NimbleNeedles

Let me be clear: I would not want to be a judge on Game of Wool.

Under my latest video, a lot of you commented along the line that you would rather see me than the judges they picked for the show. I thank you for your trust, and it does give my self-esteem a nice boost. But in the unlikely scenario that they'd ask me, I would most likely say no. Let me explain because this is important (albeit a bit long-winded).

For the longest time, there were no female presenters on TV. Women were good enough to usher candidates/guests to a couch, flip letters, and present prizes. Even today, most talk show hosts are male, and national news was firmly in the hands of male anchors in most countries on this planet for the longest time. This ultimately stems from a long history of undervaluing the work and opinions of women. Even today, a lot of people reject the idea of female priests, doctors, and politicians.

Knitting is a hobby that, today, is dominated by women. That wasn't always the case. In medieval times, knitting was high-tech, and only men were allowed to join guilds. When the first knitting machines were invented, it was men who worked the frames. Things only changed with WWI and WWII, when women were asked to aid the war effort by knitting socks because "clearly" they weren't fit to be soldiers. Even today, hand-knitting is sold for ridiculous prices at many a market, and most of us probably have received a request for a commission way below minimum wage (some count them lucky if it covers yarn costs).

There's a full millennium of undervaluing the work of female knitters, and a hundred years of doing so on camera.

Any knitting show should have a female presenter and should be shaped by the many successful and amazing women in our industry. Yes, our society is changing, and change has to start somewhere. And yet I still believe I wouldn't be the right choice for that show in any capacity, precisely because of that long history where women weren't allowed to play the main role.
Setting aside that this is a British show and the limelight should belong to all the amazing creators/designers/knitters in Great Britain, and setting aside that I am very unlikely to be asked, I would still be morally obliged to say no.

Anyway, some deep thoughts I know. Still, let me know what you think.

Norman

PS: This is NOT a dig at Tom Daley. I am fully aware why the producers (probably) picked him, and I give them the benefit of the doubt that this is the reason why there are two female judges beside him. The harsh truth is that probably "nobody" would watch the show if it didn't have such a prominent host.

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 1,276

NimbleNeedles

Have you seen my latest pattern yet? Let me introduce you to "Humpy", the humpback whale. The pattern is now available everywhere where fine patterns can be purchased (well, Ravelry & Etsy :P). Hope you guys enjoy knitting it! <3

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3 weeks ago | [YT] | 1,260

NimbleNeedles

Your wish is my command: How to fix a (dropped) German short row stitch. I just published a quick little video over on my second YouTube channel to address the issue.
You can view it here: https://youtu.be/9O6gcw_tQWY

Many of you expressed the wish to learn this in a most recent community post here and since it's actually remarkably simple and easy to record, I was able to squeeze it in!

hope this helps <3

Norman

1 month ago | [YT] | 437

NimbleNeedles

What's the one knitting mistake you wish you knew how to fix?

I am soon to give a live course on fixing mistakes. However, I also want to turn this into an online resource. And I was wondering if there are any mistakes you persistently cannot fix, and that always give you trouble? Comment below, and maybe I can publish a quick little video (over on my second channel) soon!

Norman

1 month ago | [YT] | 191

NimbleNeedles

Your questions for me!
I'll be traveling to Zurich, Switzerland, in two weeks. Apart from teaching two courses, I'll also be hosting two livestreams (1 hour each). The first one will be on Saturday, Nov 8th, from 4pm to 5pm (CET), and the second one will be on Sunday, Nov 9th, from 10 am to 11 am (CET).
Both will be streamed on the official KnitFest YouTube channel. So, if, for whatever reason, you cannot attend, this would be your chance to see what's going on.
The best part: these live streams will be in English (unlike some of the courses).

Either way, if you have a question you have always wanted to ask me, then feel free to comment below. Please bear in mind that, due to the camera angle, showing close-ups of knitting techniques will not be possible. But general questions about me, knitting, or attending a yarn fair will work.

Norman

PS: And if you are planning to attend, don't hesitate to say hi!

1 month ago | [YT] | 234

NimbleNeedles

Meet me in Zurich, Switzerland.

I will be giving two courses as part of Knitfest 2025, and this is your chance to meet me in person.
The first course is on Saturday, November 8th, and focuses on fixing mistakes (and how to rescue any knitting project). The second course is on Sunday, November 9th, 2025, and will be all about increases & decreases and how to make them neater.
Both courses will be held in German (sorry guys :P), and, as far as I know, there are only a scant few spots left. There will also be some center-stage talks where I will be part of, and of course, a lot of yarn vendors as well. So, it's a fun place to be - even if you don't plan to attend any courses.

