Time for next stroll through the shop and all the scrumptious summer yarns we've got front and center. This time we're looking at another beloved line: Juniper Moon Farms.
Orignally founded in 2007 by Susan Gibbs as the first CSA model yarn & fiber farm, based in Virginia. Now years later Susan's hard-working flock retired in 2015 and she became the creative director of Juniper Moon Farms Yarns, a line of carefully sourced, crafted and curated from South America, Nepal and Italy. It's one of our favorite companies we stock. So much that most make it to our website. During cold months we adore all the Herriot yarns (it's like cashemere without the sticker shock) ....but frankly....the line up of cottons truly are amazing!
Cumulus Corner
Cumulus yarns are truly one of the softest, yummiest cotton yarns around. Everyone who touches it sighs, even the biggest cotton-phobes. This isn't your typical "cotton" and instead knits like an effortless dream and yeilds cuddly, cloudlike results. People who hate working with cotton love this yarn.
There's three bases to choose from: Cumulus, Cumulus Dappled and Cumulus Rainbow See our website for available colors we stock.
Yarn Details:
- Worsted weight (#4)
- US 7-9 needle = 4.75 sts to 1"
- 251 yds per hank (100g)
- 94% Israeli Mako Cotton, 6% Nylon (polyamide)
- Manufacturer says: Hand wash cold, dry flat. We suggest wash cold delicate or gentle okay. Tumble dry cool or lay flat. No heat or it could shrink.
The eldest Cumulus is the extensive range of solid colors. Range from soft pastels, bold tropical brights and numerous neutrals. Oh so soft and lovely to work with. Truly "cloud-like" and perfect for baby items. Many customers use this for baby blankets . Works up great for cozy sweaters for all ages.
Yes....I'm still working on a Weekender in a lovely icy blue. At moment I'm stuck at a kitchener stitch point.....and not quite ready to dive into that part of the WIP pool...yet.
But....... drumroll....... I FINISHED A BABY BLANKET IN CUMULUS!
Sorry....didn't mean to shout but I get tad excited when I actually finish something....
Probably one of the easiest baby blanket patterns you can make and it's free pattern on ravelry: Sliding if Fun by Darn Knit Anyway. In a nutshell: 1 hank Cumulus, 1 hank Cumulus Rainbow. #8-9 32" circular. Then you knit two rows each color, alternating back and forth. Dead-easy!
The sliding comes at end of row 2. You drop that color and s...l...i...d...e... back to the start of row and pick up the other color, then knit two rows. So much fun. Easy to make while binge watching your favorite series (currently watching Manifest on Netflix with my son).
Before you know it you're done! Makes a lovely stroller size blankie sure to become a favorite of the little wee humans in your life. I'm obsessed and fighting hard to not cast on a totally different, bolder colorway now that our big restock of Cumulus Rainbow arrived (more descriptions coming below in a little bit).
Our favorite pattern at the moment is the Nora Shawl. I describe it as an easier to follow Nightshift-type pattern. Pattern is written out row by row (much easier), and uses 3 hanks Dappled and 2 hanks Cumulus. It is the cuddliest shawl and the colors are unique with lots of great texture. Looks like a challenge to knit but it's based on slip-stitches which are deceptively easy. Check out the closeup of some new color combos which are ripe for hours of colorplay, trying to decide which combos to use. You'll have a totally different looking shawl depending up which solid you pair. Such fun!
Thankfully Juniper Moon sent us this wonderful shop sample made up so now I've one less tempting cast-on calling me like a mermaid singing from the depth of the sea, tempting me to cast on yet another project in Cumulus......
Cumulus Rainbow is the newest sibling from last year. In fact it was our most anticipated new yarn during shutdown and the first one we had ship out once we opened up again last May. It's the same soft, worsted weight chainette yarn. That bit of added nylon helps the cotton hold its shape. Only difference: It's put up is the wonderfully wound up cakes to highlight the gorgeous gradient colorways. Such a fun yarn to work with!
You've seen my Sliding is Fun blankie above. We also have a shop sample of Zeynap, Uses 2 hanks Cumulus Rainbow and 2 hanks Cumulus. The shadow-knit technique takes a bit of concentration to not mess up and follow the chart. End result worth it.
