Juniper Moon Farm Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Charlotte Jacket by Juniper Moon Farm

What Is Being Made

The Charlotte jacket is a classic cardigan design from the Tropical Summer Collection by Juniper Moon Farm, created by designer Ursula O'Connor. This garment is a fitted cardigan jacket available in four sizes ranging from Small to X-Large, with finished bust measurements from 32-34 inches up to 38-40 inches. The jacket features a structured silhouette with a length of 23 to 26 inches depending on size, making it suitable for layering during warmer months. The design includes set-in sleeves with a seam length of 17 to 18.5 inches and is finished with three buttons for closure.

Techniques Used

The Charlotte jacket is constructed using bottom-up knitting methodology, meaning the garment is worked from the lower edge upward. The piece is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for traditional row-by-row construction. The finished garment features seamed construction, with individual pieces knitted separately and then joined together. This approach provides excellent shaping control and allows for precise armhole and shoulder shaping through strategic increases and decreases.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern for the Charlotte jacket is garter stitch, which creates a classic, textured fabric with horizontal ridges. Garter stitch is worked by knitting every row, producing a reversible, durable fabric that is ideal for structured garments like cardigans. The pattern also incorporates Double Moss stitch (abbreviated as Db.ms.st.), a decorative stitch pattern that alternates knit and purl stitches in a specific sequence across four rows to create a subtle, textured surface. This stitch variation adds visual interest and depth to the design while maintaining the fabric's structural integrity.

Materials and Gauge

The Charlotte jacket requires Juniper Moon Farm Cumulus Dappled yarn in the colorway Caribbean Lily (color 115). Yarn quantities vary by size: Small requires 3 hanks, Medium and Large each require 4 hanks, and X-Large requires 5 hanks, with each hank weighing 100 grams. The recommended needles are US 8/5mm for ribbing or edging and US 9/5.5mm for the main fabric. The working gauge is 15 stitches by 28 rows over a 4-inch (10-centimeter) square when working in garter stitch using the US 9/5.5mm needles. Three buttons are required to complete the cardigan closure.

Construction Details

The garment is constructed in separate pieces beginning with the back panel, which is cast on and worked in garter stitch to the armhole depth. Armhole shaping is achieved by casting off stitches at the beginning of rows followed by decreasing one stitch at each end over several rows. Shoulder shaping involves strategic cast-offs to create the proper slope. The left and right fronts are worked separately with similar shaping techniques, allowing for button placement and proper front closure alignment. All pieces are subsequently seamed together to create the finished jacket.