Veliki Hat & Mittens Knitting Pattern

Veliki Hat & Mittens in Juniper Moon Herriot

What Is Being Made

The Veliki Hat & Mittens pattern by Pamela Wynne creates a coordinated set of knitted accessories featuring a classic adult hat and matching mittens. The hat is available in two sizes—Adult Small with an 18-inch brim circumference and Adult Large with a 21-inch brim circumference—both standing 8½ inches tall. The mittens are sized for Adult Medium with an 8-inch palm circumference and 8½-inch hand length. This design is part of the Novi Collection from Juniper Moon Farm and showcases colorwork techniques that make it an engaging project for knitters with intermediate skills.

Techniques Used

The Veliki pattern employs intarsia as its primary colorwork technique, a method that allows for the creation of solid blocks of contrasting color without the bulk of traditional stranded colorwork. The intarsia diamonds appear three times throughout the hat design and are worked using separate lengths of yarn for each color section. The technique involves carrying and trapping floats invisibly behind the work, then securing yarn ends on the wrong side by twisting to close any gaps. This approach produces a smooth, professional finish on both sides of the fabric.

The pattern also incorporates stranded colorwork for the charted pattern sections, where the knitter maintains color dominance by keeping the working yarn below the main color yarn at all times. The design is worked in the round using double-pointed needles, which allows for seamless construction of the hat and mittens. A German Twisted cast-on is used to begin the hat, providing a secure and elastic edge suitable for ribbed cuffs.

Stitches Used

The foundation of both the hat and mittens relies on fundamental knit stitches combined with ribbing for structure and elasticity. The pattern begins with knit and purl stitches worked in a 2x2 ribbed pattern, which creates a fitted, stretchy cuff that helps the accessories stay securely in place. The main body of the hat and mittens is worked using stockinette stitch as the base fabric, which provides a smooth canvas for the colorwork charts. The charted pattern sections incorporate both knit stitches and the strategic color changes that define the intarsia diamonds and stranded colorwork design. Increases are worked as needed to shape the hat crown, while the mittens maintain their palm circumference through the hand length.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Veliki pattern calls for Juniper Moon Farm Herriot yarn, a premium fiber choice that works beautifully for colorwork projects. The hat requires one ball each of three coordinating colors: color #05 Ghost Fern as the main color, color #1016 Green Heather as the first contrast color, and color #1017 Red Heather as the second contrast color. The mittens use the same three colors in identical quantities—one ball of each—allowing knitters to use the same yarn purchases for both pieces of the set.

The recommended needle sizes are US 4 (3.25 mm) double-pointed needles for the main fabric, with US 3 (3 mm) double-pointed needles used for the ribbed cuff sections. Both needle sets should contain five needles for working in the round. The gauge for the hat is 24 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches in the charted pattern after blocking, while the mittens are worked at a slightly tighter gauge of 26 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches in the charted pattern after blocking. Additional notions include a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, and waste yarn for holding stitches during construction.