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September 9, 2014 By admin 41 Comments

Joji Knits

JojiLocatelliprofilepic

Joji Locatelli


Joji Knits, designer Joji Locatelli was today’s guest on the Yarn Thing Podcast with Marly Bird, all the way from Argentina! This made for a Great adventure for a live program.

Joji (pronounced Ho-Hee) says she learned to knit at about age 8, mom taughter her to a garter stitch scarf. Not exciting and the yarn was not a thrill so that was it till she was in University she started thinking about taking crafts up. At 24, she was about to get married but decided to quit smoking. Her mom had left some needles at her house and she picked up knitting again.

At first she didn’t have access to patterns, with her mom’s help she was able to improvise in her knitting. Then she found Ravelry. There she was able to follow her favorite designers and improve her skills, till she became a designer herself.

JojiBoxy

Joji and her current favorite design, Boxy

When she starts a design, she has an idea of what she wants to make but it sounds like the particulars work themselves out in process. In the beginning, she was so engrossed with what she was working on, she would forget to write things down as she worked on them. Even without completely understanding English her designs communicate classic beauty.

In spite of the changes in import/export laws, which makes it hard for someone like Joji to purchase yarn. she says ‘Don’t Worry’ she has a good supply at hand. Malabrigo is from Uruguay, right next door to Argentina! Sometimes, the colors she is sent by a yarn designer is not what she had in mind, and then she finds the design becomes based on the yarn itself.

Her latest design, Japan Sleeves, based on another of her cardigan designs, Old Romance, incorporates lacework from Japanese charts, and has been very popular among JojiKnits fans. Old Romance was very well received, which inspired her to continue the thought of the lace panels down the sleeves and the rest of the sweater constructed from that. Then she was sharing her inspiration for Japan Sleeves and the thought of stripes and her friend reminded her stripes in this would be like shawls that you see often. Working out the stripes in the short rows, but she loves that the design came together well.

Jojiknitslogo

Her website, https://www.jojiknits.com/ She can also be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joji.knits

Another of Joji’s designs that is popular is Boxy and Buttony. a next step after Boxy, by their nature as oversized and their boxy shape becomes comfortable and drapey. (Joji later shared that she personally likes the Boxy design so much she wears it all the time!) She also discussed how the feminine shape of Meridien comes together.

Joji says she gets most of her designing done in the evenings after her two boys go to bed. Her husband does freelance work as well, so this works for her family very well! Check out her designs in Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/designers/joji-locatelli

If you missed listening LIVE, the show can still be heard at: https://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2014/09/09/joji-knits or if iTunes is more convenient: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/joji-knits/id313541727?i=318697507&mt=2

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lori Lambert says

    September 9, 2014 at 6:07 pm

    Any YARN would look lovely with Joji’s designs!

    Reply
  2. Michele says

    September 9, 2014 at 6:59 pm

    I absolutely loved the show today! It was so nice talking to Joji and her beautiful designs and she was so sweet. I look forward to yarn shopping for my Boxy sweater.

    Reply
  3. Judy says

    September 10, 2014 at 3:47 am

    I thoroughly enjoy listening to your podcasts Marly, and one day I’d love to try using some of that Bijou Basin Ranch yak yarn that you have talked about.

    Reply
  4. Audrey says

    September 10, 2014 at 5:26 am

    Joji knows what to do with yarn. Love the drape and comfort of her designs.

    Reply
  5. Melissa says

    September 10, 2014 at 6:38 am

    What Joji does with yarn makes me want to learn to knit, Boxy looks so comfy. Thanks for the podcast!

    Reply
  6. Love2stitch says

    September 10, 2014 at 7:23 am

    Loved listening to live podcast yesterday. Now I feel better too that I often buy pretty yarn and then let it speak to me about what it wants to become 🙂

    Reply
  7. Sylvia Taplin says

    September 10, 2014 at 7:43 am

    Joji has an amazing eye to match yarn and design. This makes all the difference in a knitted garment

    Reply
  8. simone says

    September 10, 2014 at 9:18 am

    Joji’s patterns are beautiful. I can’t wait to make a Boxy and Toujours with my yarn stash.

    Reply
  9. Lesa Vasiliou Tusti. says

    September 10, 2014 at 9:59 am

    Great interview. My first time listening, but it won’t be my last. Joji’s patterns pair fantastically with The Plucky Knitter yarn.

    Reply
  10. deemg says

    September 10, 2014 at 2:41 pm

    What a great podcast, I’m so thrilled that I go to call in and talk to Joji in Spanish! I love how she talked about how she writes patterns based on yarn. She chooses the yarn and then from there decides what the yarn will become. I do it totally reversed, explains why I’m not a designer 🙂

    Reply
  11. Shelly says

    September 10, 2014 at 3:08 pm

    It was lovely to hear at about Joji’s love of yarn! What a fun interview.

    Reply
  12. Debbie says

    September 10, 2014 at 4:06 pm

    Wouldn’t you just love to have access to Joji’s yarn stash? Very enjoyable interview and fun to dream about which two patterns I’d pick if I win the prize!

    Reply
  13. hotknitter says

    September 10, 2014 at 9:34 pm

    I love to hear people’s yarn stories. I also love to hear about people’s love of yarn since I love yarn too. Great interview.

    Reply
  14. SandraR says

    September 11, 2014 at 12:06 am

    I need more yarn to knit all the gorgeous designs by Joji! Great interesting interview.

    Reply
  15. Shelly Bagchi says

    September 11, 2014 at 6:26 am

    Great interview! Love how Joji designs around a particular yarn.

