Juniper Moon Farm Amar Skirt Knitting Pattern

Juniper Moon Farm Amar Skirt - The Summer Collection

Project Overview

The Amar skirt is a top-down seamless knit design created by Mari Chiba for Juniper Moon Farm's Summer Collection. This versatile skirt is worked entirely in the round using circular needles, making it an accessible project for knitters seeking a garment that transitions effortlessly from daytime to evening wear. The design features a distinctive flirty ruffle at the hem, adding movement and visual interest to the finished piece.

What Is Being Made

The Amar is a fitted waist skirt available in seven sizes ranging from XS to 3X, with a finished waist measurement from 23¼ inches to 44¼ inches and a consistent length of 25 inches. The skirt is designed to sit comfortably at the natural waist with the addition of elastic for secure wear. The garment includes a decorative ruffle section at the hem that creates a flirty, feminine silhouette suitable for warm weather styling.

Techniques Used

Seamless construction in the round: The Amar is worked seamlessly from the top down using circular needles, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a smooth, continuous fabric. This technique allows knitters to try on the garment as they work and adjust the length as needed.

Top-down construction: Beginning at the waistband and working downward toward the hem, this method provides flexibility in final length adjustments and allows for easy modifications to fit.

Ruffle detail: The hem features a decorative ruffle created through strategic increases (kfb—knit into front and back of each stitch) that double the stitch count, followed by additional rows of stockinette stitch to create the flared ruffle effect.

Elastic waistband: The waist is finished with elastic sewn into place, providing comfortable wear and a secure fit without the need for a drawstring.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch (St st): The primary stitch throughout the body and ruffle of the skirt, creating a smooth, classic knit fabric
• Knit into front and back (kfb): Used across an entire round to double the stitch count for the ruffle, creating the increase necessary for the flared hem
• Knit two together (k2tog): A decrease stitch used for shaping the skirt
• Make one increase (M1L and M1R): Left-leaning and right-leaning increases used for gradual shaping throughout the skirt body
• Provisional cast-on: Used at the waistband to create a flexible edge that allows for elastic insertion

Materials and Gauge

Yarn: The Amar is knit using Juniper Moon Farm Zooey yarn. The main color (MC) requires 3 to 5 balls depending on size, with the pattern shown in color #10 Anise. A contrasting color (CC) of 1 ball in color #1 Sea Salt is used for the ruffle detail. Zooey is a lightweight yarn suitable for summer garments, providing drape and breathability.

Needles: The pattern calls for two US 3 (3.25 mm) circular needles measuring 24 inches, used for the waistband ribbing or edge work, and one US 4 (3.5 mm) circular needle of the same length for the main body. Circular needles allow for seamless in-the-round knitting and accommodate the large stitch counts required for the skirt.

Gauge: The pattern is worked to a gauge of 22 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch in the round on the larger needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements.

Additional notions: The pattern requires a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, scrap yarn for provisional cast-on, elastic approximately 1 inch wide cut to the waist circumference plus 1 inch for overlap, and a sewing needle with thread for attaching the elastic.

Pattern Characteristics

The Amar skirt is described as "a breeze to knit," indicating it is suitable for intermediate knitters and those new to garment construction. The seamless in-the-round method eliminates seaming steps, and the straightforward stitch pattern focuses primarily on stockinette stitch with targeted shaping increases. The flirty ruffle created