Juniper Moon Farm Hat Knitting Pattern

Juniper Moon Farm Cherry Hat by Lynette Meek

What is Being Made

The Cherry hat is a classic, fitted knit hat from the Juniper Moon Farm Vintage Collection. This seamless design features elegant cable and lace patterning throughout, with a relaxed, comfortable fit suitable for everyday wear. The hat is available in two sizes: Small/Medium with a finished circumference of 19 inches (48cm) and Medium/Large with a circumference of 23 inches (58.5cm). Both sizes reach a relaxed height of approximately 8 to 8½ inches (20 to 21.5cm) after blocking.

Techniques Used

The Cherry hat is constructed using several key knitting techniques that create both structure and visual interest:

• Worked in the Round: The hat is knitted seamlessly using circular needles and double-pointed needles, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a smooth, continuous fabric.
• Bottom-Up Construction: The hat begins at the brim and is worked upward toward the crown, allowing knitters to try on the hat as they progress and adjust fit as needed.
• Cable Knitting: Decorative cable stitches are incorporated throughout the pattern using a cable needle, creating twisted, rope-like textural elements that add depth and visual appeal to the design.
• Lace Details: Yarn-over decreases (yo, p2tog) are used to create delicate eyelet lace sections that provide breathability and an elegant aesthetic contrast to the cables.
• Crown Shaping: Strategic decreases are worked in the crown section to gradually reduce stitches and create a fitted, tapered top.

Stitches Used

The Cherry hat pattern employs a variety of fundamental and decorative stitches to achieve its finished appearance:

• Knit and Purl Stitches: The foundational stitches that create the base fabric and form the stockinette stitch sections.
• Yarn Overs (yo): Used to create intentional holes in the fabric, forming the lace pattern elements and adding visual lightness to the design.
• Purl Two Together (p2tog): A left-leaning decrease that pairs with yarn overs to create the lace motif and reduce stitch counts during crown shaping.
• Right Purl Cross (RPC): A cable cross stitch where stitches are slipped to a cable needle, held at the back of the work, and then crossed with knit and purl stitches to create the twisted cable effect.
• Left Purl Cross (LPC): The mirror image of the right purl cross, held at the front of the work to create balanced cable crossings throughout the pattern.
• Purl Two Together Through Back Loop (p2tog tbl): A right-leaning decrease used during crown shaping for a refined finish.

Materials

The Cherry hat is designed to be knitted with specific yarn and needle specifications to achieve the intended gauge and finished fabric characteristics:

• Yarn: Juniper Moon Farm Mallow in color 104 Pearl. The Small/Medium size requires 1 skein of 75 grams, while the Medium/Large size requires 2 skeins of 75 grams each. The Mallow yarn is chosen for its ability to showcase the cable and lace details while providing a soft, wearable fabric.
• Needles: The pattern calls for US 6 (4mm) circular needles measuring 16 inches (40cm) long for the ribbed cuff section, and US 8 (5mm) circular needles of the same length for the main body. US 8 (5mm) double-pointed needles are used for the crown shaping when the stitch count becomes too small for circular needles. A cable needle is required for executing the cable crosses.
• Notions: Stitch markers are essential for tracking pattern repeats and the beginning of round, ensuring accurate stitch placement throughout the project.

Gauge and Construction Notes

The pattern is designed to achieve a gauge of 19 stitches and 29 rows over 4 inches (10cm) when worked in pattern with US 8 (5mm) needles and measured after blocking in a relaxed state. Checking gauge before beginning is strongly recommended to ensure the finished hat achieves the correct circumference and drape. The pattern is repeated 5 times for the Small/Medium size and 6