Juniper Moon Farm Waistcoat Knitting Pattern

Juniper Moon Farm Carissa Bolero by Melissa Leapman

What is Being Made

The Carissa is a knitted bolero from the Aspen Collection, designed by Melissa Leapman. This garment is a fitted waistcoat-style piece featuring a structured back with decorative collar and lapels. The bolero is available in six sizes ranging from Small through 3X-Large, with finished shoulder widths from 13¾ inches (35cm) to 19 inches (48.5cm) and back lengths from 21¼ inches (54cm) to 25¼ inches (64cm). The ribbed collar and lapels add a refined finishing detail, with widths ranging from 8¾ inches (22cm) to 11¾ inches (30cm) depending on size.

Construction Techniques

The Carissa bolero employs a thoughtful combination of knitting techniques to create its elegant silhouette. The garment is worked flat and from the bottom up, beginning with the back piece. This bottom-up construction allows for straightforward shaping and measurement as the piece grows. Once the back is complete, the design transitions to working in the round for the collar and lapels section. The armholes are created using a clever picking-up technique: stitches are picked up around the edges of the completed back, and separate stitches are cast on to create two distinct armhole openings, eliminating the need for traditional seaming in these areas. When the ribbed collar and lapels become too crowded on the working needle, knitters transition to longer circular needles to accommodate the increasing stitch count comfortably.

Stitches and Lace Patterning

The Carissa features a sophisticated lace motif as its primary stitch pattern, adding visual interest and an openwork quality to the garment. The lace pattern begins with 37 stitches, increases to 45 stitches, and decreases to 41 stitches across its repeat. The pattern is constructed using fundamental lace stitches including yarn overs (yo), knit two together decreases (k2tog), slip-slip-knit decreases (ssk), and a centered double decrease (CDD). The pattern also incorporates make-one increases (M1) for shaping. All wrong-side rows are purled, which is standard for lace patterns worked flat. The lace motif is provided in both written row-by-row format and as charted instructions, accommodating different knitter preferences and working styles.

Materials: Yarn, Needles, and Notions

The Carissa is designed to be knitted with Juniper Moon Farm LA PAMPA yarn in color 114 Rose. Yardage requirements vary by size, ranging from 4 skeins for the Small size to 7 skeins for the largest sizes (1X-Large, 2X-Large, and 3X-Large), with each skein weighing 100 grams. The pattern calls for US 10½ (6.5mm) needles throughout. Multiple circular needle lengths are required to accommodate the different stages of construction: a 16-inch (40cm) circular needle for the initial collar and lapel work, a 24-inch (60cm) circular needle for subsequent rounds, a 32-inch (80cm) circular needle for continued shaping, and a 40-inch (100cm) circular needle for the widest sections. Straight needles or shorter circular needles may be used for the flat back section. All needles should be sized to achieve the gauge specified in the pattern.

Seamless and Elegant Design

The seamless construction of the Carissa bolero contributes to its polished, professional appearance. By picking up stitches and working the collar and lapels in the round, the design eliminates the need for seaming these visible areas, resulting in clean, invisible transitions. This technique-forward approach demonstrates intermediate to advanced knitting skills and rewards careful attention to stitch pickup and tension management.