Juniper Moon Farm Coat Knitting Pattern

Ava Jacket by Juniper Moon Farm

What is Being Made

The Ava Jacket is a women's cardigan-style jacket from the Winter Breeze Collection, designed by Ursula O'Connor. This knitted garment is available in four sizes ranging from Small to X-Large, with finished bust widths from 38 to 44 inches (96 to 112 cm). The jacket features a classic button-front closure with a back length measuring between 16 and 19 inches (40 to 48 cm) depending on size, making it an ideal layering piece for transitional weather.

Techniques Used

The Ava Jacket is constructed using several key knitting techniques that create both structure and visual interest:

• Bottom-up construction: The garment is worked from the lower edge upward, beginning with cast-on stitches at the hem
• Worked flat: All pieces are knitted on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for easier shaping and pattern work
• Seamed assembly: Individual pieces (back, fronts, and sleeves) are knitted separately and then sewn together to create the finished jacket
• Increases and shaping: The pattern incorporates M1K (make one knitwise) increases to shape the front panels and armhole decreases to create proper fit at the shoulders
• Buttonhole placement: A functional buttonhole is worked into the right front using yarn forward (yfwd) and knit two together (K2tog) decreases

Stitches Used

The Ava Jacket employs a limited but effective stitch palette:

• Garter stitch: The primary stitch used for the back and main body sections, created by knitting every row. This stitch produces a textured, reversible fabric with excellent drape and durability
• Stockinette stitch variation: The right front features a mixed pattern combining knit and purl stitches in alternating rows, creating visual texture while maintaining the jacket's structure
• Purl rows: Strategic purl rows are incorporated into the front pattern to add visual interest and definition

Materials and Tools

The Ava Jacket requires specific materials to achieve the intended finished measurements and gauge:

• Yarn: Juniper Moon Farm Santa Cruz in color 116 Saffron, a worsted-weight yarn requiring 5 to 7 hanks of 100 grams each depending on size (approximately 500 to 700 grams total)
• Needles: US size 6 (4mm) needles for ribbing or edging, and US size 8 (5mm) needles for the main fabric
• Notions: Two buttons for the front closure
• Gauge: 17 stitches and 32 rows over a 4-inch (10 cm) square in garter stitch using US size 8 (5mm) needles

Construction Details

The Ava Jacket follows a traditional seamed construction method. The back panel is cast on with 80 to 95 stitches depending on size and worked in garter stitch until reaching approximately 8.5 to 10 inches (21 to 25 cm) in length. Armhole shaping is accomplished by casting off 4 stitches at the beginning of two consecutive rows, followed by single-stitch decreases at each end over 5 rows, resulting in 62 to 77 remaining stitches. The right front is knitted horizontally and features a textured stitch pattern combining knit and purl rows. The pattern includes a functional buttonhole worked near the beginning of the right front piece using yarn forward and knit two together techniques. Sleeve seams measure between 17 and 18.5 inches (43 to 47 cm) depending on size.