Expert Knitter reacts to Questionable Knitting Scenes

Have you ever seen questionable knitting scenes on TV? Join my (a self-proclaimed knitting expert) as I react to some popular knitting scenes!
-- My Other Links! --
Support me via Patreon: / engineeringknits :)
Instagram: / engineeringknits
My Knitting Patterns (Etsy): www.etsy.com/shop/EKnitsShop
My Knitting Patterns (Ravelry): www.ravelry.com/patterns/sour...
Buy me a coffee: ko-fi.com/engineeringknits
Use the same music: bit.ly/EKEpidemicSound
-- My Channel --
Engineering knits is a place for people who enjoy all kinds of vintage and antique crafts - from sewing to knitting, crochet to embroidery I like to try it all. I definitely have a preference for historical fibre crafts, and it is my dream to one day make an entire outfit from sheep to sweater. I hope you enjoy watching me and my favorite companion, Nutella, struggle through some fascinating projects!

[@DebiSmithPouliot]

My grandfather was born in the late 1800's. YES, THAT LONG AGO. He was from a British descent family. He was taught to knit as a child as were most boys. The reason being that while they lived at home, their mother or older sister could make them socks and garments. However, once out it the world on their own, they still needed socks. This was at a time before mass produced clothing. During WWI, men still needed socks, so lucky were those that could knit and take care of themselves. BTW, one summer while I stayed with my grandparents, he taught me to knit on a couple of sticks he carved to a point and some twine used for crabbing out on the rocks in the sound. Mainly I think it did it to keep my busy as I was a very curious child and no doubt drove him crazy with my questions. BTW, he was a "thrower" and now so am I.

[@isithometimeyet6553]

What a great memory for you! Thanks for sharing.

[@j.s.1816]

That's so cool to inherit.

[@jupitersnoot4915]

I know it's not related but this just proves how the perception of certain hobbies changes over time. When he was a child it was normal and necessary for boys to learn to knit, and nobody thought it was a solely feminine activity. But at some point Knitting and Crochet became a women's hobby and men started to abandon it. Luckily now us guys are finding their way back to it.

[@OcarinaSapphr-]

@@jupitersnoot4915 💯 Same with sewing; a man- in the army or navy- would be expected to keep their kit in good order (no one's got the money to just get new uniforms), so having sewing kits & even suitable scrap fabric/ extra buttons would be extremely beneficial {I believe there was a scene in 'Gone with the Wind' where Scarlett puts together what was called 'a housewife', for Ashley} - in pre-later 19th-20th c armies (the changeover period depended on where you were) after which, where many of the logistical areas (previously semi-civilian elements)- were integrated into the forces-proper - before then, you _might_ have someone's wife/ girlfriend/ sister/ daughter, or maybe even a paid servant help out in this regard, but you also might well have to take care of it yourself- & if it wasn't, you'd suffer the consequences (anything from fines, extra duties, potentially all the way up to flogging- depending on varying factors like the severity of the issue, the time, the circumstances, & the commander- some being more fastidious than others). The idea that most people in the past were super-shabby is not really accurate {yes, there were costs, long operations & many other limitations- but there was almost certainly an attempt/ regulations}

[@karyvanname7174]

Miss Marple is doing Irish Cottage knitting. It is a faster way to do English that can be as fast or faster than continental. The right needle can be really long and tucked into the armpit. If you notice her right finger moves up and down like a sewing machine needle. I've heard that because it is such a big motion, you can knit for hours on end without carpal tunnel issues. Thanks for the video!

[@jvallas]

There’s a good video of Stephanie Pearl McPhee cottage knitting fast as the wind! Learned from her grandmother who knit for a living and needed to be as fast as possible.

[@MsGrockle]

My Mum used to knit this way, but I can't get to grips with it. I tend to 'swoop' the yarn over, which is probably why I have carpal tunnel issues!

[@KarenKarn]

This is how I knit. My Irish mom taught me and it was a cardinal sin to let go of either the yarn or the needles. Until you were ready to put your knitting down.

[@hazel6854]

my grandmother knits like this! Ive been planning on getting her to teach me the same motion as it looks so interesting! but she definitely is fast as the wind when she knits 😂😂

[@anyatrioli3734]

That sounds great but what about knitting in the round on something small to medium sized, like leg warmers?

[@antonymet]

The Demolition Man one might be him estimating the length of the tail needed to cast on the right amount of stitches. My mum taught me that the lenght of my arm is approximately 50 stitches, so him using the length of his forearm might be a knitting hack.

[@ericas.7414]

I second this! My sister taught me this way for a long tail cast-on. It helps tremendously even if there is still somewhat of a long tail left over.

[@lisascenic]

That is a very generous explanation!

[@abarn9541]

Yes! I’ve heard he actually knows how to knit too.

[@pmclaughlin4111]

with all the leftovers I have, that would be pretty handy to try out...thanks

[@lady_sir_knight3713]

That was my first thought as well

[@nikitawyllie-cinemastitch3267]

I knit and crochet for film and TV. Like, I make some of the things actors abuse on film. I can't watch anyone knitting or crocheting on screen without being incredibly judgemental.

