Meet Tom Daley!
Hi Tom, how are you today? What’s your favourite type of project to knit?
I love making clothes. There’s something really special to me about making and designing something completely new, something that I’ve seen that isn’t necessarily knitwear and then adapting it, designing it and changing the shape to create something that’s knit that I’ve made myself. There’s something really satisfying about that.
Which is your favourite pattern from the new book?
I have so many favourites, but I love the patchwork blanket. It covers so many different techniques – it’s so soft, warm, and cosy. It has a really fun colour scheme so I really love that! There’s also the silk mohair blend for the vest that has intarsia work through it – I absolutely love that.
Do you have any advice for someone picking up a pair of needles for the first time?
Be extremely patient, but if you ever find yourself having to start again, you’re not starting from scratch, you’re starting from experience. That’s something I’ve learnt over time!
What’s the first thing you ever knitted?
It was a scarf! A terrible one. It was for my mum for Mother’s Day.
This issue, we’re raising money for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, do you have any charities close to heart?
So many! LGBT Switchboard, which I have worked with for a long time, The Prince’s Trust, The Brain Tumour Charity – all charities I am hugely passionate about. There’s also Rainbow Railroad, Micro Rainbow, The Kaleidoscope Trust – they are all doing amazing work at really important times.