Mandevilla Hat/Boot Toppers/Fingerless Gloves in Juniper Moon Farm Tenzing

Mandevilla Hat, Boot Toppers, and Fingerless Gloves in Juniper Moon Farm Tenzing

What Is Being Made

This is a three-piece accessory set from The Azores Collection by Cassie Castillo, consisting of a fitted hat, elasticated boot toppers, and fingerless gloves. All pieces feature stranded colorwork with picot edges, creating a coordinated winter accessories collection. The hat and boot toppers are offered in two sizes (S and L), while the fingerless gloves are one-size-fits-all. This set is an ideal introduction to stranded knitting techniques, as the colorwork sections are small and manageable for knitters developing their skills in this method.

Techniques Used

The primary techniques employed throughout this collection include:

• Stranded colorwork: Small sections of two-color stranded knitting create the decorative pattern elements without overwhelming newer colorwork practitioners
• Picot edges: Decorative finished edges add a refined detail to each piece
• Circular knitting: All pieces are worked in the round from the bottom up, eliminating the need for seaming
• Increases and decreases: Shaping is achieved through strategic increases (m1 and kfb methods) and decreases (k2tog and p2tog)
• Elastic insertion: The boot toppers incorporate elastic threaded through the top edge to provide support and ensure the pieces stay in place during wear

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches combined with specialty stitch patterns:

• Knit and purl stitches: The foundation of all colorwork and textured sections
• Brick stitch: A textured stitch pattern worked over a multiple of 4 stitches, alternating knit and purl rows (K3, p1 for three rounds, then a full purl round) to create a brick-like appearance
• Vine Chart: A stranded colorwork pattern that incorporates the contrast colors (#15 Merlot and #18 Dark Green) against the main color base
• Make one (m1): An invisible increase worked by inserting the left needle under the strand between stitches and knitting into the back
• Knit front and back (kfb): An increase that creates a visible stitch
• Decreases: Both knit two together (k2tog) and purl two together (p2tog) are used for shaping

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: Juniper Moon Farm Tenzing is used throughout this collection. The main color (MC) is #16 Taupe, requiring 3 balls for size S or 4 balls for size L. Contrast color 1 (CC1) is #15 Merlot and contrast color 2 (CC2) is #18 Dark Green, each requiring 1 ball regardless of size.

Needles: The pattern calls for US 4 (3.5 mm) double-pointed needles and a 16-inch (40 cm) circular needle for the main fabric, with US 3 (3.25 mm) double-pointed needles and a 16-inch (40 cm) circular needle for ribbed or edging sections. Needle size may be adjusted to achieve the specified gauge.

Notions and Findings: Additional materials include a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, scrap yarn or a stitch holder for temporarily securing stitches, a sewing needle with matching thread for attaching elastic, and 24 to 28 inches (61 to 71 cm) of ¼-inch elastic depending on the boot topper size chosen.

Finished Measurements and Fit

Hat: Circumference of 20 inches (51 cm) for size S or 22 inches (56 cm) for size L, with a length of 7¾ inches (20 cm) for size S or 8¼ inches (21 cm) for size L. The pattern recommends wearing the hat with one to two inches of negative ease for an optimal fitted appearance.

Boot toppers: Circumference of 12 inches (30.5 cm) for size S or 14 inches (35.5 cm) for size L, with a length of 8¾ inches (22 cm) for size