The sew bros stitch together a new brotherhood

Tom Daley’s casual poolside knitting at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, pointed us in the direction of a growing breed of men knitters called the ‘sew bros’ who are honing a skill and engaging in a healthy conversation on masculinity

When the world saw photos and videos of British champion swimmer Tom Daley knitting by the poolside during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, some were in awe of his knitting skills, some said it was time men took up the craft, while others discussed their memories of wearing hand-knitted clothes and accessories. This bred some dialogue around ‘men who knit’ or, as they are unofficially called, ‘sew bros’. Daley’s Instagram account (@madewithlovebytomdaley) that shows his knitting and crochet work, has everything from a snowflake Christmas motif and caps for his cousin’s baby to cardigans and cat couch covers. With one multi-coloured jumper, he raised money for The Brain Tumour Charity. For someone who took up knitting during the lockdown, he has come a long way! His knitting photos on social media have attracted eye balls because craft itself is seen as ‘something women do’. Perhaps he didn’t imagine that a simple stress-busting activity could be interpreted as a social statement: an image of a man crafting, using his hands to create articles that openly display the act of caring.