Knit the minimalistic Sunnuntaiaamu (“Sunday Morning”) sweater, perfect for a beginner colorwork knitter
Sunnuntaiaamu is a classic design by the renowned ceramic artist Birger Kaipiainen, reimagined as a knit sweater by Paula Narkiniemi. The colorwork pattern is simple and approachable, making it an excellent choice for beginner knitters looking to explore stranded knitting.
Sizes: 2XS(XS)S(M)L(XL)2XL(3XL)4XL(5XL)
Recommended for bust measurements of approx. 60 (70) 80 (90) 100 (110) 120 (130) 140 (150) cm / 23.5 (27.5) 31.5 (35.5) 39.25 (43.25) 47.25 (51.25) 55 (59)"
Recommended ease approx. 20–30 cm / 7.75 – 11.75".
Finished Garment Measurements:
Chest circumference: 90 (100) 110 (120) 130 (140) 150 (160) 170 (180) cm / 35.5 (39.25) 43.25 (47.25) 51.25 (55) 59 (63) 67 (70.75)"
Sleeve circumference: 36 (36) 37 (37) 43 (43) 47 (47) 51 (54) cm / 14.25 (14.25) 14.75 (14.75) 17.25 (17.25) 18.75 (18.75) 20.5 (21.75)"
Sleeve length from underarm: 42 (42) 43 (43) 44 (44) 44 (44) 44 (44) cm / 16.5 (16.5) 17 (17) 17.25 (17.25) 17.25 (17.25) 17.25 (17.25)" (or your preferred length)
Body from underarm: 38 (38) 40 (40) 42 (42) 44 (44) 46 (46) cm / 15 (15) 15.75 (15.75) 16.5 (16.5) 17.25 (17.25) 18 (18)"
Sunnuntaiaamu – Materials:
- Yarn: Sandnes Garn Børstet Alpakka (alpaca 96 %, polyamide 4 %), 110 m / 120 yds / 50 g. MC: (Color 1012): 250 (250) 300 (300) 350 (350) 400 (400) 450 (500) g. CC: (Color 8236): 50 (50) 50 (50) 50 (100) 100 (100) 100 (100) g.
- Needles: Circular needles 5 mm / US 8, 40 cm / 16" and 60–80 cm / 24 – 32". Circular needles 6 mm / US 10, 40 cm / 16" and 60–80 cm / 24 – 32". DPNs 5 mm / US 8
- Notions: Stitch markers, darning needle, scrap yarn / stitch cords
Gauge: 14 sts × 20 rnds = 10 × 10 cm / 4 × 4" over Stockinette Stitch
Abbreviations:
- BO = Bind off
- BOR = Beginning of round
- BORm = Beginning of round marker
- CC = Contrasting color
- cn = Cable needle
- CO = Cast on
- DPN(s) = Double-pointed needle(s)
- DS = Double stitch
- Est = Established
- Inc = Increase
- K = Knit
- Kfb = Knit into front and back of the same stitch
- Kfbf = Knit into front and back and front of the same stitch
- K2tog = Knit 2 sts together
- K3tog = Knit 3 sts together
- KW = Knitwise
- LH = Left-hand
- M = Stitch marker
- MB = Make bobble
- MC = Main color
- MDS = Make double stitch: Slip 1 st purlwise with yarn in front, bring working yarn up and over the needle from front to back and tug to create a double stitch.
- M1L = Make 1 left, a left leaning increase: using left-hand needle, lift the loop between sts from front to back, knit into back of the loop.
- M1R = Make 1 right, a right leaning increase: using left-hand needle, lift the loop between sts from back to front, knit into front of the loop
- N1, N2 etc. = Needle 1, 2 etc.
- P = Purl
- PM = Place marker
- P2tog = Purl 2 sts together
- PUK = Pick up and knit
- PW = Purlwise
- Rep = Repeat
- RH = Right-hand
- RM = Remove marker
- Rnd(s) = Round(s)
- RS = Right side
- SKPO = Slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped st over the knit st.
- Sl = Slip
- SSK = Slip, slip, knit: Slip 2 sts, one at a time, onto right-hand needle, insert left-hand needle into sts and knit sts together through the back loops.
- SSP = Slip, slip, purl: Slip 2 sts, one at a time, onto right-hand needle, insert left-hand needle into sts and purl sts together through the back loops.
- St St = Stockinette Stitch
- St(s) = Stitch(es)
- Tbl = Through the back loop
- Tog = Together
- WS = Wrong side
- W&T = Wrap and turn
- wyib = With yarn in back
- wyif = With yarn in front
- yo = Yarn over
Sunnuntaiaamu sweater – The pattern
General Information
This sweater is worked from the top down. You’ll start with the upper back worked flat and then stitches are picked up along the shoulders, one shoulder at a time. The front neckline is shaped by increasing stitches and then joining both sides of the upper front together. Once the upper front has reached the correct length, it is joined with the upper back to work the body in the round. An easy colorwork pattern is worked on the sleeves and body just before the ribbed edges. Stitches are picked up for a doubled neck ribbing which is worked in the round.
Upper back
Using MC and 6 mm / US 10, 60–80 cm / 24 – 32" circular needle, loosely CO 63 (70) 77 (84) 91 (98) 105 (112) 119 (126) sts and start working in St St flat in rows. Work as est until upper back measures 18(18)19(19)21(21)24(24)26(27) cm / 7 (7) 7.5 (7.5) 8.25 (8.25) 9.5 (9.5) 10.25 (10.75)". Set back sts aside onto waste yarn / stitch cord while you work the upper front.
