The Bat (Roland West, 1926)

Knitter: Emily Fitzroy

Knitrate *** - a silent classic, with another example of how knitters are brainier - here Cornelia solves the mystery of The Bat, knitting as she goes!

Breakfast at Tiffany's (Blake Edwards, 1961)

Knitter: Audrey Hepburn

Knitrate: ***** great movie, great actress, great bit of knitting. As Holly learns Portuguese (you know knitting's good for the brain, right?) she knits...a big red thing. As she says, confusion with her patterns and José's blueprints may mean she's knitting a ranch house! Watch it here!

Carry on Regardless (Gerald Thomas, 1960)

Knitters: Joan Sims and Liz Fraser

Knitrate: *** Whilst waiting for a job at the Helping Hands Agency, Joanie and Liz have a bit of a knit. Whilst the scene is short the knitting is frantic. They lose a star for suggesting that knitting is something to do if you're bored!

Dancing at Lughnasa (Pat O'Connor, 1998)

Knitter: Sophie Thomson

Knitrate: - not yet rated

Demolition Man (Marco Brambilla, 1993)

Knitter: Sylvester Stallone

Knitrate: ** In 2032 the world will be lovely, but badly coiffured Wesley Snipes decides to blow stuff up. Sly is thawed out to take him on and between that and eating ratburgers he does a spot of knitting - oart of his behavioural rehabilitation. The low knitrate is due to not actually seeing Sly knit, although he does present Sandra Bullock with a lovely red jumper which he knit seemingly overnight - very impressive. Would've been one star but for the line "I'm a seamstress? - That's great. I come out of cryo-prison and I'm Betsy-fucking-Ross..."

The Friday Night Knitting Club (2008)

Knitters: Julia Roberts and the whole cast

Knitrate: ***** Of course, a five star knitrate even before we've seen the film. This will have knitting galore, and even if it's no good, any film with this title has to have full marks.

Gone With The Wind (1938)

Knitters: Olivia de Havilland, Leona Roberts

Knitrate: ***** - first spot the 'unfinished glove syndrome'* scene, a classic of the genre, then marvel at the knit and crochet while the ladies click away in silence waiting for the menfolk to return from the raid on the shanty town. Tense! Scarlett, as contrary as always, does a bit of cross stitch instead!

Halloween (John Carpenter, 1978)

Knitter: Jamie Lee Curtis

Knitrate: ***** Laurie, babysitting while her girlfriends do some obligatory horror movie shagging, knits. Later, when Michael Myers pays a visit those needles come in handy and he gets it, literally, in the neck. A classic use of knitting to defend yourself from psycho killers.

Heidi (Paul Marcus, 2005)

Knitter: Geraldine Chaplin

Knitrate: ** - whilst we are thrilled to see Charlie's daughter with her pins out, we have been forced to dock stars here because the character is a baddie. In our book baddies should never knit. The knitting here represents an old harridan and we can't allow that.

Ladies in Lavender (Charles Dance, 2004)

Knitter: Judi Dench

Knitrate: **** - a genuine Dame with DPNs, Judi, also known for her penchant for embroidery is seen knitting socks in this romantic drama set in Cornwall.

Like Water For Chocolate (Alfonso Arau, 1992)

Knitter: Lumi Cavazos

Knitrate: **** - knitting doesn't get more symbolic than Tita's giant shawl, a knitted metaphor for her timeless and endless grief. Beautiful.

The Mirror Crack'd (1980)

Knitter: Angela Lansbury

Knitrate: **** - we all know it's good for the brain so it's no surprise that Miss Marple like to get her pins out whilst puzzling over a grisly murder. Lansbury only got one go at MM but made an impression with her stitching skills early on in this cheesy 80s outing.

Mrs Miniver (William Wyler, 1942)

Knitter: Greer Garson

Knitrate: **** - Oscar winning Greer knits, and the film deserves classic knit status for the line "I'm not going to risk my life for you knitting needles again!" Why ever not? Some people get their priorities wrong.

9 to 5 (Colin Higgins, 1980)

Knitter: cartoon bunny

Knitrate: *** if Dolly had been the knitter here we'd have a five star knitrate, but as it is, during Lily's 'dream sequence' we are treating to a cartoon cavalcade, including a fluffy bunny. Yes, the bunny is knitting! Cute.

Profondo Rosso (Dario Argento, 1975)

Knitter: Giuliana Calandra

Knitrate: *** an obvious influence for John Carpenter in Halloween, Giuliana defends herself from another psycho killer with her knitting needles. Loses points because she doesn't actually knit with them!

Raising Helen (Garry Marshall, 2004)

Knitter: Joan Cusack

Knitrate: *** we love Joan! She knits, someone rings her doorbell, her husband's weary retort, 'perhaps it's someone come to knit with you'!

State of the Union (Frank Capra, 1948)

Knitter: Katharine Hepburn

Knitrate: not yet rated!

String (Naomi Wright, 2006)

Knitter: Doreen Andrews

Knitrate: **** this wonderful short features a man on a journey, following a random bit of string to it's heartwarming conclusion. Along the way there are moments of comedy, adventure and emotion - including a short knitting scene. Despite the brevity we like it!

Wallace and Gromit in A Close Shave (Nick Park, 1995)

Knitter: Gromit

Knitrate: ***** naturally, no knitting in films list could ignore the contribution from Wallace and Gromit. It's almost worthy of a 6-star out of five rating!

A Woman of the World (Malcolm St Clair, 1925)

Knitter: ?

Knitrate: not yet reviewed

The Women (George Cukor, 1939)

Knitter: Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell

Knitrate: **** - the original Stitcher 'n Bitcher Joanie plays opposite arch-rival Norma Shearer in this brilliant film with an entirely female cast. Famous for Joan's off-camera knitting too, so loud that Norma couldn't concentrate! Click the pic to see the trailer.