Interview // Patricia Chircop

Can you share with us a little bit about who you are and what you do?

It's hard to define who I am in a career context since I take on many different roles. Essentially, I'm immersed in the world of knit. I'm trained as a programmer with a deep technical understanding and design training, which makes me very aesthetically aware. As a business owner, I'm really passionate about sustainability and ethics, which drives my interest in 3D seamless knitting. This knit obsession has also led me to pursue a PhD in knit.

What might a typical day look like for you working in your studio?

A typical day at Knovus is so varied; it's all about responding to the day's challenges and opportunities. Some days, it’s programming and running the machines; other days, it's filming content for our e-learning courses or collaborating with multinational companies to innovate and enhance their products. The underlying theme at Knovus is helping people understand and demystify knit, applying it to a wide range of projects.

When teaching workshops on industrial knitting, what are some common revelations people might have around understanding knit technologies?

The major learning curve in our workshops is providing information in an easily digestible way. I started Knovus (formerly Knit Melbourne) about 15 years ago because there was nowhere to learn about knit.  You were really limited to either the programmer or the person selling the knitwear machine and as immensely important as their function is in this process, you can't do it without them. 

Our workshops give participants a chance to understand the capabilities of technology from various aspects, not just programming. They also learn to communicate this knowledge to suppliers, manufacturers, and others in their industry.

The biggest insight out of the workshops is that people get the opportunity to talk to someone and understand the capabilities of technology from all those different aspects. It's not just one siloed programming aspect, but it's like a conversation I just had when I was running a workshop earlier this morning. What are all the priorities of the business? What's the technology available? 

So the biggest takeaway from the workshops is accessibility to knowledge, but then also knowing how to communicate what they learn to suppliers or manufacturers and to other people that might be in their industry. 

 
What’s the typical demographic of the students attending your workshops?

It's so wide! We have retirees like Sue from Kilmaille Knits, university staff looking to apply the technology in their teaching, recent graduates, and industrial designers. Knitting is so applicable; it crosses many industries and markets, which attracts a broad demographic.

 
Is there like a pivotal moment in your life that led you to hone in a career in the knitting industry?

At first, it was a slow evolution. Coming from a heritage of Maltese women who sewed and knitted for their families, my interest was born there. But then, I did a science degree and realised that I actually wanted to do something more creative. When I was awarded the George Alexander Fellowship in 2010, I started to do a little bit of consulting here and there from the knowledge I gained from the fellowship which subsequently is when I realised that people really don't have access to this information. 

And honestly, 15 years later, besides a little bit more growth, I still see how big that need is to understand it. 

 
Have there been any key projects that you've worked on that you really enjoyed over the past 15 years? 

Look, there's been many, and there've been quite a wide variety. A long time ago, I made a knitted costume for a theatre company, Back to Back theatre, that engages with disabilities on stage. Having to understand the accessibility issues and how I designed and made that costume prompted me to think about factors I haven’t had to consider before such as mobility restrictions, the need for quick changing times. That was a really soul nourishing project.

Another interesting project was working on a medical device and considering the de-medicalisation of the device through the application of knit. So re-think how something that was often quite cold and not very aesthetically appealing to making something that was more comfortable, looked nice and people wanted to wear. On top of that, addressing factors such as material shortages, for example, silicon that helped with the comfort factor 

Those two projects are probably my favourites even though there's heaps more.

 
Apart from working on the e-learning courses and with other companies or designers is there anything you want to work on personally?

I definitely want to develop more of our own products to showcase knitting technology's capabilities, especially in terms of accessibility. For example, designing knitted products for those without a sense of smell or sight. I’d also like to create personalised wheelchair covers.

In terms of our brand KNOKNO, being able to produce high-quality, long-lasting products that customers want to buy time and time again. Not just jumpers and scarves but objects and other innovations.

Lastly, how has the field of industrial knitting changed in Australia or globally over the past decade or so? And where do you see it heading?

I think Nike’s Flyknit really changed the game globally, showing everyone the benefits of a lighter, more comfortable shoe through knit. My PhD research shows sustainability is becoming more important as labor costs rise and skilled workers diminish. WholeGarment technology is gaining traction, but designers often don't understand how to work with it fully. In Australia, there’s been a resurgence in local production post-COVID. Globally, people want that connection to technology again, and that’s what we’re trying to achieve at Knovus through online learning. We're creating an ecosystem where people can step in and out of as their careers progress. Knit is becoming more prominent as people see it in the market, with designers like Patricia Urquiola doing interesting things with knit in furniture.

 
Are there any particular designers or products that you've seen that have been knitted that you found interesting recently? 

The knitted satellite dish by CarbSar was really fascinating, showcasing how knit can minimize material and reduce fuel consumption. Apple’s VR headset with the knitted strap and Issey Miyake’s beautiful, simple concepts are other great examples. 

Knit doesn't have to be complicated to be amazing!