Juniper Moon Farm Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Juniper Moon Farm Alana Cardigan

Project Overview

The Alana Cardigan is a sophisticated knit design from the Berkshires Collection, created by designer Melissa Leapman. This garment is a classic cardigan featuring refined construction techniques and elegant stitch details. The cardigan is available in six sizes ranging from Small to 3X-Large, with a finished bust circumference from 35½ inches to 55½ inches and a consistent length of 29 inches.

What Is Being Made

This is a button-front cardigan with a structured, tailored fit. The design includes inset pockets on each front panel, adding both functionality and visual interest to the garment. The cardigan features eight buttons, each 1 inch in diameter, spaced along the front closure. The piece is designed to be worn as a versatile layering garment suitable for various occasions.

Construction Techniques

The Alana Cardigan employs a bottom-up construction method, meaning the knitter begins at the lower edge and works upward toward the shoulders and neckline. The cardigan is worked flat on straight needles in separate pieces—the back, two fronts, and sleeves are knitted individually and then seamed together upon completion. This modular approach allows for precise shaping and easier adjustments during the knitting process. The pattern includes selvedge stitches at each edge to facilitate neat seaming.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The primary stitch used throughout the cardigan is Stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric with a defined right side and textured wrong side. The pattern incorporates cable stitches as decorative elements, adding visual texture and sophistication to the design. Lace stitches are also featured, introducing openwork details that provide an elegant contrast to the solid Stockinette sections. The pattern utilizes several specialized knitting techniques including M1L and M1R (make one left and make one right) for invisible increases, ssk (slip, slip, knit) and ssp (slip, slip, purl) for matched decreases that maintain stitch definition.

Materials and Tools

The Alana Cardigan is designed to be worked in Juniper Moon Farm La Pampa yarn in the colorway 107 Rosewater. Yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 8 hanks for the smallest size to 12 hanks for the largest sizes, with each hank weighing 100 grams. The pattern calls for US 10½/6.5mm knitting needles or the size necessary to achieve proper gauge. Additional tools needed include stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, stitch holders or waste yarn for temporarily securing stitches, and eight buttons measuring 1 inch in diameter for the front closure.

Gauge and Finished Measurements

The pattern specifies a gauge of 12 stitches and 16 rows over 4 inches in Stockinette stitch when blocked. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements. The cardigan is designed with a fitted silhouette, with bust circumferences ranging from 35½ inches for the Small size to 55½ inches for the 3X-Large size. All sizes share a uniform length of 29 inches, measured at the center of the piece at the shortest section rather than along the side edges.