[@LittlePrairieLibrary]

You officially have the coolest job!

[@j.s.1816]

They abuse it. 🤣

[@nikitawyllie-cinemastitch3267]

@@LittlePrairieLibrary it is mostly incredibly cool, but my chiropractor dreads seeing me after a bout of marathon knitting/ crochet 😂

[@songindarkness]

What an incredible jo. Although it must be so stressful!

[@michellehanson984]

The Friends scene is silly but is totally something I would have done if I could have roped enough people into it. Monica was presumably so impatient to start knitting that she employed Chandler to hold the skein open so she could knit from it directly without tangling, and she got Rachel to start winding the other end into a ball for efficiency's sake. She can start her project right away AND get her skein wound at the same time. Alas, I could only ever convince ONE of my brothers to cooperate with me at a time, so I always had to wind the ball first while he held the skein up 😂

[@LittlePrairieLibrary]

That's exactly what I thought!

[@k1lyth]

I love the Marple one. I like to imagine the production crew going mad over continuity and the actress being like 'This cardigan isn't going to knit itself'. And in the wool winding scene the director trying to give instructions and she's just 'No, I need him to wind the yarn'.

[@atsukorichards1675]

Ms Marple also uses the yarn balls for an excuse to be there, dropping them on the floor and picking up, while she secretly listens to the conversations.

[@ikdavies1531]

Miss marple Is 100% an accomplished knitter. I can knit, talk watch tv and just glance occasionally have even fallen asleep knitting 😬

[@bdarci]

All the actresses who played Miss Marple could, and did knit in their respective movies or TV shows. All, but one, used the pencil grip while knitting English style. The one exception was Helen Hayes who knit continental style. She is also seen knitting in a scene in Airport. She was a very fast knitter, and didn't look down while knitting.

[@anneworks]

I love Joan Hickson's Miss Marple

[@PoptartParasol]

@@bdarci that's amazing, as a beginner knitter I can only hope to get that experienced!

[@knittymama570]

I love that the Miss Marple actress was also able to knit without looking at her work.

[@jaywren20]

Yes I was particularly impressed that she was genuinely knitting, with fine yarn and acting at the same time

[@tammybrassard2395]

The actress in that version of Miss Marple is Joan Hickson, Miss Marple was an avid knitter in the books, I'm glad they got an actress who could actually knit.

[@maryraley563]

The actress is Joan Hickson. I believe she is actually seen wearing the pink project in later episodes of the series, as well as other beautiful knitted items. Other Miss Marple actresses who actually knit are Geraldine McEwen and Julia McKenzie. And I believe they all knit parlor style.

[@kallandar13]

If I’m just doing a straight knit or purl row I can do this too, and it just shows how good a knitter that actress is-that level of skill comes from practice and experience!

[@dancingcolorsVdeRegil]

@@tammybrassard2395 Joan Hickson is my favorite Marple. She has an inimitable face! And great knitting skills!

[@RetroClaude]

Oh wow I loved this! 😂 I can't tell you the number of times I've worked with a director who wants to have a knitted jumper unravel artistically from the bottom to reflect a character's unravelling mental state. I have to convince them that's not going to work unless we commission a knitter to make a top down, hand knit sweater FOR EVERY SHOW, which will cost probably £500+ a jumper, and no we can't re-knit it over night, or between the matinee and the evening performance😂I blame Looney Tunes!

[@j.s.1816]

Lol.

[@rebeccatrishel]

You can use a cheap knitting machine to make a sweater in the round very quickly

[@dreamystone]

Funny that such a random metaphor is apparently so prevalent. Might they be mollified with a crochet seam? I know the effect is different, but maybe? Being commissioned to make unraveling sweaters for media honestly sounds delightful.

[@BentonRox]

Oh same! I work in theater and there have been so many times a directors has seen me crocheting or knitting in the house and has asked me to pull off one or both of two impossible tasks: 1. make a sweater that will unravel from the bottom, usually on cue. 2. Teach an actor to knit like a pro by opening night, usually 2-4 weeks away. Once we were in tach week, opening night was in four days and this dude wanted me to teach an actress to knit by opening AND wanted her to be able to deliver lines in time to her needles movements. I said that was not going to work and he said "It's just knitting. my grandmother did it for years. How hard could it be?" 🙄

[@nataliestruve9736]

Miss Marple looks like she’s doing Irish Cottage/Lever style, which minimizes hand movement, so it’s good for speed and preventing joint pain. I tried to learn it a while back and it’s a bit tricky to get the hang of until you get used to it. That probably means the actress is fairly experienced with knitting and is drawing from her personal knowledge of the craft. Rebecca Swersky has a really clear video on how to knit that style on her channel if anyone wants to see an example.

