Free Knitting Pattern for a Matinee Coat and Hat

Create a timeless heirloom with Sirdar 3008. This classic knitting pattern features a stunning baby matinee coat with a matching hat, designed for 4 Ply yarn (Sirdar Snuggly). The design showcases vertical cable panels set against stocking stitch, with textured moss stitch borders and collar.

Pattern Highlights:

Sizes: 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, and 1-2 years.
Yarn: 4 Ply / Fingering weight.
Design: Features C4F/C4B cabling and Moss Stitch hems.
Needles: 3¼mm and 2¾mm.
Skill Level: Intermediate (requires cabling and shaping).

Perfect for a new baby gift, christening outfit, or classic wardrobe staple.

MEASUREMENTS

To Fit Chest:

0–3 months: 41 cm (16 in)
3–6 months: 46 cm (18 in)
6–12 months: 51 cm (20 in)
1–2 years: 56 cm (22 in)

Actual Measurement (At underarm):

46 [51: 56: 62] cm
18 [20: 22: 24½] in

Full Length:

26 [29: 32: 34] cm
10¼ [11½: 12½: 13½] in

Sleeve Length (adjustable):

15 [17: 20: 24] cm
6 [6½: 8: 9½] in

Hat Width Around Head:

35 [37: 40: 43] cm
13¾ [14½: 15¾: 17] in

MATERIALS

Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly 4 Ply
- Matinee Coat: 2 [3: 3: 4] balls (50gm)
- Hat: 1 [1: 1: 1] ball (50gm)
Needles:
- 1 Pair of 3¼ mm (UK10 – USA3) Knitting Needles.
- 1 Pair of 2¾ mm (UK12 – USA2) Knitting Needles.
Accessories: Cable Needle. 3 Buttons for Matinee Coat.

TENSION

38 sts and 40 rows to 10cm, (4in) over cable pattern, 28 sts and 36 rows to 10cm, (4in) over stocking stitch on 3¼ mm needles or the size required to give correct tension.

ABBREVIATIONS

alt: alternate
CN: cable needle
cont: continue
dec: decrease(ing)
foll: following
inc: increase(ing)
k: knit
p: purl
patt: pattern
psso: pass slipped stitch over
rem: remaining
rep: repeat
rs: right side
s1: slip 1
st(s): stitch(es)
tog: together
ws: wrong side
ybk: yarn to back of work
m1: Make one stitch (Pick up loop between last and next stitch and work into back of this loop).

WORKING ABBREVIATIONS
Moss-st:
1st Row: K1, * p1, k1, rep from * to end.
Rep 1st row.

St-st (Stocking stitch):
1st Row: Knit.
2nd Row: Purl.
Rep 1st and 2nd rows.

C4F: Cable 4 front by slipping next 2 sts to front on CN, k2 then k2 from CN.
C4B: Cable 4 back by slipping next 2 sts to back on CN, k2 then k2 from CN.

See More:

MATINEE COAT

BACK

Using 2¾ mm needles cast on 127 [141:155:169] sts, work in moss-st for 8 rows, inc 1 st at centre of last row.
128 [142:156:170] sts.

Change to 3¼ mm needles. Proceed as follows:
1st Row: P2, * k12, p2, rep from * to end.
2nd Row: K2, * p12, k2, rep from * to end.
1st and 2nd rows form patt.
Keeping continuity of patt as set (throughout) cont until back measures 15 [16:18:19] cm, (6 [6¼: 7: 7½] in), ending with a ws row.

Next Row: P2, * ybk, s1, k1, psso, k8, k2tog, p2, rep from * to end.
Next Row: K2, * p10, k2, rep from * to end.
Next Row: P2, * ybk, s1, k1, psso, k6, k2tog, p2, rep from * to end.
Next Row: K2, (p2tog) 4 times, k2, * p8, k2, rep from * to last 10 sts, (p2tog) 4 times, k2.
84 [94:104:114] sts.

Shape Armholes
Next Row: Cast off 6 sts in patt, p1, * C4B, C4F, p2, rep from * to last 6 sts, k4, p2.
Next Row: Cast off 6 sts in patt, k1, * p8, k2, rep from * to end.
72 [82:92:102] sts.

Proceed as follows:
1st Row: P2, * k8, p2, rep from * to end.
2nd Row: K2, * p8, k2, rep from * to end.
3rd Row: P2, * C4B, C4F, p2, rep from * to end.
4th Row: K2, * p8, k2, rep from * to end.
From 1st to 4th row sets patt.
Keeping continuity of patt as set (throughout) cont until armholes measure 10 [12:13:14] cm, (4 [4¾: 5¼: 5½] in), ending with a rs row.

Next Row: K2, * (p2tog, p1) twice, p2tog, k2, rep from * to end.
51 [58:65:72] sts.
Cast off.

