Tom Daley knitting became a global talking point during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, when cameras captured the British diver crafting in the stands between events. What began as a lockdown hobby in 2020 quickly evolved into a mindfulness practice, a viral Olympic moment, and eventually a full-fledged craft brand called Made With Love.
The defining image of Tom Daley knitting emerged at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in 2021. While watching teammates compete, Daley was frequently photographed with needles and yarn in hand, a sight that resonated far beyond the diving community. He later admitted that knitting served a practical purpose during the pressure-filled Games. In an interview with Olympics.com, Daley explained that the craft allowed him to stay “extremely mindful” and get his head away from the diving pool.
The specific items he made during Tokyo became part of the story. Daley created a small pouch for his gold medal, featuring the Union Jack on one side and the Japanese flag on the other, to prevent it from getting scratched. During the preliminary rounds, he also knitted a colourful scarf for a small toy penguin that a poolside official had shown him. He noted that knitting occupied his hands and stopped him from nail biting and snacking while waiting.
Daley has been transparent about the origins of his craft. He started knitting in early 2020, just before the COVID-19 lockdown, using YouTube tutorials to teach himself the basics. He has described his personality as obsessive, telling the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that “if I start something I’m all in”. His husband, screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, suggested he try knitting while they were traveling for a competition in Canada.Quick Bio: Tom Daley
Note: Height is based on Daley’s own 2010 statement and may not reflect current measurements. Net worth figures are estimates from a third-party source and should be treated as unverified.
The hobby offered more than distraction. Daley has consistently framed knitting as a mental health tool. He told The Independent that crafting was “a great way for my mental health to be in the moment, be present and be mindful”. He has also expressed a desire to make the craft accessible to younger audiences, noting that the demographic for knitting is beginning to skew younger.
Following the Tokyo Olympics, Daley formalized his passion by launching Made With Love, a knitting and crochet brand selling kits, patterns, and merchandise. The name came from the first scarf he made for his mother, into which he sewed a tag reading “Made with Love”. His first book, also titled Made With Love, was published in 2022 and contained thirty original knitting and crochet patterns for toys, clothing, and home décor.
A second book, Get Stitched, was published by HarperCollins on 25 September 2025. It features fifteen knitting patterns from his first book alongside step-by-step masterclasses, and it was named a finalist for the 2026 Creative Book Awards in the Knitting and Crochet category. In June 2025, Daley also launched a Woolmark-certified Merino wool knit kit in collaboration with UK yarn manufacturer Laxtons, available in seven pastel colours.
Daley’s knitting has continued to appear at major competitions. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, he was spotted in the aquatics centre knitting a red, white, and blue sweater with his surname on the back while watching the women’s synchronised 3m springboard final. His creations have also reached celebrity recipients. In February 2025, he knitted a pink cardigan for actress Sharon Stone, who reacted with delight in a video Daley shared on social media.
Comparing Daley’s trajectory to that of a typical craft influencer helps clarify what makes his story distinct. Most knitting personalities build audiences through tutorials and pattern design over years. Daley entered the space already holding an Olympic gold medal, and the juxtaposition of elite athletics and quiet stitching created a narrative that mainstream media found irresistible. The New York Times noted that his needles and yarn became signatures second only to his medal.
Daley has reflected on the irony of his second act. He told Prima that if someone had told him he would be most remembered from the Tokyo Olympics for knitting rather than winning gold, he would have laughed. Yet the evidence suggests the two achievements are now intertwined. His gold medal made the knitting visible, and the knitting made the gold medal relatable.
For anyone discovering Tom Daley knitting for the first time, the appeal is not simply the novelty of a diver with needles. It is the sincerity of a high-performance athlete who found a quiet, tactile practice that helped him cope with pressure and then shared it openly. That combination of vulnerability and craftsmanship has turned a lockdown pastime into a lasting public identity.
1. When did Tom Daley start knitting? Tom Daley began knitting in March 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown. He taught himself primarily through YouTube tutorials and has said a coach and fellow divers helped him grasp the basics during a trip to Canada.
2. What did Tom Daley knit at the Tokyo Olympics? At Tokyo 2020, Daley knitted a gold medal pouch featuring the Union Jack and Japanese flag, a purple and white dog jumper, and a Team GB cardigan with the Olympic rings and “Tokyo” in Japanese. He also made a small scarf for a toy penguin between dives.
3. Why does Tom Daley knit? Daley has described knitting as a mindfulness practice that keeps him calm and focused. He explained that it allowed him to “stay extremely mindful” and get his head away from the diving pool, while also stopping him from nail biting and snacking.
4. What is Tom Daley’s knitting brand called? His brand is called Made With Love, launched after the Tokyo Olympics. It sells knitting and crochet kits, and the name comes from a tag he sewed into the first scarf he made for his mother. He has also published books including Made With Love (2022) and Get Stitched (2025).
5. Has Tom Daley knitted for other celebrities? Yes. He made a pink cardigan with embroidered flowers for actress Sharon Stone in February 2025, which she described as “the cutest sweater.” He also knitted a jumper featuring a chicken portrait for social media personality Bretman Rock in July 2025.
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