[@raehughes126]

It’s how I knit - taught by my Irish Grandmother

[@NoeliaCardarelli]

Hi there! There's a scene in outlander where James's nephew is knitting and Claire impressed ask him about it and he tells her that all men, including James, know how to knit (to make fish nets if I remember correctly) and that he will teach her because she didn't know how to, then later on on the series you see her knitting. Funny thing I bingewatch a few seasons while knitting (and re-knitting) a cardigan

[@npeace312]

Young Ian, my favorite Outlander character. Love that he can click it, as he says.

[@bcase5328]

Knitting was a male guild profession. Also, many sailors could knit.

[@lianapalumbo8457]

Yes, my father taught me how to knit when I was 5 and it was such a special moment that I'll never forget. He's 83 now 😊

[@SusieNation]

Oh Claire, you poor dumb wildflower, you.

[@heathers8826]

I remember those scenes. Outlander inspired me to learn knitting and now I can't stop.

[@temporalcupcake4768]

The whole reason I learned to knit was for a play in high school, so I could do it realistically. I only had the one ball of yarn, though, so I would unravel some from time to time so I had enough for each performance. I learned continental. It was a play taking place in Victorian England. Oops. 😂

[@laurenbierman548]

Honestly, im just impressed you learned to knit just for a part! You have all my respect!!

[@resourcedragon]

@@oldasyouromens: Working class people's knitting styles tended to be those that they'd learned from their parents or grandparents and were strongly regional. Unless people had contact with a foreign community I would be very surprised at the idea of Victorian English people knitting in the continental style.

[@voleur_de_roses]

The show that actually has a lot of knitting scenes is Gilmore Girls (you can also see some skeins of yarn in Lorelai's home). There is even an episode called "Knit, People, Knit" with a knitting marathon. :D Some people can definetly knit in the show, but there are many people that have no idea what they are supposed to do.

[@songindarkness]

Yes I forgot that! Although I think some of the knitting in that was a little questionable. Something for part 2 😅

[@bethgoldowitz4765]

There was an old Charmin commercial where a bunch of ladies were "quilting" with crochet hooks. They must have gotten a lot of letters from crafter's, because a later version showed them doing it properly.

[@aprilgirl4411]

I saw that, too! As a knitter and a crocheter it looked pretty silly. But my memory has them quilting with knitting needles...!

[@lukekopesz9635]

It was knitting needles 😊

[@persephoneolympia3078]

Morticia Adams is my role model 😁 and the attention to detail in Wallace and grommit really shows on details like knitting its amazing to think it's all stop-motion animation! glad to see some oldies included in this round up! Can't wait for the next one 😊

[@andreamoore7035]

Not just Wallace and Grommit; the creators had authentic knitwear for the farmer in Shaun the Sheep as well.

[@emccormack4209]

It makes me want to rewatch Chicken Run and check out the knitting hen as well.

[@nuvoclassic]

​@@emccormack4209 my fave line from Chicken Run: 'are those my ONLY choices?!

[@MarianaAlmazzi]

This reminds me of a scene from That’s So Raven where Raven’s killing time while working in a call center by crocheting! Some POC representation for part 2! 😍

[@jessicacollins8049]

The first cli was great. It accurately depiicts frustration when learning something new.

[@silja6838]

In one of the scenes on Call the Midwife you can see them working on a crochet granny square on two knitting needles. It kind of annoyed me too! 😄 For a show that has so much research behind it I’m sure they could have aced the crochet scenes, too.

[@skippergin2695]

Many people seem to think fiber arts are all sorcery and beyond mortal ken, or they don't pay attention and think no one else will either, one or both.

[@cymrulady1]

Oh my goodness, I saw that too. An afghan square on knitting needles. I remember thinking Sister Monica-Jones had some serious skills! 😂😂

[@watson483]

Mum and I laughed out loud when we saw the call the midwife scene

[@dianeespinoza8647]

Wow!! This video wins the prize for“ geeking out” 🤓This might be a bit too over zealous. 😂 ❤️❤️😛❤️❤️

[@zorakj]

The Frasier episode “The Devil and Dr. Phill” has a “knitting” scene; it’s a crocheted piece with knitting needles stuck in across the top.

[@npeace312]

Whenever I see knitting on TV I pay attention to see if they are actually knitting. Glad I'm not the only one. Also, the series Outlander made me want to teach myself to knit, which I did, all because of the beautiful knitwear their characters wear.

[@SandraS1397]

Me too. The knits in that show have become such a major part of the show's wardrobe. I just love Claire's shawls and the fingerless gloves as well as Brianna's caplets. They're so beautifully done

[@nuvoclassic]

There were some rustic garments worn that I love from the Susan Sarandon and Halle Berry scenes of Cloud Atlas. But those clothes turned out to be hand woven - and I LOVE weaving. [in addition to crochet and knitting].

[@JoyKathleeen]

I'm working on a triangle shawl right now

[@michelebovero5286]

Me too!

