Knitting: questions and Band 8 answers

Not really, no. I tried it once when my grandmother attempted to teach me, but I kept dropping stitches and ended up with a complete mess. It requires a lot of patience and fine motor skills, which I suppose I lacked at the time.

We actually did a bit of basic sewing and weaving at primary school. I remember making a tiny patchwork coaster from scrap fabric for Mother's Day. It was quite wonky, to be honest, but my mum kept it on her bedside table for years.

Yes, an aunt knitted me a bright mustard-yellow woollen scarf a couple of winters ago. It is incredibly warm and cosy, and even though the colour was a bit bold for my usual taste, I cherish it because of the effort she put in.

Surprisingly, it has made quite a comeback recently. A lot of people find it a great way to unwind and unplug from their screens in the evenings. You often see students on public transport working on chunky jumpers or beanies.

I would certainly be open to it, especially as a relaxing hobby during the winter months. It must be very satisfying to wear something you have made from scratch, so I might give a beginner kit a go when I have more free time.