Juniper Moon Farm Hat Knitting Pattern

Juniper Moon Farm Zola Kid Sweater and Hat

What Is Being Made

The Zola is a coordinating set from the Rainbow Summer Collection, consisting of a kid sweater and matching hat designed by Ursula McGrath. The sweater is sized to fit children ages 2–3 through 10–11 years, with chest measurements ranging from 22 to 30 inches (56 to 76 centimeters). The hat is available in three sizes to complement the sweater collection.

Knitting Techniques

Both the sweater and hat are constructed using bottom-up seamed construction, meaning pieces are knitted from the lower edge upward and then sewn together. The garments are worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, allowing for the creation of distinct pattern sections. Striped colorwork is a defining feature, created by alternating yarn colors across rows to build visual interest and coordinate the sweater and hat as a set.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used throughout the Zola sweater and hat is stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric ideal for children's garments. The stripe pattern is established through color changes worked in stockinette, with the pattern repeating from row 1 onward. Shaping techniques include casting off (binding off) at armholes and shoulders to create garment structure, and decreasing at strategic points to shape the neckline and sleeve caps. The pattern uses standard abbreviations including decreasing (dec), continuing (cont), and increasing (inc) to guide shaping throughout.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The sweater is knitted using Juniper Moon Farm Zooey Stripes yarn in color 207 Hydrangea, requiring 3 to 4 skeins of 100 grams each depending on the child's size. The matching hat uses 1 skein of the same yarn. Two pairs of knitting needles are required: US 3 (3.25mm) needles for ribbed edges and US 5 (3.75mm) needles for the main fabric. The gauge is 22 stitches and 30 rows over a 4-inch (10-centimeter) square in stockinette stitch using the US 5 needles, ensuring proper fit across all sizes.

Sweater Finished Measurements

• Width: 24 to 32 inches (61 to 81 centimeters)
• Length: 14 to 20 inches (35 to 51 centimeters)
• Sleeve length: 9 to 15 inches (23 to 38 centimeters)

Hat Finished Measurements

• Width: 14 to 18 inches (36 to 46 centimeters)

Construction Details

The sweater back begins with a cast-on and is worked in the established stripe pattern until the back reaches the required length. Armholes are shaped by casting off 6 stitches at the beginning of two rows, followed by single decreases at each end over 4 rows to create a fitted armhole. The front is worked identically to the back until it measures significantly shorter, at which point the center stitches are cast off for the neckline. Shoulder shaping is completed through a series of cast-offs and decreases worked over multiple rows. The hat follows a similar construction approach with appropriate sizing for a child's head.