[@deejcarter2003]

This is so cute to see just how often knitting is used in movies, or shows. Something my husband actually brought to my attention is how it’s used in his game Destiny. His avatar knits and he thinks it’s hilarious 😂

[@B4ndG33k1]

There's a Japanese anime (animated show) called Kimi ni Todoke (translated as 'Reaching You') and the main character at one point knits a gift for the boy she likes. It's been a couple of years since I watched the show, but I remember being blown away by the detailed animation. If you ever do a part two, I highly recommend checking it out.

[@atsukorichards1675]

In Japanese manga and anime, young girls often try to make handknit sweaters/scarves for boys whom they love to show their affection and devotion.

[@GreatFrostHawk]

Oh man I haven't thought about that show in forever. That unlocked some highschool memories

[@melissajenkins9960]

I am just starting to watch this, and Cary Grant trying to knit in that first clip is priceless, lol. For how classy he was, he excelled at comedy. Also I don’t know if it’s mentioned but Morticia in the original Addams Family TV show actually knits! Her projects are hilarious. Edit: yes!! You showed her! And she’s often knitting things for their strange family members like extra long necks and two heads. It’s cute.

[@juliapigott2627]

Love the grandma in Runaway Bride. She knits throughout the movie, but the best is when she's running and knitting at the very end!

[@MijnWolden]

Wallace and Grommit always amazes me with the animation, but you pointing out his pinky motion made me very happy 😁

[@annecain3301]

Joan Hickson as Miss Marple is a series that I watch over and over again. Her style of knitting is a method that I was taught many years ago. My mum, great aunty and grand mother knitted the same way, though I have never heard it called Parlour knitting before. It wasn’t until I went away to college that I saw many other ways of knitting. In particular Portuguese though the person who knitted that way was taught by her Egyptian mother!

[@jeanettemullins]

I started to knit Portuguese style 6ish years ago. It's such a great method I always wonder why it's not more popular.

[@Bellbebell]

Crazy that they got it sooo right in the stop animation film when that would have been the most work! The little pinky flick!! Dying!!

[@joanneboag5993]

And the yarn advances from the ball of yarn on the floor which, of course, jumps up a bit as the yarn is unwound!

[@pagodrink]

Woah, I never knew parlour knitting was a thing! I always got confused when I started knitting and I noticed how the needles were always pointed upwards in cartoons

[@bcase5328]

It was an Upper Class English style before WWII, to differentiate them from lower classes while knitting was patriotic.

[@marianemartin2644]

@@bcase5328 can we just say that is a very classist thing particular to the English.

[@marvellousmrsmoller]

When I was taught, it was considered not ladylike to have one's elbows up. It was required to keep elbows down, and that meant needles point up in the centre down at the sides.

[@marianemartin2644]

@@marvellousmrsmoller I knit continental so my elbows are at my sides. Does that count as ladylike? Holding the straight needles like pencils is both awkward and becomes painful one there is a heavy garment that needs support. For me that is a very odd way to handle knitting but us Finns may not be as classy as those Brits.😄

[@resourcedragon]

@@bcase5328: I didn't realise that class came into it. I did know that styles varied regionally - I work with the "receiving" needle tucked under my arm, so I don't have to hold it up, which frees the right hand for manipulating the wool and the left hand is also an active participant in the process, so that it would be more accurate to say that I impale each stitch as I knit it, rather than stab it. The right hand generally doesn't leave the needle completely, unless there are a lot of stitches needing a bit of a helping hand with being shuffled along.

[@helenasnopek5431]

This was so fun. Also, I am SO excited to have the mystery of the weird upwards-pointing-needles-knitting solved! Nice to know that that visualization doesn’t come entirely out of nowhere.

[@clayhawes8636]

There’s a great video here on KZbin called “Knitting in Code with Kristen Howard” where she not only talks about the history of steganography-the art of embedding secret messages in everyday objects, like invisible ink or knitting or microfilm inside a hollow coin, etc.-but also knitting throughout history. From spies in the Revolutionary War, to the tricoteuses during Reign of Terror in France, Charles Dickens’ Madame DeFarge, and both World Wars. In the segment on the Second World War she talks about people knitting for the war effort, how many people gathered in groups like the scene in Mr Lucky, knitting socks, hats, &c., for those fighting overseas, and how the female workforce would teach men who weren’t able to enlist to knit. It wouldn’t surprise me if that scene in the film had more to it than meets the eye.

[@aksez2u]

I'm going to look that video up - sounds super interesting. Thanks for the lead!

[@l.m.2404]

Hidden messages in fiber arts are nothing new, there have been love notes knotted into carpets and hate mail embroidered onto trim for centuries. These are often women's crafts, so the secrecies tended to be women's issues that require discretion and the avoidance of male scrutiny.

[@aksez2u]

@@l.m.2404 And/or kept the messages "under the radar" as mentioned in the video. Don't underestimate the ladies!

