15 of Olympic champion Tom Daley's greatest knits

Words: Will Stroude; pictures: Instagram, @madewithlovebytomdaley

Any fan of Tom Daley’s will have followed the diving star’s growing love for knitting and crochet over the past year, but the Olympic champion’s recent poolside needle exploits have suddenly thrust the 27-year-old’s unlikely hobby into global spotlight.

After taking up knitting during the first lockdown last year, Tom has since set up a dedicated Instagram page, ‘Made with Love by Tom Daley’, where the father-of-one shares his latest creations and often raffles them off for charity.

From jumpers to children’s clothing to pet accessories and even swimming trunks (really), Tom’s proved himself a versatile designer over the past year – and in honour of his work putting the art of stitchwork back on the map, we’re celebrating with a round-up of his ‘greatest knits’ so far…

The one where it all began

Tom made his designer debut last year with a classic red and white-striped jumper – the perfect all-rounder.

The crochet tank

This daring five-colour crotchet tank might have you looking a bit nippy in winter – and summer, for that matter.

The crochet trunk

Dear Stella McCartney and adidas, your services designing Team GB Olympic kits are no longer required.

The chunky knit

Tom recently auctioned off this pastel number to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity. His father, Robert, passed away in 2011 aged 40 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

The sleeveless wonder

If you’ve got it, flaunt it, we say.

The husband birthday edition

Let them know you care and say it with stitches.

The Pride jumper

Pairing items with rainbow print can prove tricky. Here, Tom cannily bypassed the problem by seemingly pairing it with nothing else.

The Pride jumper, the sequel

Now a capsule collection!

The rainbow Robbie hoodie

We’re offering free Attitude subscriptions to anyone who can find us a more adorable image. [ed’s note – no we aren’t]

The cozy cat couch

“It seems as though our cats are finally growing to love it,” declared Tom, with the creeping hint of despair recognisable to any cat owner who’s forked out a week’s wages on a deluxe cat bed only to have the cat insist on sleeping in the box it arrived in.

The baby dress

Tom has previously teased that he and Dustin are keen to expand their growing family at the conclusion of Tokyo 2020 – but at least the wardrobe’s taken care of.

The family photo

If Tom isn’t knitting full outfits and backdrop for the Daley-Black Christmas card shoot this year it’ll be a travesty.

The awareness raiser

Tom’s knitting hobby isn’t just for him: the sports star has regularly used his new craft platform to raise money for charity.

He recently knitted this adorable blanket for 5-year-old Jake, who lives with a rare neurological condition, and encouraging his followers to donate to the Children’s Hospice South West, which provides support to families whose children have life-limiting conditions.

The Olympic champion range

Amid all this knitting, Tom’s still managed to find the time to train for Tokyo 2020 – and all that hard work eventually paid off when he finally achieved his dream of becoming an Olympic champion with gold in the men’s 10m synchro with Matty Lee in Tokyo.

And what better place to keep his prized medal than in a one-of-a-kind Union Jack knitted pouch – with bespoke Team GB cardigan to match.

15 of Olympic champion Tom Daley’s greatest knits

The gold medal-winning diver has been putting the art of stitchwork back on the map.

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