    Reply
  16. Deila Hiebert says

    September 11, 2014 at 7:02 am

    Love this podcast. You have the best guests. My yarn is calling me to knit one or two of Joji patterns.

    Reply
  17. Michele says

    September 11, 2014 at 9:22 am

    It was so nice talking to Joji. I cannot wait to go yarn shopping and start the Boxy sweater. I’ve been intimidated to do a knit sweater but feel that if I want it bad enough, I can figure it out. Time for more YARN!!!

    Reply
  18. Renee says

    September 11, 2014 at 10:00 am

    Can’t imagine designing with yarn like Joji! Amazing! Thanks for this great show!

    Reply
  19. Ruthie says

    September 11, 2014 at 10:06 am

    I also love the Boxy sweater! I wonder what yarn I should make it with?

    Reply
  20. Janet says

    September 11, 2014 at 11:51 am

    Love the podcast! I too have yarn that is waiting to see what it’ll be when it grows up.

    Reply
  21. roxiegifts says

    September 11, 2014 at 1:09 pm

    The color of yarn that Joji chooses complements her designs perfectly.

    Reply
  22. Michaeline Reed says

    September 11, 2014 at 2:10 pm

    I love Joji’s designs! She is one of my favorites. Any YARN in her hands is always going to bloom into something beatiful!

    Reply
  23. Cindy says

    September 11, 2014 at 6:06 pm

    I have followed your patterns for a long time. I first saw them knit in Plucky yarn, you are so creative!!

    Reply
  24. Ellen says

    September 11, 2014 at 8:51 pm

    I have knit several shawls from Joji’s pattern Imagine. No matter what kind of yarn used, I have been pleased. Have several patterns in my Ravelry queue, just have to see what is in my yarn stash that will work.

    Reply
  25. Liz says

    September 12, 2014 at 12:15 pm

    Love JoJi! And the story about her trading smoking for knitting with yarn was a riot!

    Reply
  26. Vicki Lynch says

    September 12, 2014 at 4:37 pm

    As always, an entertaining show. I loved the story of how you posted and got help with the layover in NY. After all, you had precious cargo to consider with suitcases full of yarn and wonderful city to explore. I’m glad a local knitter was able to come through for you.

    Reply
  27. Becky says

    September 12, 2014 at 5:32 pm

    Great podcast. Thank you Marly. I am already shopping for yarn to use to knit my first Joji pattern

    Reply
  28. Alison says

    September 12, 2014 at 6:42 pm

    Thanks for another great podcast. I enjoy knitting with my yarn while I listen to you talk with your fantastic guests.

    Reply
  29. Jenny says

    September 13, 2014 at 7:37 am

    Thank you for a great interview! I’m definitely a great fan of Joji, her choices of yarn and her beautiful designs.

    Reply
  30. Stephanie Axman says

    September 13, 2014 at 1:31 pm

    I have followed Joji’s patterns for a while and finally decided to do the fall kal and try to do Buttony & Boxy. But there are so many of her patterns I love!! It was interesting to hear the due to laws she isn’t able to get yarn as readily as we do. It’s amazing that she manages to get her hands on such wonderful yarn. She has such a great eye!

    Loved the show!!!

    Reply
  31. Julie says

    September 13, 2014 at 10:51 pm

    What a fascinating show! I love Joji’s patterns. I have the Worsted Boxy in my queue; now I just need to figure out which yarn to knit it in.

    Reply
  32. Margo says

    September 14, 2014 at 12:35 pm

    I would like to have some of the yarn in Joji’s stash to knit the Grandpa Cardigan.

    Reply
  33. jsevensenJoan Evensen says

    September 14, 2014 at 8:40 pm

    I thoroughly enjoyed this podcast. I love Joji’s designs. Even though I thought Boxy might not be flattering, Joji convinced me that the right yarn will make it drape so it looks beautiful! (Like I need a reason for more yarn… 😉

    Reply
  34. Suzanne says

    September 15, 2014 at 6:44 am

    I can’t imagine not being able to buy yarn whenever I wanted. I would probably want to squirrel away a large stash too. I am now super tempted to knit a boxy. It’s flattering but looks so warm and cozy.

    Reply
  35. carrotmusic says

    September 15, 2014 at 9:03 am

    It was fun to hear Joji talk about her patterns and to hear her explain how her design process is yarn-driven. If I had enough yarn and enough time, I would have to knit quite a few of her designs. I especially like Meridien, Ecuador and So Close.

    Reply
  36. Lydia says

    September 15, 2014 at 12:07 pm

    I love Joji’s patterns, and have purchased so many and even knit a few, I now need to match up yarn to knit some more. She is such a fabulous designer and so inspiring.

    Reply
  37. Mary Gladue says

    September 15, 2014 at 4:32 pm

    Loved your interview with Joji. I have knit a few of her patterns. Her designs look great whether you use a solid or verigated yarn.

    Reply
  38. Malinda Pelham says

    September 16, 2014 at 7:58 am

    Love Joji designs and I have to look for yarn to knit the Boxy sweater.

    Reply
  39. Debra says

    September 16, 2014 at 9:43 am

    I loved listening to her adventures with yarn! It would be so heartbreaking not to be able to just sit down at my computer, order yarn, and have it shipped to me. I am glad she finds other ways to get yarn!

    Reply
  40. Michele says

    September 16, 2014 at 9:55 am

    What Joji does with yarn is just beautiful! I cannot wait to make a Boxy sweater, as soon as I finish my Lipstick KAL.

    Reply
  41. Penny Halverson says

    September 23, 2014 at 5:43 pm

    I love Joji patterns! And now I know how to pronounce her name correctly. As always, a great interview, thank you for finding great guests.

    Reply

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