[@misspenguinsupreme9923]

Morticia is my knit inspiration, I made the three legged onesie for my craft wall

[@TheGabygael]

i hardly have any emotion when watching something.. but my heart melted when i saw they cared enough to have the character lift up his pinky to get some more yarn T.T

[@katiehowell8852]

I'd love to see a part 2! Bob's Burgers season 9 episode 10 shows Bob and Linda knitting scarves for their children. Also, throughout the show it's mentioned that the guidance counselor knits and makes handmade therapy dolls.

[@mildlycornfield]

The Harry Potter example is impressive as a physical prop, especially being remote controlled, but there's a reason it only shows up in the film for approximately half a second... that's definitely not how Molly is managing to knit nine jumpers for Christmas every year 🙈

[@Irizanjo]

It also looks like it's actually crochet! I paused this video and I'm not entirely sure but the way the colour-changes look and the fact it has stitches in one colour dipping down over and into another colour looks like crochet to me. (Around the 12:38 mark)

[@catsandkittys]

I have to say I found his video fun to watch. I've seen a few "Expert reacts to" type videos before. But as a knitter/crocheter myself this was the first time I had some insight along with the expert LOL

[@abcdeninisse]

For the Friends scene, I like to think that Monica realized her mistake and had Chandler hold the skein for her while Rachel wound up the ball from the other end so that eventually she could knit from the ball 😂😂

[@TodaysLover01]

I hate purling, so I knit continental style as if right handed and then throw the next row English style as if I'm left handed. No turning, no changing the yarn from one hand to the other. I also only flick my index finger for throwing and I'm so much faster now than when I knit "classic continental"

[@TaliseSnyder]

Ever since I learned to knit and crochet, I’m definitely much more aware of the differences in how each one is created and how the fabric looks. In particular with fast fashion items, things are often mislabeled between crochet and knitting. Recently I’ve also been seeing a lot of machine knit pieces that have been constructed to mimic crochet clothing. it’s funny when I see a top in Target that I know how to crochet and then realize it’s just been knitted in an odd way just to mimic the look. I do understand why companies choose to knit these pieces because crochet has to be done by hand and is therefore much more pricey to produce, however I still also see a lot of crocheted fast fashion items that are ridiculously underpriced considering each stitch was done by hand. Because I’ve actually sat down and crocheted a granny square before, I’ll look at some $30 granny square cardigan from Zara and shudder to think about how long someone actually spent making it.

[@tedmacat]

I'd never heard of Parlor knitting before! It looks to me that Miss Marpel is doing Lever knitting, or Irish Cottage knitting - which is the way that the Yarn Harlot knits, and also how I knit (now) - at least in the clips that you shared. The left needle is held vertically or nearly vertically, and is perpendicular to the right needle. Also, if the needles are long enough, the right needle can be secured under the arm - a.k.a. "pit knitting"! That isn't depicted here, but still...fun facts.

[@Jdycz96]

Call the Midwife was my Netflix binge when I was on mat leave with my newborn. I was SO rattled by the granny square thing. I feel seen 😂

[@marytwiggs7473]

I remember a bit in I Love Lucy where she knits a super long sock without realizing it, but it's not very realistic XD She has a sock on straight needles, and manages to zoom through about a yard of fine-gauge sock in only a few hours. There's a lot of funny 'knitting' scenes in that show.

[@kersenzomer2194]

My great aunt used to mention how her friends had so much fun chatting that one forgot to knit a heel into their sock! So knitting without thining is possible!

[@mariawhite7337]

It might be able to be done technically. But it would have to be like a double knit sort of project. I mean you can have your socks first cast on like normal, get it done to the ankle and after the heel. Ten change to a single needle and just double knit to make the cuff.

[@kamikazekumquat4760]

There's a few times in Golden Girls where you see Sophia crocheting, and I always got the impression that she actually knew what she was doing since I have been crocheting since I was like six, and it never threw up red flags when I watched the show. I was just like "Woohoo! Someone crocheting on TV!" Because a lot of people look down on crochet which annoys me to no end. LOL

[@dancingcolorsVdeRegil]

I watched this recently, it's wonderful! I was on a plane last night and watched a film called The Duke in which a Yorkshire couple are having a hard time and a famous painting gets stolen but ANYWAY, in it Helen Mirren plays a long suffering wife who carries on. In one scene she is working on some knitting and I was so excited! She really knits in a mode I think of as old fashioned, holding the right needle upwards and throwing the yarn over.. You should watch it ayway, it's really a good one!

[@SuperSarahbop]

I knit from the skein constantly it’s great in winter when you can just wear the skein around your neck

[@evelynwald9132]

I love the scene of Bette Davis knitting on the deck of a trans Atlantic Ocean liner in the movie Now Voyager. I believe she is knitting English style and it does seem like she knows what she is doing. What strikes me about these movies from the 30’s & 40’s is how often a woman will have knitting on her lap, not so much in today’s contemporary movies . Thanks for sharing, it was fun to watch.

