Pattern and Instructions: The Varsity Sweatshirt
Sometimes you just need a comfy sweatshirt for living your cheerleader fantasy (or for lounging around the house in style).
Enter the Varsity Sweatshirt! Designed with two different necklines and two lengths, it can be a sporty top with a letterman-style chenille monogram or an extra glam version in sequin or velvet fabric.
Whichever options you choose, as we wrap up the summer session and get ready to head back to Charm School, I hope you enjoy this very easy project!
It can be difficult to find knit fabric with the appropriate stretch percentage and weight when shopping online, so the pattern instructions include a few of our favorite tips and sources. We used a white sweatshirt fleece fabric with pink ribbing for our sportier versions, and a black floral fleece (from the studio stash) with black ribbing for my fancier top.
You'll find the tiled file (for printing at home on A4 or letter size sheets and taping together) and the A0 file (for printing at a copy shop like ThePlottedPattern.com). Please note that we have two size blocks, so make sure to download the correct files for the size you're making. If you have any questions about which size to sew, don't forget to read our blog post with all the details!
Don't forget to share your makes with the hashtags #charmvarsitysweatshirt and #charmpatterns. I can't wait to see what you make!
xoxo,
Gertie
P.S. I know it can be difficult to remember (or find!) all of the Patreon patterns, so bookmark this link to see everything that is included in your membership: https://charmpatterns.com/patreon
Comments (60)
I LOVE IT!!!!
Are the capris Gertie is wearing in the red floral one of her patterns too?
Yes! They're the Charm Patterns Marilyn Jean in Capri length!
Not a patten for me! I can't wear anything I have to pull over my head. I panic! I have been known to get scissors and cut my way out of things before when I panic! I have ruined some lovely clothes so I avoid them now. My husband told me I was being silly but the panic is very real for me.
Making your own, you can adapt it with a wider neck or zip/buttons down the front.
Cute, but I miss the several boobs option. With 36H this pattern is useless.
This particular pattern was actually designed with fuller busts in mind and fit-tested on all sizes; we were more concerned about it accommodating the smaller cup sizes in our range than the larger. While the pattern may not be to everyone's taste, we're confident it will fit the larger cup sizes in our range!
I have a fabric that would be perfect for this!! I hope I have enough.
Can't wait to see what you make!
Sadly just not feeling the last couple of months’ patterns. Was hoping the charm school theme would have more of a dark academia vibe. I know you can’t please everyone all the time so I’ll pass on this make and just try to enjoy seeing what others do with it.
Looks terrible on plus-sized babes? Or is there another reason that it’s only pictured on standard sized models? Also, we just got kittens, too! Well, on Memorial Day! They’ve actually tripled in weight/size in that time! They grow too fast!!!
I was thinking that too!
I’m a little confused about the cup sizes: the size chart lists them, but the printed page layout at the end of the instructions just shows one front piece. Shouldn’t there be a different front for each cup size?
It seems this pattern has no cup sizes. If you look at the Finished Garment Measurements Chart, there is juste one line for bust A-H cup.
How cool xxx
This is excellent. An important wardrobe basic for 'relaxed' dressing. Can't wait to make it for autumn
Gertie, love the saddle shoes!! Could you share the brand please?
Eastland saddle shoes, she mentioned long ago
😭😭😭💗💗💗 I love it so much I’m emotional. And the kitten 🥰 I can’t even with this right now.
Take Ivy😎
Yes! So much so!
just gonna drop a new model 🐈⬛ and not say anything?! HELLO KITTEH
Love it!!!! I can’t wait to make one! Also, is that a new kitty cat member of the Charm Team?
I spy those stretchy capris!! Also, kitten!!
Me too! I need capris just like those!
