Great balls of yarn! The first Knitting Heavy Metal World Champions have been crowned

By Scott Munro
( Metal Hammer )
published

The competition which combines handicrafts and heavy metal has reached its conclusion - and it’s just purl-fect for Japanese rockers Giga Body Metal

Giga Body Metal in full flow (Image credit: Joona Kotilainen / Tovari Oy)

In April this year, we reported that the very first Knitting Heavy Metal World Championship would take place in Finland (opens in new tab).

The competition has just concluded and saw 12 artists from around the world, who brought their knitting needles, wool and instruments to the city of Joensuu to put their reverse shaping, moss stitches and loops to the test, as they attempted to knit along to heavy rhythms.

While the USA’s 9-inch Needles finished third and Ellen from Denmark came second, it was Japanese craft masters Giga Body Metal who scooped the top prize for their purl-fect performance.

Explaining their decision, the judging panel said: “The performance had a story. The accessories and performance combined their own culture, knitting and heavy. 

“The performers took the space and their audience in control. The performers were at the same time serious and crazy, just like it should be.”

The competition has proved so popular, that it will return next year. Keep your eye on the official website for further information (opens in new tab).

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Scott Munro
Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers and magazines as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. After initially joining our news desk in the summer of 2014, he moved to the e-commerce team full-time in 2020. He maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott grew up listening to rock and prog, cutting his teeth on bands such as Marillion and Magnum before his focus shifted to alternative and post-punk in the late 80s. His favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Ned's Atomic Dustbin and Drab Majesty, but he also still has a deep love of Rush.