Hi, I’m Jo.
I was taught to hand knit at a young age by my Nan who was a prolific knitter. I was always fascinated at the speed of her clicking needles. Really, I could only make wonky scarves until my late twenties when I started following baby patterns to make gifts for my mum-to-be friends. From little jumpers with colourful buttons to cosy booties.
Then, when my own son was a toddler I became interested in knitting machines. The allure of being able to produce things a little faster grabbed me as my speed was nowhere near as fast as my Nan’s nimble fingers!
I enrolled on a course at Morley College and loved it! I was so inspired by my wonderful teacher I went on to do four terms of 'Experimental Knitting Machine'.
A few years later, Jojo Knits came to life and I set up a stall at my local market in East Dulwich, South London.
The Process
I use a hand operated vintage knitting machine from the 1970s. I really enjoy the process of creating new fairisle patterns and producing the special punch cards for my machine to read. Once I am happy with the design I can then start experimenting with colour.
I knit with 2ply lambswool and then go on to the felting process. This makes the lambswool beautifully soft to the touch. Watch this space for new designs and products I bring to life!
wool, wonderful wool!
One of the things that makes wool so practical is the fact that when it’s damp, it still keeps you warm. This is thanks to its high absorbency, meaning it can hold moisture for longer than other fabrics before you start to feel wet. Wool also wicks moisture away from your body, stopping cold, wet surfaces from resting against your skin. The fibres also miraculously generate heat when they are wet, creating even more warmth. Whilst woollen garments might take longer to dry than other fabrics, they really will keep you warmer for longer.
a Happy (and Warm!) Customer
“I love my grey and black striped headband. Jo has made it beautifully and the finishing details are super!”
