom: I guess now is the time to see whether it'll hold my weight.

I feel like I should do a gentle swoosh into it.

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, okay.

-Oh, the bungee hammock.

-Di: Yay.

It's actually quite comfortable, you know.

-Janie: Oh, very good.

-Di: Very good.

Tom: Well, there we go.

Right.

Onto the next one?

Di: Yay.

-Tom: Let us know what you think.

-Oh, wow.

-Sheila: Goodness me.

-Di: Oh this is really nice, isn't it?

Sheila: This is a trip to the seaside.

Janie: So, they've used that thicker, that really ropey yarn.

Di: Yeah.

Sheila: This one is extra specially functional.

-I like it.

-Di: Fantastic stitchwork.

Janie: Yeah.

It's really nice that they've used a stitch that is evocative of a shell as well.

-Di: Yeah, it's really nice.

There are some great small details in it, aren't there?

-Tom: Right, here we go.

-Sheila: You're safe.

Tom: Got my ice cream.

Oh.

Ooh.

Ooh!

Sheila: How does that feel, Tom?

Yeah.

If... I mean, it's holding my weight, it's comfortable.

It's fit for purpose, isn't it?

-Janie: Yeah, it is.

-Sheila: Good functionality.

-Janie: Yeah.

-Di: Yeah, absolutely.

Tom: Here we go, deckchair number three.

Judges: Ooh.

-Sheila: Goodness.

-Tom: Here we are.

-Di: Wow.

-Sheila: Yes.

Some very interesting extra touches.

And it's one panel.

It doesn't go round the back.

Sheila: No.

Di: So, it's only attached with... With the cord.

With a sewn cord.

Janie: Yeah.

Granny squares are quite a basic stitch, so it's just a treble stitch.

Di: Yes.

Sheila: I would have liked the edging to be neater.

Janie: Yeah.

I'm never sure about outlining things in black.

Sheila: You leave yourself open to having to do a really, really neat job.

-Janie: Yeah.

-Di: I'm not quite sure about the cocktail glass.

Janie: I thought at first it was a fish.

Di: Yeah.

Tom: Here we go.

Right let's get into this.

Ooh.

Sheila: Ooh.

A low squat.

(foreboding music fades) Di: Yeah.

It's just about holding.

There's definitely a wee bit of a droop there.

Tom: It did have a lot more give in it than the others.

Di: Yeah.

And here we have our final deckchair.

-Di: Wow.

-Tom: There we have it.

Janie: Oh.

Oh, so this is the finer yarn.

It's chips, isn't it, in a cone?

-In some newspaper.

-Yeah.

Newspaper, fab.

Janie: From a technical point of view, that's really, really good.

Intarsia crochet.

Janie: Yeah.

So, that's a really complicated technique.

I can't help feeling they've done a really good... They have.

They have.

It really evokes the chips in the cone, doesn't it?

They've gone from... This is the double crochet.

-Janie: Into trebles.

-Sheila: Yeah.

So, the fact that the treble's here at the bottom, it's going to be a bit loose there.

Di: Yeah.

Using the finer yarn was pretty brave.

What I am a bit concerned about is this line where they've sewn it down here.

When you're away from it you don't notice it, but up close you can really see that line.

Di: No, you're absolutely right.

That is a shame.

-Janie: Yeah.

-Tom: Shall we try it out?

-Janie: Yeah.

-Di: Yes.

Tom: Are we ready?

Okay.

Er, here we go.

Right.

Whoa!

Judges: Oh!

Sheila: Are you hitting... Tom: I am on the floor.

Oh, my gosh, here we go.

Whoa-ho.

Thank you.

Janie: Yeah.

Oh, what a shame.

(ethereal music) COMM: Time for Janie to reveal the results.

In fourth place... is the granny square.

This one.

We think the whole granny square thing is a bit safe.

In third place is the lovely cone of chips.

Oh, guys, I really, I love this.

It's just such a shame it failed the function test.

In second place is... this one, with the stripes.

(ethereal music fades) Janie: So, then the first place, which is very exciting, with the beach huts and the sunshine and the seagull, it fitted the purpose, it didn't sag when Tom sat in it, and it just evokes everything about a seaside.

So, we loved it.

Sheila: Well done, everyone.

(clapping) Yes.

Con-crochet-lations to... -Oh, Tom.

-Simon and Ailsa.

I know, they get worse every time, don't they?

(upbeat music) I think I was holding out a little bit of hope that maybe it would hold, (laughing) but yeah, that was pretty disappointing.

Stephanie: So ours did actually perform.

You could sit on it and your bum didn't touch the floor.

So, from that perspective, I was very, very disappointed.

Simon: This week was completely on the fly.

I am really hoping that the group challenge has saved my bacon.

(upbeat music fades) What a Holiday Week.

I mean, we've had deckchairs... -Indeed.

-We've had swimsuits, bikinis, you name it.

So, who do you think has done particularly well this week?

It's been a great week for Lydia.

(anticipatory music) Tom: I mean, that one-piece was pretty spectacular.

Lots of stitches and techniques.

I loved it.

I absolutely loved it.

We also did love Ailsa's piece.

That was spectacular.

So, who is in danger this week of being cast off?

Stephanie.

She failed on the deckchair challenge.

Di: That's where we get down to the design skills, and she doesn't execute them terribly well.

They're not clear.

Her solo effort was also not very inspiring.

Isaac, in the group challenge, structurally getting it wrong.

-Tom: Mm.

-Di: In his solo challenge, glamour wasn't entirely present.

Simon is also at risk because of the solo challenge.

Di: Yes.

I think his planning went completely out of the window, and he was winging it, basically.

Sheila: He was.

This is a tough decision.

I'm glad that I have nothing to do with it, that it is on you two.

-Thank you, Tom.

(anticipatory music fades) Welcome, knitters, to our knitting circle.

Now is time to find out who's knit big and who is going to be leaving the Yarn Barn.

(light music) We have chosen this week's... Big Knitter.

And... it's... Lydia.

(cheering and clapping) And I think we all know what's coming next, so can we give Lydia a big "Bah!"

Group: Bah!

-And here is your sheep baaaaaadge.

-Thank you.

Congratulations, congratulations.

(clapping continues) Now, of course, this is a competition, and it gets harder and harder every week, but we have to cast someone off.

And the person being cast off this week... is... Stephanie.

Fair enough.

No.

No, it's fine.

It's all good.

Thank you very much indeed.

Thank you.

It's been fabulous.

Thank you so much.

You've done an amazing job, honestly.

Like, you've... We will miss seeing your smiling face.

(Tom laughing) Sheila: Well done.

I flipping hope I've staked my ground in the competition now, and you know, actually, to be fair, even if I go out next week, there was one week where what I did was the best, and that, for me, is fantastic.

Leaving the competition, absolutely gutted.

It's been great fun.

Just to experience knitting something different.

If you'd have asked me to knit a deckchair, I would never have known where to start.

All I can say to the knitters here is do your best and just put love in every stitch.

(light music fades) COMM: Next time... It's playtime in the Yarn Barn... -I'm down, baby!

-Yay!

COMM: ...as the knitters crochet kids' fancy dress.

Looks a little bit like a toilet seat.

Honestly, it's got to the point where I'm just delirious.

COMM: And go wild with wall hanging.

Have you had a chance to look and see what the other team is doing?

We're not interested in the losing team.

Whoa!

Tom: I mean, the competition's getting real now.

Lydia: How long have we got?

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

Okay.

Okay.

(rousing music)