Upper front
With RS of upper back facing up, starting from the right armhole edge and working along the right shoulder cast-on edge towards the right neck edge, PUK 23 (27) 29 (33) 36 (39) 42 (46) 48 (52) sts for upper right front.
Work 11 rows in St St (the last row will be a WS row). Then, work the neck increases. Work inc’s in the end of 4 following RS rows at the neck edge as follows: Work as est to 2 sts before end, M1R, K2. Once you have completed the inc’s, you have 27 (31) 33 (37) 40 (43) 46 (50) 52 (56) sts on needle. Set sts aside on waste yarn / stitch cords while you work the upper left front.
With RS of upper back facing up, starting from the left neck edge and working along the left shoulder cast-on edge towards the left armhole edge, PUK 23 (27) 29 (33) 36 (39) 42 (46) 48 (52) sts for upper left front. (Tip! Define the correct starting point by counting the number of cast-on sts given, starting from the armhole edge and going towards the neck edge.)
Work 11 rows in St St (the last row will a WS row). Work inc’s in the beginning of 4 following RS rows at the neck edge as follows: K2, M1L, K to end . Once you have completed the inc’s, you have 27 (31) 33 (37) 40 (43) 46 (50) 52 (56) sts on needle.
Once you have completed the last inc row, work a WS row and in the end of that row, CO 9 (8) 11 (10) 11 (12) 13 (12) 15 (14) new sts using Backwards Loop Cast-On method, and then return the upper right front sts onto LH needle and work them as est. You now have 63 (70) 77 (84) 91 (98) 105 (112) 119 (126) sts for front.
Work in St St flat in rows until upper front measures 18(18)19(19)21(21)24(24)26(27) cm / 7 (7) 7.5 (7.5) 8.25 (8.25) 9.5 (9.5) 10.25 (10.75)" (or until the length matches with the upper back) and you have last worked a WS row.
Body
Join upper front and upper back onto one needle as follows: Work all front sts and then all back sts onto one long circular needle and pm for BOR. You now have 126 (140) 154 (168) 182 (196) 210 (224) 238 (252) sts on needle. Work in St St in the round until body measures approx. 20 (20) 21 (21) 23 (23) 25 (25) 27 (27) cm / 7.75 (7.75) 8.25 (8.25) 9 (9) 9.75 (9.75) 10.75 (10.75)" from underarm.
Hem Colorwork Pattern
Attach CC and start working the colorwork pattern following the chart. Follow the chart starting from the lower right corner and going up row by row. Work chart rows a total of 9 (10) 11 (12) 13 (14) 15 (16) 17 (18) times per each rnd.
Once you have completed the chart, change to 5 mm / US 8 circular needle, and knit 1 rnd with CC and at the same time decrease evenly a total of 14 sts (14 × K2tog). You now have 112 (126) 140 (154) 168 (182) 196 (210) 224 (238) sts on needle. Then, work approx. 7 cm / 2.75" in Rib St (K1, P1). BO all sts using your preferred technique.
Sleeves
Using MC and shorter 6 mm / US 10 circular needle, and starting from mid-underarm, PUK 50(50)52(52)60(60)66(66)72(76) sts along the armhole edge. Join to work in the round and pm for BOR. Knit 4 rnds and then start decreasing on each side of BORm: K2, K2tog, K to 4 sts before BORm, K2tog, K2. A total of 2 sts decreased on each decrease rnd. Continue working decreases on every 1.5 cm / 0.5" for a total of 4(4)5(5)2(2)5(5)8(10) times. You now have 42(42)42(42)56(56)56(56)56(56) sleeve sts on needle. Knit until sleeve measures approx. 28 (28) 29 (29) 30 (30) 30 (30) 30 (30) cm / 11 (11) 11.5 (11.5) 11.75 (11.75) 11.75 (11.75) 11.75 (11.75)" from underarm. Now is a good time to test the sleeve length for you (approx. 14 cm / 5.5" more will be worked for the sleeve).
Attach CC and start working the colorwork pattern the same manner as for body hem. Work the pattern 3(3)3(3)4(4)4(4)4(4) times per each rnd. Once you have completed the chart, change to 5 mm / US 8 DPNs, and knit 1 rnd with CC and at the same time decrease 8(8)6(6)16(16)14(14)10(10) sts evenly, 34(34)36(36)40(40)42(42)46(46) sts remaining. You now have 34sts on needle. Then, work 7 cm / 2.75" in Rib St (K1, P1). BO all sts using your preferred technique (for example the standard BO technique). Work another sleeve to match.
Neck
Using CC and 5 mm / US 8, 40–60 cm / 16 – 24" circular needle, PUK 70 – 80 sts (an even number of sts) evenly along the neckline edge. Join to work in the round and pm for BOR. Work approx. 9 cm / 3.5" in Rib St (K1, P1). Using a stretchy bind-off technique, BO all sts.
Fold the ribbing in half to the inside of the neckline and attach it by sewing to the beginning of the ribbed edge (don’t pull the yarn too tight so that the neckline doesn’t become too snug!). Ensure that the ribbing stays straight as you sew it in place, proceeding one stitch at a time.
Finishing
Weave in ends and steam block lightly.