I didn't know that I needed this in my life, but OMG I do! 🥰
YES! Okay, so I have this college cheerleading sweatshirt from the early 1980s that was my mom's (she worked in the athletic department of the local university and snagged a sample back when I was little)--I stole it from her closet routinely until she finally said I could keep it (about a decade ago--that sucker played Musical Closets for DECADES). And I have ALWAYS wanted to clone it, and it looks EXACTLY like the cropped Charm version with a v-neck and AAAAAAUUUUUUUUGH! I am going to make 5,000 of these (I'll just find some white ribbing and dye it if I run into a ribbing color desert). I am legitimately so excited--that sweatshirt is the ONLY sweatshirt I've owned that's comfy AND flattering, and now I can have it in colors that aren't purple and gold. AND I can dig into my "Why is this delightful thing in the clearance bin?" supply of giant appliques! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
WHO is the lil Bebe? 😻
I need 50 of these!
YAY!!!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!! The red flowers are great!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! It's great to have things that we can get more wear out of!!!!
Very cute but I'm somewhat disappointed with the lack of cup sizes. It is not just about the width but about the length. I usually need about 20 cm extra length even in oversized at the front and this means I will need to redesign it to make it work.
First off, so cute I cannot wait to make it. Second and most importantly, who is that Adorable kitten and what is the name??!??!!
Gertie! Did you finally adopt a new bebė???
When I was cheering we had these but with a collar under the V neck! I loved the look so my wheels are turning!
YAASSS! A V-neck sweatshirt! My dreams have come true cause ya girl hates high necklines on normal sweatshirts.
Hi all! Just wanted to note that there is an error in the materials. We did not use the pique linked! We used Kaufman Trainers Fleece in white. We will be updating the instructions later today. Love you all! xoxo
The video also mentioned a link to the pink rib knit on Amazon. I didn’t see it in the instructions.
Thank you soooo much!! I live in Norway above the artic circle and I always appreciate clothes I can wear all year around and not just a few months a year and on special occasions. ❤️❤️❤️ I’ll be making A LOT of these! ❤️❤️
I agree with you. Even in the UK the weather can be very unpredictable and I hardly get to wear the dresses I make. Such a practical garment. I'm going to add mid century applique designs on my sweatshirts
My first thought when I saw the first picture was ‘oh no…’. The high neckline and cuffed? Hem is everything i can’t wear as a busty girl with low bust point. Then I saw the rest of the photos and went YAY! OPTIONS! I should have known! Can’t wait to make this now! (And my scheming mind is already planning to see if I can make the Barbie sleeves fit)
Cute 💖 I was just thinking the other day I’d like some comfy clothes for lounging and playing (crown green) bowls…
Love this SO MUCH!!!!
So cute and usable! 😍
Oh my gosh, YES! ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE!
I love the cropped version! The monogramming is super cute, too. I could see using a Charm patch, too! This will be so nice as the weather cools, and I can totally see it in different weights of fabric. Thank you! I’m glad to have a simple pattern once in a while. It’s like a nice palette cleanser between lavish and rich courses at a fantastic feast :)
Cannot agree more!!! ♥️♥️♥️
Ooohhh loving the 2 neck line options. I love me a v neck x
Very cute ❤️
I see you Jeanette!! 😍
Omg yes! I am here for the cropped sweatshirt! I have one my mom wore in the 70s but it's too small for me and I've often thought about trying to take a pattern from it and size up. But now I don't have to! 😁 I will definitely be making it once the weather starts to cool down here. Right now though the 100+°F (38+°C for the rest of the world) weather does not make me want to think about sewing sweatshirts. 😅
I am SO excited!!! Love an easier knit project thrown in the mix. Thanks Gertie!!
This is so usable! I love it. Making the CS letters would be fun.
I love it! And my initials ate C.S., perfect!
Ok, maybe next month it'll be something better.
It’s sew cute!
Kitten!!! And Hattie too ❤️
Kitten!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Does Gertie have a sister? Great sweatshirt!
The other model is Jeanette. She writes articles for the Vintage by Gertie magazine and came to a sewing retreat last year
Yes, yes, yes 😍