Hazel Tindall, World’s Fastest Knitter

Hazel Tindall can’t remember a time before she knew how to knit. Hazel learned to knit when knitting for sale was the only way that women earned money, when a job outside the home in town was too far to travel. Although her mother found knitting a chore, Hazel liked it, not only knitting sweater yokes for sale but exploring yarns and designs from outside her local sphere. When knitting was work, knitters put down their needles on Sundays, but in time knitting became a pleasure rather than a job for Hazel. She started knitting every day of the week. Eventually she began selling for sale not just sweaters but also designs for sweaters, vests, gloves, hats, and other colorwork designs. Loving color, she avoids sludgy color combinations in favor of bright hues. One member of the Shetland Guild of Spinners, Knitters, Weavers & Dyers read about a World’s Fastest Knitter competition, and the group believed that they could do better than the current standard. Hazel was found to be the fastest knitter in the group, so off she went to the contest, winning the title. Later, she traveled to Minnesota to defend the title; to her knowledge, she hasn’t been beaten! Links Hazel Tindall’s website Hazel’s patterns Hazel’s blog Shetland Museum & Archives Shetland Guild of Spinners, Knitters, Weavers & Dyers Shetland Wool Week This episode is brought to you by: Treenway Silks is where weavers, spinners, knitters and stitchers find the silk they love. Select from the largest variety of silk spinning fibers, silk yarn, and silk threads & ribbons at TreenwaySilks.com. You’ll discover a rainbow of colors, thoughtfully hand-dyed in Colorado. Love natural? Treenway's array of wild silks provide choices beyond white. If you love silk, you’ll love Treenway Silks, where superior quality and customer service are guaranteed. Learning how to weave but need the right shuttle? Hooked on knitting and in search of a lofty yarn? **Yarn Barn of Kansas)) has been your partner in fiber since 1971. Whether you are around the corner from the Yarn Barn of Kansas, or around the country, they are truly your "local yarn store" with an experienced staff to answer all your fiber questions. Visit yarnbarn-ks.com to shop, learn, and explore. The Adirondack Wool and Arts Festival is the perfect way to spend a weekend surrounded by over 150 craft vendors in Greenwich, New York. Discover a curated group of vendors featuring the best of wool and artisan crafters. Throughout the weekend enjoy workshops, free horse drawn wagon rides, free kid's crafts, a fiber sheep show, and a sanctioned cashmere goat show. Join us September 20 & 21, 2025, and every fall! For more information visit adkwoolandarts.com.