Fallkirk Hat & Mittens in Juniper Moon Farm Findley DK and Findley DK Dappled

Fallkirk Hat & Mittens in Juniper Moon Farm Findley DK

Project Overview

The Fallkirk Collection features a coordinated set of a knitted hat and mittens designed by Pamela Wynne. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a complete winter accessory set using Juniper Moon Farm yarns in complementary colorways. Both garments showcase a distinctive slip stitch pattern that creates visual texture and depth through strategic color changes.

Hat Details

The Fallkirk hat is available in three adult sizes: Small, Medium, and Large. The brim circumference measures 16 (18, 20) inches or 40.5 (45.5, 51) centimeters, designed to fit head sizes up to 19 (21, 23) inches or 48 (53.5, 58.5) centimeters. The finished height is 9½ inches (24 centimeters), creating a classic proportioned winter hat.

Mittens Details

The mittens are offered in two adult sizes: Small and Large. The palm circumference measures 6½ (8) inches or 17 (21) centimeters, with a hand length of 7 (8) inches or 18 (20.5) centimeters. The mittens are constructed to coordinate seamlessly with the hat design.

Knitting Techniques

Both the hat and mittens are worked in the round using circular needles and double-pointed needles, a fundamental technique for creating seamless, tubular knitted garments. The hat construction begins with a tubular or German Twisted cast-on method, which creates a professional, finished edge ideal for ribbed cuffs. The mittens feature a similar in-the-round construction with careful shaping for the thumb gusset, which is worked using waste yarn and later picked up and integrated into the main mitten body.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch pattern used throughout both garments is the Slip Stitch Pattern, worked in the round over a multiple of 5 stitches. This seven-round repeat creates visual interest through strategic color changes:

• Rounds 1, 2, 4, and 6: Knit with main color
• Rounds 3, 5, and 7: Knit 4 stitches, slip 1 stitch, repeating this sequence to the end of the round, using contrast color

The slip stitch technique involves passing yarn over unworked stitches, creating a textured surface that appears more complex than the simple knit stitches that form its foundation. This pattern is worked after blocking to achieve a gauge of 24 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters). Additional stitch techniques referenced in the pattern include Stockinette stitch for foundational sections, knit two together (k2tog) and slip, slip, knit (ssk) decreases for shaping, and increases for thumb and other shaping requirements.

Yarn and Materials

The Fallkirk Collection is designed to be worked in Juniper Moon Farm Findley DK, a double-knit weight yarn. The color palette features two coordinating yarns:

• Main Color (MC): Juniper Moon Farm Findley DK in color #04 Graphite (2 balls for hat, 2 balls for mittens)
• Contrast Color (CC): Juniper Moon Farm Findley DK Dappled in color #202 Sheer Bliss (1 hank for hat, 1 hank for mittens)

The Dappled yarn in the contrast color adds visual complexity and depth to the slip stitch pattern, creating a sophisticated colorwork effect without the complexity of traditional stranded colorwork techniques.

Needles Required

For the hat, the pattern requires US 5 (3.75mm) needles in a 16-inch (40-centimeter) circular needle format plus a set of 5 double-pointed needles for the crown shaping, along with US 4 (3.5mm) needles one size smaller for the ribbed cuff. The mittens require US 5 (3.75mm) double-pointed needles for the main fabric and US 4 (3.5mm) double-pointed needles for the ribbed cuff. Needle selection is critical to achieving the specified gauge of 24 stitches and 32 rows per 4 inches after blocking.

Construction