Juniper Moon Farm Jumper Knitting Pattern

Juniper Moon Farm Nellie: Knitted Striped Top and Sweater

What Is Being Made

The Nellie is a versatile knitted garment available in two versions: a fitted top and a full sweater. Designed by Ursula McGrath, this piece is part of the Rainbow Summer Collection and comes in multiple sizes ranging from children's sizes (2-3 years through 10-11 years) to adult sizes (S, M, L, XL). The garment features a classic construction with a back, front, and sleeves, offering options for both warm-weather layering and standalone wear depending on the version selected.

Techniques Used

The Nellie employs bottom-up construction, meaning the garment is knitted from the lower edge upward, allowing for easy adjustments and a natural fit progression. The pieces are worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, which means each section is completed as a flat panel and later seamed together to form the finished garment. This traditional approach provides excellent stitch definition and allows for precise shaping.

The most distinctive design element is the use of horizontal stripes throughout the garment. The striping pattern is created by alternating between two yarn colors (designated as A and B in the pattern instructions), with specific color placement rows that create visual interest and movement across the chest, body, and sleeves.

Stitches Used

The Nellie utilizes fundamental knitting stitches that create a smooth, refined fabric:

• Knit stitch (K) – Used on right-side rows to create the characteristic bumpy texture on the reverse side and smooth appearance on the front
• Purl stitch (P) – Used on wrong-side rows to build the stockinette stitch fabric, which is the foundation of this garment's clean, professional appearance

Together, the knit and purl stitches form stockinette stitch, a classic, versatile fabric that drapes beautifully and showcases color changes effectively. This stitch choice is ideal for displaying the striped colorwork that defines the Nellie's visual appeal.

Materials and Specifications

The Nellie is worked using US 5 (3.75mm) needles, which are appropriately sized for the yarn weight used. The pattern calls for Juniper Moon Farm Zooey yarn in at least two colors; the pattern specifically references Color 68 Moonstone as one of the primary colors (designated as A in the instructions).

Finished measurements vary by size to accommodate the full range of wearers. For children's sizes, the sweater width ranges from 24" to 30" (61cm to 76cm) with lengths from 13" to 17" (33cm to 43cm) and sleeve lengths from 9" to 15" (23cm to 38cm). For adult sizes, the sweater width ranges from 38" to 44" (96cm to 112cm) with lengths from 18" to 21" (45cm to 53cm) and sleeve lengths from 17" to 18½" (43cm to 47cm). The top version offers similar proportions with slightly different finished measurements, providing a tailored fit for each wearer.

Construction Details

The pattern begins with a garter stitch edge (created by knitting every row), which provides a stable, non-curling border. The body transitions into the main stockinette stitch fabric with the introduction of the striped colorwork pattern. Stripes are systematically placed with specific color sequences—for example, alternating sections of color A and color B are established at designated row intervals, creating a balanced, repeating pattern across the garment width.

The front and back pieces follow similar construction methods, with the front worked to a specific point before additional shaping or pattern repeats are introduced. The sleeves are worked separately and later seamed to the body, a method that allows for precise fit and professional finishing. The pattern includes clear row-by-row instructions for stripe placement, ensuring consistent colorwork across all pieces.