Below are some Juniper Moon patterns (free with purchase of yarn...just ask!).
Zooey Yarns
Need a summer yarn with heft, durability and a more rustic look? The Zooey range is perfect. Another staple Juniper Moon Farms summer yarn it's a true workhorse yarn in a perfect blend of cotton/linen. A soft, crisp blend with a slightly thick-and-thin structure is ideal for summer garments and home decor items. It softens up substantially with washings (typical of linen), and which is easy since it's machine washable! Choose when you want bit more texture or durability.
See available colors on our website. Again there's three "siblings" to choose from: Zooey, Zooey Twist and Zooey Dappled and all have same details:
- Fiber Content: 60% Cotton/ 40% Linen
- DK weight
- Gauge: 5-6 sts = 1" on US 3-5; 3-4.25 sc = 1" with D-F hook
- 100g/284yds
- Care: Machine Wash Cold, Dry Flat
- Country Of Origin: Spain
Zooey Pattern Ideas
Collage shows some of my favorite Zooey patterns (free with purchase of yarn-just ask!). Yes... there's a skirt.... and yes I have a weakness for skirt patterns.....and yes one day I fully intend to make this skirt.....or at least cast it on to keep my other skirt-WIPs company! I included that golden pullover sweater too because that could be a perfect transitional weight sweater for our spring/fall seasons when it's hot and chilly, then hot again, then chilly again.
This poncho is especially highlight because our fearless helper Laurie is making Lupi and LOVING it! Using Zooey and Zooey Dappled. She wouldn't normal go for this yarn but thought "what the heck".....and now a huge fan of Lil Miss Zooey! Said it's a perfect weight, super easy to knit and extremely versatile layering piece.
Kim's Unsolicited Knit Tips: Use stitch markers liberally! Especially with any Shale-like pattern. Don't hesitate...go on.....use a ton and thank me later. I'm an unabashedly prolific user of stitch markers and will fight anyone who tries to take them away from me!
Summertime Blankets
Zooey's strength (thank you linen!) means it great pick for summer blankets, market bags, washcloths, dishtowels, rugs, toys.... you name it! We confess our intentions to do a Summertime Blanket KAL this year....that well....seeing it's July....well....maybe next year! LOL But I can at least talk about it instead. We were inspired by our adorable JMF rep, Gilda's dreamy summertime blanket with pretty much a square of each color every made of Zooey. Pattern is Knit-a-Squares by Sophia Minakais. When we last saw it Gilda had stack of squares and now look! It's all done and gorgeous!
Pattern free on ravelry and it could be one of best sampler style patterns around (35 stitch patterns) in easy to read/work written instructions. No charts, easy stitch patterns, super portable summer knitting and plenty so if you really dislike one, just frog it and cast on a different one! ;) Another tip: squares make up fantastic pillows too if a whole blanket seems daunting....just sayin'! (I'm revealing another pattern weakness of mine.......)
It's meant for worsted weight yarn so using a DK yeilds smaller sized blanket. Yardage will differ as well but easy trick (Kim's Tip Alert Incoming...)To calculate what you'll need: Take 1 ball zooey, knit up as many squares as you can. Then you can easily figure out how many balls to make your perfect sized blanket. Or do like Gilda and collect 1 ball every color you can find! She's been collecting them for years and gradually making up the squares. Truly stunning!!
Prefer to crochet? Here's a divine sampler blanket to swoon over: Nature's Walk by Sandra Paul
Note: Zooey Twist and Zooey Dappled discontinued but we have enough still it's up on our website and in shop until we sell out. That's how we adore this yarn. In fact.....looking around, whispers... there's still a few balls of Zooey Aran hiding in the shop still! Kinda like a Where's Waldo scenario.
And yes..... I have a Zooey Aran skirt I'm working on. Each summer I pull it out of hiding spot, work a few rounds (because in the round st st is just the easiest!) and someday.....someday.....I'll finish. Maybe... at the rate I'm working on it not time soon!
I blame Juniper Moon for my not finishing the Zooey Aran skirt faster. They discontinued the dang yarn just when I was making progess on it. Totally knocked the wind outta my sails..... ;)
That's it for this summertime spotlight on JMF and all these cottony!
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