[@northwoodfalls1403]

My father was taught to knit and crochet as a young boy. It kept him out of trouble when the weather was too awful to toss him outside and it was also necessary. They still knit a lot of their own socks, sweaters, scarves, toques, etc. at that time. There was no way his mother, with 5 kids, who also had to make their breads and every meal from scratch every day, tend the vegetable gardens, do all the washing (machines were still fairly rudimentary in those days, you couldn’t just turn them on and walk away) etc. AND find time to knit all those essentials by herself, so all the kids, boys included, learned at a young age. He was also in the military and it was for sure a useful skill to know. He never went without decent socks whilst many of his mates had to make due with threadbare ones. He taught me how to knit when I was about 7 or 8. I made him a really awful scarf that he proudly wore everywhere we went. I think of him every time I cast on a new project and say a heartfelt thanks to him for giving me a skill I cherish.

[@margaretanne.]

There's this scene from FRIENDS too, but this time it was Phoebe trying to knit. Well, there's not actually knitting involved, just Phoebe struggling trying to, I just think it's a lot relatable and so funny. 😂

[@Roz-90]

In Corner Gas, a Canadian sitcom about a small town in Saskatchewan, the main character's mom knits. I believe the actress, Janet Wright, really was knitting. You can even see her rotating through several projects, but I don't remember seeing the finished projects in the show.

[@LittlePrairieLibrary]

Yes, and you can see the projects change in length throughout the episodes!

[@helenw6594]

Not a film ot tv show, but Tom Daley knitting at the Olympics is excellent!

[@gypsyjade7170]

My sons crochet 🧶 they are 13 and 15 years old and Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Gypsy. It was incredibly important to me that they carried on the legacy of our ancestors. And it’s such a tangible way for them to know their loved ones that passed. They can recreate their Great -Great Grandmothers and Great Great aunts patterns and use their bone hooks and ivory needle minders. It’s a way for them to weave the present and the past into a beautiful tapestry.

[@mthespinner]

During a knitting circle, some years ago, we got into a discussion about the knitting in this iteration of Miss Marple. In the books, Jane Marple was taught to knit by a German governess and thereafter knitted Continental. As I recall, we figured that for that level of knitting on film, you take what you can get. Being lefthanded, my grandfather taught me how to knit as he was also lefthanded. According to Grandpa, he got out of history class to knit for the soldiers in WWI. His family lived about five miles inside the US so they were knitting from 1914 on. He said (although I suspect he exaggerated,) that he was the county champion blanket square knitter in 1918. Grandma learned to knit English style. She hated knitting and used to complain that Grandpa and I were knitting "wrong." Grandpa would grumble that he had received more knitwear from me in a decade than from Grandma in 50 years. They were married 74 years when they died a few months apart. Good memories.

[@cmangaudis]

Miss Marple’s knitting is also sometimes called Lever Knitting or Irish Cottage Knitting. My grandmother (from Italy) knit that way. It is extremely fast. Some people hold it like a pencil or stick a long needle under the arm or in a yarn belt. Love the video 😊

[@deslauriersmama]

I'm a crocheter and I also love seeing crochet and crocheted items in tv and movies. 3rd Rock from the Sun has TONS of crochet if you're interested...

[@agimagi2158]

This was so much fun and I am amazed that so many actors / actresses knew how to actually knit, this is pretty cool

[@nancymoore8949]

I used to tell the people at antique stores the correct type of lace when they had it mis-labeled. They don’t care, it’s all crochet to them.

[@PelafinaLievre]

Also there’s knitting in Babysitter’s Club. Mary Ann and Claudia’s grandma geek out over funky yarn.

[@oranji7258]

If you do a part two I suggest Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away it has a scene where Zeniba is teaching No-Face how to knit Edit: just looked it up and it is continental knitting. Though the mouse has a little trouble

[@resourcedragon]

I've heard that the Japanese typically knit in the continental style.

[@lulu_9000]

Didn't Kiki's delivery service show knitting, too? The woman who was letting Kiki live with her, or maybe her husband, I want to say?

[@joanramsey4002]

This was fun, myself, I look as if I'm playing the bagpipes when I'm knitting!

[@thebraidedmane]

This was also super fun to watch as a beginning crocheter! I had no idea how often crochet final projects stand in for knitting in tv/movies 🤣 Hoping one of the ones you'll react to next time is Emerson Cod from Pushing Daisies! No idea how his technique is, but the character is a black man who knits for stress relief, so that adds a tiny bit to the knitting diversity!

[@MsFitz134]

Knitting and crochet is shown a couple times on New Girl. There's also a scene in Christmas with the Kranks showing knitting, or at least winding a yarn ball with knitting needles nearby.

[@jennabedwards95]

That scene from friends created so many issues for me as a knitter with friends who didn’t knit and didn’t want to learn but wanted to help

[@jellybrooks8107]

I’m always so surprised how people just can’t tell the difference between knitting and crochet. I actually did a whole essay on it because people in my class couldn’t figure it out for the life of me. Also in ads, it’s like, why not just show them crocheting/attempting too instead of lying?

[@MollyPatricia5]

I would love to see a part 2 this was a very fun video!

