Meet the Sunday Matinee Sweater
This sweater may be the best transitional piece in my wardrobe! Play around with color for a versatile and fun sweater, perfect for lazing around on the couch, grabbing lunch with friends, or roasting marshmallows by the bonfire.
I loved the process of naming this sweater, too! It's become a thing that I name my designs after increasingly obscure Taylor Swift lyrics, and this is no different. I love "the 1" on Folklore, and wanted to choose a design name based on the lyric: "I hit the Sunday matinee. You know the greatest films of all time were never made." It feels extra fitting that this sweater reminds me of an ice cream sundae that you might pick up after seeing a movie matinee.
Construction and Fit
The Sunday Matinee Sweater is knit seamlessly from the top down. As a beginner friendly pattern (and for the versatility of wearing the sleeve colors on either side) there are no short rows, though they would be easy to add for an even better fit! Increases are worked through the yoke, then the sleeves are put on hold while you work the body. There are options to include or omit waist shaping, but this sweater will fit like your perfect boxy sweatshirt either way. The hem is worked flat in two pieces for a split on the sides. The stitches for the sleeves are picked up and worked in the round, decreasing evenly through the sleeve to the cuff.
This pattern is designed with 6-8" [15-20 cm] of positive ease in the bust, and is written for sizes XS (S, M, L, XL)(2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL) with bust sizes ranging from 28" to 62" [71 to 157 cm].
Size Chart:
XS: 28-30" [71-76 cm] bust
S: 32-34" [81-86 cm] bust
M: 36-38" [91-97 cm] bust
L: 40-42" [102-107 cm] bust
XL: 44-46" [112-127 cm] bust
2XL: 48-50" [122-127 cm] bust
3XL: 52-54" [132-137 cm] bust
4XL: 56-58" [142-147 cm] bust
5XL: 60-62" [152-157 cm] bust
XS: 28-30" [71-76 cm] bust
S: 32-34" [81-86 cm] bust
M: 36-38" [91-97 cm] bust
L: 40-42" [102-107 cm] bust
XL: 44-46" [112-127 cm] bust
2XL: 48-50" [122-127 cm] bust
3XL: 52-54" [132-137 cm] bust
4XL: 56-58" [142-147 cm] bust
5XL: 60-62" [152-157 cm] bust
This pattern has been tested in sizes XS-2XL (28-50" [71-127 cm] bust). If you have a bust size of 52-62" [132-157 cm] and you are interested in testing this pattern, please send me an email at notyourgrandmasknits@outlook.com.
Choosing Your Yarn
Nuboo has the dreamiest drape. I found these colors a few summers ago at my local Joann Fabrics, and I knew they belonged in a sweater together! The color palette of Nuboo is so mix-and-matchable that I have to recommend it.
I love Nuboo for its breathability, with the intent of wearing this sweater on cooler summer nights or warm fall days, but many of my testers used wool yarns or wool blends that would make a sweater perfect for the fall and winter seasons! And because the color possibilities are endless, you really could make a Sunday Matinee Sweater for all seasons; I've got a few more color combos on my list to knit up next!
Yarn: I used Lion Brand's Nuboo yarn in Cream (MC), Goldenrod (CC1), Duck Egg Blue (CC2), and Blush (CC3).
See the yardage estimates below.
MC: 4 (5, 5, 5, 5)(6, 6, 7, 7) skeins of Lion Brand Nuboo or approximately 580 (645, 725, 750, 780)(865, 940, 1010, 1055) yds [530 (590, 663, 686, 713)(791, 860, 924, 965) m] of another worsted weight yarn.
CC1: 1 skein (all sizes) of Lion Brand Nuboo or approximately 75 (85, 95, 100, 105)(115, 125, 130, 140) yds [69 (78, 87, 91, 96)(105, 114, 119, 128) m] of another worsted weight yarn.
CC2: 1 (1, 1, 2, 2)(2, 2, 2, 2) skeins of Lion Brand Nuboo or approximately 130 (140, 150, 175, 180)(200, 205, 210, 245) yds [119 (128, 137, 160, 165)(183, 187, 192, 224) m] of another worsted weight yarn.
CC3: 1 (1, 1, 2, 2)(2, 2, 2, 2) skeins of Lion Brand Nuboo or approximately 130 (140, 150, 175, 180)(200, 205, 210, 245) yds [119 (128, 137, 160, 165)(183, 187, 192, 224) m] of another worsted weight yarn.
