We made it, the final arrived with all it’s crafty joy! The needles have stopped clicking, and the hooks have been put down! It’s been a journey over the last 8 weeks, and seeing Lydia, Ailsa and Holger standing there as the three finalists was just great to see! The atmosphere was a lovely mix of nerves and genuine friendship! We love the bond these crafters have 💘

To kick things off, the finalists were set a collaborative challenge that was less about competition, and more about celebrating the craft – YARN BOMBING! Now we love yarn bombing, our favourite is always when Yarndale is on, and the whole of Skipton becomes a palace of yarn! The finalists had to yarn bomb a traditional post box, and they had to work together to create a vibrant and textured project that reflected their shared journey in the Yarn Barn. Their post box topper also had to feature a trio of life-like knitted characters too, using Tom, Di and Shelia as the models, the overall result was fabulous! I couldn’t find any photos online of the finished topper before this post went out, sadly The Game of Wool IG account only posts Reels of some of the finished projects.

Then came the final solo challenge. The brief was to create a showstopper knitted hat that captured their personality and signature style. There was a little more pressure in this challenge, which is understandable! Ailsa stayed true to her love for vintage and opted for a houndstooth Breton hat with a special morse code secret. Holder picked a traditional stocking cap, paying homage to his German heritage, and Lydia chose to make a beret with Ghanaian symbols on the top, representing family and religion. All three hats were beautifully made and matched the personalities of the finalists.

The last judgement came through, with Di and Sheila having to make the toughest of calls. While all three produced incredible work, it was Holger who was crowned the winner of the series. From his tiny dog balaclavas to his bin bag jewellery, he has been consistent throughout the series. All three are incredibly talented, and we hope we get to see them go on to do amazing things ❤️🌈✨🙋‍♀️💛