Juniper Moon Farm Wrap Knitting Pattern

Theresa Mosaic Shawl by Melissa Leapman

What Is Being Made

The Theresa is a rectangular mosaic shawl from the Pasadena Collection by Juniper Moon Farm. This elegant wrap measures approximately 16 x 64 inches (40.5 x 162.5 centimeters) when blocked, making it a versatile accessory suitable for layering or draping. The design features a sophisticated mosaic pattern created through strategic color work and slip stitch techniques, combining two complementary colorways for visual depth and texture.

Techniques Used

This shawl is worked flat as a seamless rectangle, meaning it is constructed in one continuous piece without seaming. The primary construction technique involves working the mosaic pattern across the width and length of the wrap. After the main body is completed, edging is worked on all four sides using reverse stockinette stitch, which is picked up and knitted directly from the edges of the finished rectangle. This finishing method creates neat, professional borders that frame the mosaic pattern beautifully.

The design incorporates color work through slip stitches, a technique that creates intricate patterns without the complexity of traditional stranded colorwork. Slip stitches are worked purlwise with yarn held to the wrong side, allowing colors to shift and create the mosaic effect across rows. The pattern is enhanced by working stripes of color that build the overall design composition.

Stitches Used

• Slip Stitch Pattern: The primary stitch pattern is a slip stitch mosaic pattern worked over a multiple of 8 stitches plus 2. This pattern is charted and repeated throughout the body of the shawl, creating the distinctive mosaic appearance.
• Reverse Stockinette Stitch: Used for the edging on all four sides. Reverse stockinette is created by purling on right-side rows and knitting on wrong-side rows, producing a smooth, textured finish.
• Slip 1 Purlwise: Stitches are slipped purlwise with yarn held to the wrong side, a fundamental technique in mosaic knitting that allows color changes without carrying yarn across the back.
• Stockinette Variations: Standard knit and purl stitches form the foundation of both the mosaic pattern and the edging sections.

Materials

This project requires Juniper Moon Farm Cumulus yarn in two distinct colorways. Color A is Cumulus in Cornflower (color 41), with 15 hanks of 100 grams each. Color B is Cumulus Dappled in Lily By The Sea (color 109), with 3 hanks of 100 grams each. The Cumulus yarn is a luxurious fiber choice that provides excellent stitch definition for mosaic work.

Construction requires a US 8/5mm circular needle measuring 32 inches (80 centimeters) in length, or the size needed to obtain proper gauge. The circular needle accommodates the width of the wrap and allows for comfortable working of the flat rectangle.

The recommended gauge is 26 stitches and 50 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in the Slip Stitch Pattern when blocked. The pattern notes that achieving exact gauge is not critical to the success of this project, offering flexibility for knitters while maintaining the intended finished dimensions.

Construction Overview

The Theresa begins with casting on 106 stitches using color A. The slip stitch mosaic pattern is then worked repeatedly until the piece reaches approximately 64 inches in length, ending after a wrong-side row worked with color A. Once the main body is complete, edging is carefully picked up and worked on all four sides using reverse stockinette stitch, with different pickup ratios for the short and long edges to ensure even proportions. The finished piece is then blocked to the specified measurements for professional results.