LEFT FRONT

Using 2¾ mm needles cast on 57 [64:71:78] sts, work in moss-st for 8 rows, inc 1 st at centre of last row.
58 [65:72:79] sts.

Change to 3¼ mm needles. Proceed as follows:
1st Row: P2, * k12, p2, rep from * to end.
2nd Row: K2, * p12, k2, rep from * to end.
1st and 2nd rows form patt.
Keeping continuity of patt as set (throughout) cont until left front measures 15 [16:18:19] cm, (6 [6¼: 7: 7½] in), ending with a ws row.

Next Row: P2, * ybk, s1, k1, psso, k8, k2tog, p2, rep from * to end.
Next Row: K2, * p10, k2, rep from * to end.
Next Row: P2, * ybk, s1, k1, psso, k6, k2tog, p2, rep from * to end.
Next Row: K2, * p8, k2, rep from * to last 10 sts, (p2tog) 4 times, k2.
38 [43:48:53] sts.

Shape Armhole
Next Row: Cast off 6 sts in patt, p1, * C4B, C4F, p2, rep from * to end.
32 [37:42:47] sts.
Next Row: K2, * p8, k2, rep from * to end.

Proceed as follows:
1st Row: P2, * k8, p2, rep from * to end.
2nd Row: K2, * p8, k2, rep from * to end.
3rd Row: P2, * C4B, C4F, p2, rep from * to end.
4th Row: K2, * p8, k2, rep from * to end.
From 1st to 4th row sets patt.
Keeping continuity of patt as set (throughout) cont until armhole measures 6 [8:9:9] cm, (2½ [3: 3½: 3½] in), ending with a rs row.

Shape Neck
Next Row: Cast off 5 [10:5:10] sts in patt, patt to end.
27 [27:37:37] sts.
Work 8 [9:9:10] rows dec 1 st at neck edge of every row.
19 [18:28:27] sts.
Cont without shaping until armhole measures 10 [12: 13: 14] cm, (4 [4¾: 5¼: 5½] in), ending with a rs row.

Next Row: Patt 2, * (p2tog, p1) twice, p2tog, patt 2, * rep from * to * 0 [0:1:1] times, p2tog, (p1, p2tog) 1 [1:1:1] times, patt 2 [2:1:1].
14 [13:20:19] sts.
Cast off.

RIGHT FRONT

Using 2¾ mm needles cast on 57 [64:71:78] sts, work in moss-st for 8 rows, inc 1 st at centre of last row.
58 [65:72:79] sts.

Change to 3¼ mm needles. Proceed as follows:
1st Row: P2, * k12, p2, rep from * to end.
2nd Row: K2, * p12, k2, rep from * to end.
1st and 2nd rows form patt.
Keeping continuity of patt as set (throughout) cont until right front measures 15 [16:18:19] cm, (6 [6¼: 7: 7½] in), ending with a ws row.

Next Row: P2, * C4B, C4F, p2, rep from * to last 6 sts, k4, p2.

Shape Armhole
Next Row: Cast off 6 sts in patt, k1, * p8, k2, rep from * to end.
32 [37:42:47] sts.
Proceed as follows:
1st Row: P2, * k8, p2, rep from * to end.
2nd Row: K2, * p8, k2, rep from * to end.
3rd Row: P2, * C4B, C4F, p2, rep from * to end.
4th Row: K2, * p8, k2, rep from * to end.
From 1st to 4th row sets patt.
Keeping continuity of patt as set (throughout) cont until armhole measures 6 [8:9:9] cm, (2½ [3: 3½: 3½] in), ending with a ws row.

Shape Neck
Next Row: Cast off 5 [10:5:10] sts in patt, patt to end.
27 [27:37:37] sts.
Next Row: Patt.
Work 8 [9:9:10] rows dec 1 st at neck edge of every row.
19 [18:28:27] sts.
Cont without shaping until armhole measures 10 [12: 13: 14] cm, (4 [4¾: 5¼: 5½] in), ending with a rs row.

Next Row: Patt 2, * (p2tog, p1) twice, p2tog, patt 2, * rep from * to * 0 [0:1:1] times, p2tog, (p1, p2tog) 1 [1:1:1] times, patt 2 [2:1:1].
14 [13:20:19] sts.
Cast off.

SLEEVES (Both alike)

Using 2¾ mm needles cast on 39 [39:43:43] sts, work in moss-st for 10 rows, inc 1 st at centre of last row.
40 [40:44:44] sts.
Change to 3¼ mm needles and working in st-st (throughout) inc 1 st at each end of 3rd and every foll 4th [2nd: 2nd: 2nd] row to 56 [46:50:78] sts.

For 2nd and 3rd sizes only
Inc 1 st at each end of every foll 4th row to [64:72] sts.