If you are interested, I'll add the links in the first comment below this post!

2 months ago | [YT] | 368

NimbleNeedles

New rig for the gig!
I want to use this opportunity to thank all of you who have been supporting my GoFundMe campaign. It's my honor to be in a position once more to record high-quality and high-resolution tutorials for you. Yesterday's video was already recorded using the new camera, and I am currently in the process of filming a very detailed mitten tutorial.
Words alone cannot express how lucky (and relieved) I felt when the goal of that campaign was met within 24 hours.
Instead of worrying about the future, I am, once more, in a very productive, forward-looking mindset. Even though it's rarely shown on camera, this whole YouTube business can be brutal. Brutal in the demands on your time and even health. It's always a kind of juggling act - especially if you are in for the long run. So, knowing that so many of you stand behind me, value my take on knitting, and my way of teaching is the icing on the cake and just as valuable (maybe even more) than the financial side of the campaign.
Once more, thank you! And please knock on wood for me so future mishaps like these won't happen <3

Norman

4 months ago | [YT] | 894

NimbleNeedles

Edit: Thank you for your overwhelming support and your kind feedback. I have already more than met the goal of my fundraiser and thus, naturally, stopped it first thing in the morning. If you want to support me beyond this campaign, you can always buy one of my patterns or subscribe to my Patreon account.
I would also like to point out that, in these turbulent times, many other small businesses in the knitting and craft space are struggling. Do consider helping others as well. Our community thrives on diversity (yarn, pattern, needles) and it would be a pity if so much of it would be lost simply because of (hopefully) temporary political upheavals.

Norman

_____

My camera broke, and it broke at the worst time ever. So, I need your help.
Due to some unforeseen extremely high medical bills, I am currently not in a position to replace my camera. Without it, I cannot record more free tutorials. Not here, not for my second YouTube channel, and not for my website, where you can find free patterns and the written tutorials for all those of you who prefer to read along.

I do not share this lightly. In fact, I reeeeaaally don't want to talk about it. Yet, I have to.

Think about it: In the 5 years of running this channel, I have never bothered you with a single sponsored video. I have never bothered you with my personal medical history, my political views, or any other crap that life threw my way. We are here to talk about all things knitting, no more, no less. When my camera was stolen 2 years ago, I figured it out myself, even though so many of you offered help. Yet now, I find myself in a position where I can't dig myself out anymore.

So, I set up a GoFundMe campaign. Here's the link: www.gofundme.com/f/new-camera-for-nimbleneedles


There are 250.000 people following me here on YouTube. I really don't ask you to donate a lot. Every little bit helps. If everyone only chips in a dime or two, my goal can easily be reached. The money will be used exclusively to replace my camera and the essential accessories that are required to operate it (SD card, spare batteries, etc)

Help me create more videos and tutorials for you. Thank you for your consideration.

A deeply humbled Norman

PS: The picture is of my trusty old camera, where the back screen only returns static, and some internal chip is damaged beyond repair.

5 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 686

NimbleNeedles

What are your unpopular knitting opinions? DISCUSS

I'm sure you heard a piece of advice from a fellow knitter (or maybe even from me!) where you went: "Hell no!". There are certainly the age-old myths that knitting in the round with circulars is easier than with dpns, purling is not harder than knitting, or that cheap yarn is scratchy. What are some of your knitting preferences that go wildly against what is normally portrayed on social media, in the knitting community, or just here on YouTube?
Share your unpopular opinion with me!

Norman

PS: And if you see something here in the comment where you agree, then use the upvote function!

5 months ago | [YT] | 271

NimbleNeedles

Tutorial requests: Which pattern would you like me to knit for/with you?



Like in all the previous years before, I want to use the somewhat quieter summer months to produce one tutorial that focuses solely on knitting a basic staple pattern. I already have tutorials on socks (both ways), a hat, a raglan sweater, dishcloths, etc, and would like to fill in a real knowledge gap rather than just another variation.



While I do have some ideas, I would like to give you the chance to help me with my decision.



Feel free to add any in the comments, but kindly keep in mind that it should be beginner-friendly and not involve 80 hours of knitting time (so please no cardigans or queen-sized blankets). Also, kindly acknowledge that I cannot demonstrate patterns from other designers.



Norman



PS: If you have any other topics, besides patterns, feel free to comment as well.

5 months ago | [YT] | 223