Wool and the Gang: Taking knitting to the extreme

Okay, so I've been searching for a hobby of late. I'm not very good at relaxing, as you may already know, and although one designer's suggestion of taking up dressage appealed for a Milli-second (knowing how fashionable the equestrian look is right now), the proximatety of horses and the potential to break my neck flying off one was enough to keep searching. Thankfully, one, Casey Gillespie, insisted I teach her the ins and outs of knitting, rekindling my love of all things knittable. I am yet to master anything truly grandma worthy but thankfully, it's become rather chic to dabble.

Now when it comes to the art of knitting, there's no doubt our Martha (Stewart) reigns supreme in anything as potentially crafty as this previously frowned upon spectator sport (you watch as an old lady in a chair knits something you hope won't find it's way into your Christmas stocking). Embellished cardigans in pale pink, booties in royal blue, beanies that sag in all the wrong places... this was the knitting we knew and did not love.

And then something happened, knitting got fashion savvy. I can't pin point the exact moment in time, but one day it was fashionable to knit, all of a sudden, people who didn't smell of moth balls were picking up needles; patterns were becoming Vogue-worthy and the knit became hip.

Even Martha swapped from dated doilies to cool additions for the style-savvy home. The only problem was — although flicking through the pages of Living is a hobby within itself — attempting anything Martha's knitted was tantamount to craft suicide (unless your Joseph Ungoco, who was born with the knitting gene).

This is where Wool and the Gang come in. Established in October 2007, Wool and the Gang make knitting not only fashionable but accessible. Created by Swiss born Lisa Sabrier and New Zealander, Carolyn Main, these two fashion savvy, knit-a-holics teamed up to bring the fashion knit to the masses with beginner to advanced patterns, free knitting patterns and tutorial videos as well as seasonal looks guaranteed to have you knitting your own wardrobe day in and day out.

With modern patterns, delectable wool from Peru and knitting kits guaranteed to take the guess work out of getting started, these two women, are destined for world knitting domination.

Best of all, if you still don't think knitting is your thing, you can buy the final product already knitted and ready to wear.