TikTok star the Tattooed Knitter sets world record for blanket knitting

Dan Soar only taught himself how to arm knit a month and a half ago

A TikToker has set the world record for the most blankets arm knitted in 24 hours, in a charity challenge watched by 1.2 million people.

Dan Soar, known as the Tattooed Knitter, knitted the 19 blankets in memory of his grandmother Margaret Soar, who was a keen knitter herself.

Mr Soar, from Shirland in Derbyshire, only started knitting a few months ago.

He said his late grandmother would have been "massively proud" of him for setting the record.

"I can't believe it, it's mad," he said after it was confirmed by Guinness World Records.

"My nan would be laughing at me, she just wouldn't be able to believe the fact I'm doing it.

"I would have had her doing it with me, but I would have been teaching her how to do it as she didn't know how to arm knit."

Dan Soar set the record at his home in Derbyshire on 5 April

Mr Soar, who works as a locksmith, only started knitting in December, after seeing fellow TikToker Jude Moore doing it.

He initially taught himself to finger knit, where yarn is wrapped around fingers to create stitches.

He then taught himself to knit using large knitting needles, before teaching himself to arm knit about a month and a half ago.

With arm knitting, the yarn is wrapped around the knitter's arms in order to create stitches.

The stitches are bigger, so chunkier yarn is used, and this means blankets can be knitted more quickly than in traditional knitting.

Mr Soar, who is 31, said knitting had improved his mental health.

"I've always got anxiety, day to day I'm full of it, but when I'm knitting I don't get that," he said.

"Knowing what I know now, I would have loved more than anything for my nan to teach me how to knit when I was younger."

Dan Soar knitted 19 blankets in 24 hours

His 19 blankets will be donated to his two chosen good causes - mental health charity MenWalkTalk and Ashgate Hospice, which cared for his grandmother before she died 10 years ago.

The challenge raised about £3,000 for the charities, as people made donations online while it was livestreamed.

"I'm glad I did it the way I did, as it was so helpful to have all the people in chat to keep me going, as well as my friends and family in the room with me," said Mr Soar.

There was no existing record for arm knitting blankets, but Guinness World Records said he should make at least 15.

"I was all right for the first parts of the attempt, but by 20 hours I was getting quite delirious, especially when I knew I had four hours left," he said.

"I was very grateful for my mum's lemon cake towards the end."