For all 4 sizes
Cont without shaping until sleeve measures 17 [19: 22: 26] cm, (6½ [7½: 8¾: 10¼] in), or length required, ending with a ws row.
Cast off.

LEFT FRONT BORDER

With rs facing, using 2¾ mm needles pick up and knit 20 [22:28:30] sts evenly along yoke, 34 [38:44:46] sts evenly along straight edge and 5 sts along moss-st.
59 [65:77:81] sts.

For a girl
Work 7 rows in moss-st.

For a boy
Work 3 rows in moss-st.
Next Row: Moss-st 3 sts, cast off 2 sts, (moss-st 5 [6:9:10] sts, cast off 2 sts) twice, moss-st to end.
Next Row: Moss-st to last 15 [17:23:25] sts, cast on 2 sts, (moss-st 6 [7:10:11] sts, cast on 2 sts) twice, moss-st 3 sts.
Work 2 rows.

For a boy or girl
Cast off loosely in patt.

RIGHT FRONT BORDER

With rs facing, using 2¾ mm needles pick up and knit 5 sts along moss-st, 34 [38:44:46] sts evenly along straight edge and 20 [22:28:30] sts evenly along yoke.
59 [65:77:81] sts.

For a girl
Work 3 rows in moss-st.
Next Row: Moss-st 38 [42:48:50] sts, cast off 2 sts, (moss-st 5 [6:9:10] sts, cast off 2 sts) twice, moss-st 2 sts.
Next Row: Moss-st 3 sts, cast on 2 sts, (moss-st 6 [7:10:11] sts, cast on 2 sts) twice, moss-st to end.
Work 2 rows.

For a boy
Work 7 rows in moss-st.

For a boy or girl
Cast off loosely in patt.

COLLAR

Join shoulder seams.
With rs facing, using 2¾ mm needles, starting and ending halfway across top of borders, pick up and knit 20 [21:21:25] sts evenly along right side of neck, 23 [23:25:25] sts from back of neck, and 20 [21:21:25] sts evenly along left side of neck.
63 [65:67:75] sts.
Work in moss-st for 4 [4:5:5] cm, (1½ [1½: 2: 2] in), ending with a ws row.
Cast off loosely in patt.

TO MAKE UP

Join side seams. Join sleeve seams for 15 [17:20:24] cm, (6 [6½: 8: 9½] in). Sew sleeve top in position. Sew remainder of sleeves to cast off sts at armhole. Sew on buttons. See ball band for pressing and care instructions.

HAT

Using 2¾ mm needles cast on 85 [93:101:109] sts, work in moss-st for 6cm, (2½ in), ending with a ws row.
Next Row: Moss-st 3 [4:5:6] m1, (moss-st 3 sts, m1) 26 [28:30:32] times, moss-st 4 [5:6:7].
112 [122:132:142] sts.

Change to 3¼ mm needles. Proceed as follows:
1st Row: P2, * k8, p2, rep from * to end.
2nd Row: K2, * p8, k2, rep from * to end.
3rd Row: P2, * C4B, C4F, p2, rep from * to end.
4th Row: K2, * p8, k2, rep from * to end.
From 1st to 4th row sets patt.
Keeping continuity of patt as set (throughout) cont until hat measures approximately 12 [13:14:15] cm, (4¾ [5¼: 5½: 6] in), ending with a 4th patt row.

Shape Crown
1st Row: P2tog, * k8, p2tog, rep from * to end.
100 [109:118:127] sts.
2nd Row: K1, * p8, k1, rep from * to end.
3rd Row: P1, * C4B, C4F, p1, rep from * to end.
4th Row: As 2nd row.
5th Row: * K2tog, k7, rep from * to last st, k1.
89 [97:105:113] sts.
6th and Every Foll Alt Row: Purl.
7th Row: * C4B, C4F, rep from * to last st, k1.
9th Row: * K6, k2tog, rep from * to last st, k1.
78 [85:92:99] sts.
11th Row: * C4B, k1, k2tog, rep from * to last st, k1.
67 [73:79:85] sts.
13th Row: * K4, k2tog, rep from * to last st, k1.
56 [61:66:71] sts.
15th Row: * K3, k2tog, rep from * to last st, k1.
45 [49:53:57] sts.
17th Row: * K2, k2tog, rep from * to last st, k1.
34 [37:40:43] sts.
19th Row: * K1, k2tog, rep from * to last st, k1.
23 [25:27:29] sts.
20th Row: P1, (p2tog) 11 [12:13:14] times.
Break yarn and thread through rem 12 [13:14:15] sts. Pull up tight and fasten off securely.

TO MAKE UP (Hat)

Join back seam, reversing seam for moss-st. Fold 4cm, (1½ in) to rs around lower edge. See ball band for pressing and care instructions.