[@elwoodsterful]

This was delightful and I’m so grateful for your miss marble explanation of parlor knitting - this is how my mom (French) knits and how I learned, although I changed my method since (my right hand is not moving under the fabric anymore), and I never knew what to call this! Thank you for your videos, I really enjoy them.

[@eliw2051]

Olaf frozen adventure features knitting, I believe it was continental.

[@dees3179]

I found the first clip interesting. My father would have been about the same age as this character and he, his brother and all their contemporaries could knit, at least the basics, they would typically do all the unraveling of old outgrown garments, wool winding, ribbing and then mother would take over for the more complicated panels or where tension shows more. That was the entire village, not just their family.

[@steakrappedinbacon]

This video was so needed for me I loved every second!

[@emullinsstreams]

I'm surprised at how many shows depict knitting pretty well! I usually think of Grey's Anatomy, which has another case of slow-knitter-finishes-sweater-in-a-day. That always gets me!

[@oreonighthawk]

Not just slow, BEGINNER knitter AND, work was torn back because Izzy stole it to reknit it correctly. So it’s like finishing 2 sweaters in a day while working full time as medical interns. What?!?

[@brigidwills9635]

this was such a fun video, thank you! i was glad to see Wallace and Gromit represented :) I've always thought those scenes were so well done

[@bamboolaceway]

a couple years ago the #1 show in Denmark was a live action knitting competition spanning 6 weeks.

[@beatricecurtis5110]

Miss Marple knits exactly like my grandmother used to knit. I love how neat and contained her (their) stance is while knitting!

[@claudiacuevas4789]

In Cagney and Lacy Tyne Daly knits in the show and you can see her wearing some of her projects in later episodes. I believe she also knit on the set between scenes.

[@michelebovero5286]

I’d love to see you find more of these. I really enjoyed this!

[@andreamoore7035]

Like in your live actor examples, Morticia Addams in the most recent animated movie knits something in throwing method. In the Liberty Mutual ad, I had a different impression. One person is knitting, the other is crocheting. I remarked to my husband that the crocheter drew out crocheted items but the I thought the knitter drew out knitted items for the French bulldog. My husband just felt sorry for the dog. The real crime is that yogurt ad with John Stamos.

[@joanneboag5993]

There are several episodes of the old 1960s Dick Van Dyke Show where the character Sally Rogers knits. The character is played by Rose Marie and she’s definitely doing the knitting. Jump to the 1970s Mary Tyler Moore Show and Valerie Harper (“Rhoda”) is definitely knitting doing the knitting. It’s amusing that in both series, Sally and Rhoda are always working on the same project from episode to episode to episode!☺️🧶

[@Kato_Rin]

I just saw the video Shannon Makes did about wartime knitting, and that scene from Mr. Lucky was mentioned! I believe everyone was knitting in the "English style" since continental style was associated with Germany, and given the anti-German sentiments at the time, continental fell out of favor. Interestingly though, in Japanese continental is called "French style" and English is called "American style."

[@jacohrs88]

I feel like continental knitting has less obvious movement so they try to use the English method to make it more obvious. Personally I knit continental and like it for having less movement!

[@draughtoflethe]

That's a good possible explanation! I was wondering why so many of the examples she encountered were English style; I found myself wondering if continental was really that much less common, or if UK-based shows were the only ones likely to have accurate depictions of knitting? I knit continental too, and it just feels so much more efficient to me in terms of eliminating extraneous movement.

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

I’d never really thought about it but that was a fun take!

[@amara560]

This was such a fun watch! I'd love a part 2 of this. I suggest watching Grey's Anatomy season 2 episode 22 where both Meredith and Izzie knit. It's sprinkled all throughout the episode. Ascendance of a Bookworm season 1 episode 3 features crochet. They don't show a whole lot of the process though. It starts at 19.45 with the main character's dad carving a crochet hook for her. The crochet starts at around 20.15. The show Dash and Lily also features knitting and sewing but I can't recall where in the show exactly, sorry.

[@qwmx]

When I was a kid, I didn't know how to knit, but I did see that scene of Wallace and Gromit and can tell it looked very realistic based off seeing my older sister knit. My older sister taught me English style. I already did have an interest in knitting f when I was a kid, but Gromit's scenes really added more fuel to the fire, it looks so fun and the sound affects are nice.

[@rebeccalane1421]

I always watch carefully when actors are knitting or crocheting - you can easily tell who can actually do it or not 😀

[@frang58]

My grandmother taught me to knit over 50 years ago and just today I learned I knit in Continental style. I've just recently learned to loom knit which was fun but not as satisfying as using needles but it's encouraged me to get out my needles and refresh my skills.

[@beckyd3140]

I have that box. My grandma used it for sewing and gave it to me.

[@Russqua]

there's a knitting scene in disney's lady and the tramp which features dpns

[@ducttape4tubas]

As for people of color knitting in movies, I know that Octavia Spencer is knitting a sock on DPNs in Ronald Dahl’s The Witches! They actually sort of use the knitting as a plot device, which is pretty cool.

