*JO USES THEY/THEM PRONOUNS*

A crocheter creates their iconic outfits after teaching themselves on YouTube - and spent 1,250 hours making a Marie Antoinette inspired gown.

Jo Luttazi, 25, picked up the hobby through Girl Scouts and carried on learning through YouTube.

They started making hats and scarves before starting to make characters costumes within a year.

Now they crochet their own costumes for cosplay events - including Marie Antoinette, Chappell Roan's Boston Calling music festival and Zagreus - a Greek God.

They can spend up to 1,250 hours and two years creating the outfits and Jo is now starting to teach others her skills.

Jo, a self-employed crochet designer, living in Calgary, Canada, said:

"I was 11 when I started to crochet and started to learn about cosplay."

"I picked up the hobby because I was in the Girls Scouts and we had the task of making hospital supplies for children's hospitals."

"Somebody's grandmother came in and taught us how to crochet so that we could make baby blankets."

"I continued using YouTube to teach myself how to crochet and made four baby blankets for the project."

"I started making hats and scarves and within a year I was starting to make stuff based on TV shows and character costumes."

Now Jo makes outfits primarily to wear and for cosplay events.

Jo said: "Before that, I thought you were only allowed to dress up for Halloween. "

"I thought now I can dress up whenever I like and I was so in love with that concept."

"I saw everybody dressed in costumes [at cosplay] and it was where I was inspired to make my own."

"I love that I lived in an area that had these events, I went to five every year."

"There was definitely an in-person community for the nerdy scene in the D.C. area."

Jo grew up in Virginia, US, before moving to Calgary, Canada, for art school in 2016.

They said: "I had access to art studios, and have since recreated these in my grandmother's garage."

"Art school didn't teach me crochet techniques - I am full self taught, so everything I learn I have taught myself."

Jo spent three years living in Canada but was hit by a car in 2019, forcing them to move back home.

She said: "My biggest challenge came after the accident, I was unable to use my hands and my whole body started to deteriorate."

"I had to drop out of school and move back home."

After undergoing a couple of years of physical therapy, Jo began to crochet again while taking the necessary precautions.

They said: "A big part of my crochet practice is the ergonomics behind it."

"I make sure I am doing lots of stretches, taking breaks and yoga sessions during crochet projects."

"I can't really work as it causes me pain, so crochet is something nice for me to do from home."

Jo lives at home in Virginia with her mother, Yasmeen, who is a full-time caregiver to her grandmother.

They said: "My first major project after the accident was the Mary Antoinette costume."

"I worked on and off on it over the course of two years, it's definitely my favourite piece."

Jo's designs have recently gained popularity on TikTok, with many commenters asking for tutorials and commissions.

Jo had been taking a small amount of commissions from family and friends, but wants to venture out into teaching.

They said: "I really love teaching people to crochet and I want to sell written patterns."

"I taught a few Girl Scouts which felt like a big full-circle moment."

The name of Jo's brand, Scarlet Stitch Studios, derives from the name of a big project they worked on in 2014.

Jo said: "I spent a week making my first fully crochet costume, Scarlet Witch."

"I wore it to an event called Awesome Con and somebody called me 'the scarlet stitch'."

Jo often spends weeks on big projects, with an estimated 1,250 hours on the Mary Antoinette costume.

Jo said: "It has a lot of hand beading. I always add more to it whenever I take it to a new event."

"To keep costs down, I try to thrift as much of my materials as I can. "

"I will buy baby blankets for $3 and turn it into a sweater or part of a bigger piece."

"I have also been gifted lots of materials from family and friends, but materials still remain expensive."

Jo is hoping to venture out into teaching crocheting and selling patterns as their health conditions improves.

You can visit their website here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/scarletstitchstudios