CC1: 1 skein (all sizes) of Lion Brand Nuboo or approximately 75 (85, 95, 100, 105)(115, 125, 130, 140) yds [69 (78, 87, 91, 96)(105, 114, 119, 128) m] of another worsted weight yarn.
CC2: 1 (1, 1, 2, 2)(2, 2, 2, 2) skeins of Lion Brand Nuboo or approximately 130 (140, 150, 175, 180)(200, 205, 210, 245) yds [119 (128, 137, 160, 165)(183, 187, 192, 224) m] of another worsted weight yarn.
CC3: 1 (1, 1, 2, 2)(2, 2, 2, 2) skeins of Lion Brand Nuboo or approximately 130 (140, 150, 175, 180)(200, 205, 210, 245) yds [119 (128, 137, 160, 165)(183, 187, 192, 224) m] of another worsted weight yarn.
Keep in mind that Nuboo is a lyocell fiber that may grow with washing and wearing! Be sure to block your swatch to know how your finished sweater will behave.
Difficulty
This is an advanced beginner knit. With a little bit of confidence and a willingness to learn, this would make a great first sweater! There are plenty of linked video tutorials throughout the pattern to teach you a new skill or give you a reminder.
You'll need to know how (or be willing to learn) to: cast on, knit in the round, purl (for ribbing), knit flat (for the split hem), increase (make 1), decrease (K2tog and SSK), pick up stitches, bind off.
Notions & Needles
5 stitch markers (1 in a different color or style for the beginning of round), scissors, stitch holders or scrap yarn, tapestry needle, measuring tape
Size US 6/4 mm* 20-36" [50-90 cm] circular needles, and needles for your preferred method of small circumference knitting
*or any needle size to obtain gauge
*or any needle size to obtain gauge
For small circumference knitting, I like using 9-10" circular needles, but magic loop or DPNs work just as well!
Test Knitters
None of my patterns are possible without the help of my test knitters. They put in countless hours of knitting, and many yards of carefully selected yarn skeins to work through a draft pattern, and they are invaluable. I love my test group dearly!
Check out their gorgeous Sunday Matinee Sweaters, then scroll to see the yardage and yarn substitutes they used.
Tester Yardage
S: MC 650 yards [594 meters], CC1 110 yards [101 meters], CC2&3 116 yards [106 meters] each = 915-992 yards [837-907 meters] total
M: MC 615-750 yds [562-685 m], CC1 95-109 yds [87-100 m], CC2&3 147-150 yds [134-137 m] each = 1010-1142 yds [924-1044 m] total
L: MC 740 yds [677 m], CC1 90 yds [82 m], CC2&3 176 yds [161 m] each = 1182 yds [1081 m] total
XL: 1003 yds [917 m] total
2XL: MC 921 yds [842 m], CC1 104 yds [95 m], CC2&3 163 yds [149 m] each = 1351 yds [1235 m] total
M: MC 615-750 yds [562-685 m], CC1 95-109 yds [87-100 m], CC2&3 147-150 yds [134-137 m] each = 1010-1142 yds [924-1044 m] total
L: MC 740 yds [677 m], CC1 90 yds [82 m], CC2&3 176 yds [161 m] each = 1182 yds [1081 m] total
XL: 1003 yds [917 m] total
2XL: MC 921 yds [842 m], CC1 104 yds [95 m], CC2&3 163 yds [149 m] each = 1351 yds [1235 m] total
Yarns Used
Stylecraft Highland Heathers DK
Lion Brand Wool Ease
Loops & Threads Crème Cotton
Caron One Pound
Caron Simply Soft
Caron Simply Soft Tweeds
DROPS Cotton Light
Lion Brand Vanna's Choice
Lion Brand Pound of Love
Trilogy Yarns DK
Lion Brand Nuboo
Patons Classic Wool Worsted
Lion Brand Wool Ease
Loops & Threads Crème Cotton
Caron One Pound
Caron Simply Soft
Caron Simply Soft Tweeds
DROPS Cotton Light
Lion Brand Vanna's Choice
Lion Brand Pound of Love
Trilogy Yarns DK
Lion Brand Nuboo
Patons Classic Wool Worsted