Juniper Moon Farm Vera Marguerite Hat Knitting Pattern

Vera Marguerite Fair Isle Tam and Mittens by Pamela Wynne Herriott

What Is Being Made

The Vera Marguerite is a coordinated set consisting of a classic Fair Isle tam (a traditional Scottish-style hat) paired with matching mittens. The tam features a seamless construction with a band circumference of up to 19½ inches, while the mittens are available in three sizes: Adult Small, Medium, and Large, with hand circumferences ranging from 7 to 9.25 inches.

Techniques Used

This project showcases several advanced knitting techniques that work together to create a sophisticated finished piece:

• Stranded colorwork: Panels of stranded colorwork create gradual transitions between long color runs, producing an ombre effect throughout the design
• Fair Isle patterning: The tam employs traditional Fair Isle methodology where each row uses only two colors, making the technique more approachable than it appears
• Seamless construction: Both the tam and mittens are worked seamlessly in the round, eliminating the need for seaming
• Worked in the round: Using circular needles and double-pointed needles, the pieces are constructed continuously without turning
• Bottom-up construction: The tam begins with a cast-on band and builds upward, while the mittens are similarly constructed from the cuff upward

Stitches Used

The pattern employs fundamental knitting stitches combined with colorwork techniques:

• Knit stitch: The primary stitch used throughout both pieces
• Make one increase (m1): Used for shaping the mittens across the three size options
• Charted pattern work: Both the tam and mittens follow detailed stitch charts that guide the colorwork placement and shaping increases

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: The project uses Juniper Moon Farm Herriot yarn, a premium fiber choice. Five coordinating colors are specified: C1 Heartwood (#02), C2 Talc (#01), C3 Travertine (#09), C4 River Birch (#06), and C5 Granite (#10). One hank of each color is required for the complete set.

Needles and Notions: The tam is worked using US size 4 (3.5mm) 16-inch circular needles for the main fabric and US size 3 (3.25mm) circular needles for the band ribbing. The mittens require US size 2, 3, or 4 double-pointed needles (2.75mm, 3.25mm, or 3.5mm respectively) depending on the size being made. Additional notions include stitch markers, waste yarn, and a tapestry needle for finishing.

Gauge and Sizing Information

The tam is worked to a gauge of 24 stitches and 30 rounds over 4 inches in charted pattern using the larger needle. The mittens have size-specific gauges: 32 stitches and 36 rounds (size small), 28 stitches and 32 rounds (size medium), or 24 stitches and 28 rounds (size large) over 4 inches in charted pattern. Knitters are advised to adjust needle size as necessary to obtain the correct gauge for their desired fit.

Design Features

The mittens expand one of the tam's motifs into a modern tapestry pattern, creating visual cohesion between the two pieces. The band chart provides the foundation for the tam's construction, with the 4-stitch repeat working 29 times around the circumference. The combination of stranded colorwork and seamless construction creates a polished, professional-looking finished set suitable for gift-giving or personal wear.