[@JustFluffyQuiltingYarnCrafts]

This was great! I sometimes take a glance at knitting and other yarn crafting scenes in movies and shows, but you've inspired me to take a closer look in the future. Thanks for sharing. ❤

[@courtneyvargas1500]

This is such a great idea for a video. I would love a part 2. One that I love is Izzy from Grey’s Anatomy. Katherine Heigl who plays her knits in real life and she does a good job showing knitting a sweater in season 2. The Handmaid’s Tale would be another good one because it shows the wife, Serena Joy, knitting even though she hates it.

[@loganjohns8617]

This was so fun! Thank you for making it!

[@procrasticrafting]

This is such a fun video and it made me love Wallace and Gromit even more!

[@leapintothewild]

I was on the road as a sewing teacher around the US when the toilet paper commercial came out where the 'quilting' was being done with knitting needles. What an uproar! Marketing-movie-tv folks spend all this money on experts in costume, scenery, cars, etc., but they can't even ask a staff's relative for simple advice before throwing something stupid in the mix. I'm a wonky self-taught knitter, and that knit-crochet switcharoo stuff you're showing even bugs me! lol Great video 🙂 BTW, that sewing box is SIMPLE to make! Use cardboard to make a pattern and tape it together to check the fit, then cut it out of 3/4" furniture-grade plywood. You'd only need a shaped side with legs included, the lower front/back, the lids, and a handle. Use several hinges or one piano hinge. It would be a fun project with just a jigsaw, some sandpaper and paint or stain! (But I'd bet you could find one for very little at a church rummage sale, facebook marketplace, thrift store, etc. This is something that always gets tossed by the young folk when someone moves to assisted living or passes away.)

[@ccsullivan9164]

My favorite knitting scenes are in “America’s Sweethearts” with Julia Roberts & John Cusack. There are two scenes where Julia Roberts is knitting, throwing (English style) and years ago there were many articles about Julia and her love for knitting. What’s weird is Ms. Roberts is left handed. How has no one told her about Continental style? But you can tell from the scenes she really can knit! Also both Miss Marples the one from the the eighties, which you show here and the revival from the early oughts feature actresses who can knit. Lastly Interweave Knits featured an article many years ago about the knitting design and production team who worked on all of the Wallace and Grommit shows. Worth looking up. We knitters value these affirmations when we can find them. Thank you 🙏🏼 Fun episode

[@nidhiupadhyay2013]

Chi McBride knits in Pushing Daisies! Also there's a reference to a yarn-winder-and-swift baron who was either a murder victim or a murderer... I don't quite remember, but it's a fun one - you should check it out!

[@DeerheartStudioArts]

luv the pinky move!

[@Bloemen66]

i've been taught knitting from my mom, and she taught me the parlor knitting style. i never knew the way i knit would seem strange for people, although when i was younger i did wonder why my knitting never looked like in the cartoons.

[@Karuminu2]

Finally! Somebody's talking about this!

[@lianapalumbo8457]

When I had my son, I had to stay in hospital for nearly 3 weeks in total. I remember as part of their movie package they had "How to make an American Quilt" and "Fried Green Tomatoes" and just fell in love with all the sewing, knitting etc scenes. When I went home, I made my son my very first patchwork quilt. I still have it nearly 30 years later and I'm hoping that when/if he has a child I can pass it on 😊

[@michelleobioma3629]

In one scene of “Love, Victor” season 3 on hulu, one of the characters, Mia, says that she knit a little plushie for her baby sister but the finished project she ends up showing is crocheted! I found that really funny.

[@lizblock9593]

Love this! I did costumes for the local community theater and an actress knitted on stage in one play. By the end of the run of the play, she had finished the scarf

[@Laura0IN]

Love this as the stage and acting was why I learned to knit! I was a mother in an elementary play and my knitting of a scarf was key to plot progression. So I started several during rehearsals so we had enough to have props at different levels as the play progressed and a finished project at the end when father received my gift and wear it. My mom had to find someone to teach me, but ended up I got a wonderful book and taught myself. For speed I now am a combination continental knitter, mainly though I change it up to keep knitting longer without as much strain on hands.

[@altyacke]

This was fun! Would live to see more of these, maybe involving other fiber crafts as well.

[@Mo-sb7ps]

Loved this analysis! As a crocheter, I always look out for scenes in TV shows and movies - one show that I watch with my mom is Young Sheldon and every time she sees Mary or MeeMaw crochet there's a "Oh, you could so do that!" comment that I love to hear.

[@fryede]

Babette's Feast has a scene where one of the sisters is knitting socks on DPNs and she is doing it continental style. Right around the 30m mark.

[@infamoussphere7228]

I would think there'd be quite a few more scenes of continental knitting in media from northern Europe (which Babette's Feast is.) My wife is Finnish and knits continental, as does just about everyone in Finland, I'm Australian and knit English - as does just about everyone in Australia unless they were an immigrant from continental Europe, or learned very recently. I learned from my Mum, who would have learned to knit in the 60s.