Juniper Moon Farm Mittens Knitting Pattern

Juniper Moon Farm Bumbles Hat & Mitts Pattern Summary

Project Overview

The Bumbles Hat & Mitts is a coordinating set design by Lynette Meek, part of The Circus Collection from Juniper Moon Farm. This downloadable knitting pattern features a hat and matching mittens worked seamlessly in the round using stranded colorwork techniques. The set showcases a distinctive basketweave stitch detail combined with vibrant hand-painted yarns for a playful, textured finish.

Hat Construction

The hat is knitted from the bottom up in the round, beginning with a basketweave cuff worked on smaller needles before transitioning to the main body. The design is available in three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large, with finished circumferences of 20, 22½, and 25 inches (51, 57, and 63.5 centimeters) respectively. The crown is shaped using decreases worked on circular needles and double-pointed needles as the stitch count diminishes.

Mittens Construction

The mittens follow a similar construction method, worked seamlessly in the round from cuff to fingertips. Two size options are provided: Small/Medium and Medium/Large, with finished circumferences of 7 and 8 inches (18 and 20.5 centimeters) and lengths of 9 and 10 inches (23 and 25.5 centimeters). Like the hat, the mittens feature a basketweave cuff detail before the body begins. Thumb insertions are created using waste yarn, allowing for a clean, seamless integration.

Techniques Used

• Bottom-Up Construction: Both the hat and mittens are knitted from the cuff upward, allowing for easy length adjustments and a natural progression of shaping.
• Seamless, Worked in the Round: The entire projects are constructed circularly without seaming, creating a polished, professional finish with no visible joins.
• Stranded Colorwork: The pattern incorporates stranded knitting techniques, where two colors are carried across the fabric to create the basketweave motif and other design elements. This traditional Fair Isle–style technique adds visual interest and texture.
• Basketweave Stitch Detail: Both the hat and mittens begin with a basketweave cuff, a textured stitch pattern that provides visual contrast and helps the cuffs maintain their shape.

Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern uses fundamental knitting stitches including knit and purl, combined with shaping techniques such as k2tog (knit two together), ssk (slip, slip, knit), and M1 (make one) increases. Stitch markers are essential for tracking the beginning of rounds and pattern repeats throughout the project.

Yarn and Materials

Yarn Specifications: The pattern calls for Juniper Moon Farm PATAGONIA in color 102 Smoked (1 x 100g skein) and Juniper Moon Farm PATAGONIA HAND PAINTS in color 1001 Mojave (1 x 100g skein). The combination of solid and hand-painted yarns creates dynamic color variation and visual depth in the finished pieces.

Needles: The hat requires US 2½ (3mm) circular needles measuring 16 inches (40 centimeters) for the basketweave cuff, and US 4 (3.5mm) circular needles for the body and crown shaping, with US 4 (3.5mm) double-pointed needles for the final crown decreases. The mittens use US 2 (2.75mm) double-pointed needles for the basketweave cuff and US 3 (3.25mm) double-pointed needles for the body.

Additional Notions: Smooth waste yarn is used for thumb insertions in the mittens, stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and round beginnings, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge Information

Accurate gauge is critical for proper fit. The hat gauge is 26 stitches over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stranded pattern. The mittens gauge is 28 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stranded pattern. Checking gauge before beginning ensures the finished pieces will match the intended measurements.

Design Features

The Bumbles Hat & Mitts pattern emphasizes coordinated accessory design with complementary construction methods. The basketweave detail adds textural interest and visual appeal, while the stranded colorwork