Baby sweaters - worth it

I've been keeping this wee sweater under wraps for a while, because the recipient is online and aware of this blog. But the gift has been given and is a secret not more! Our knitting group had the fun of knitting for a baby this summer, as Jess is expecting her first child. Longtime readers will recall the communal knitted project we made for her wedding shower (The Blanket of Love) - we did not attempt such a coordinated attempt this time. Knitting many separate tiny things for baby is so fun. We combined our Knit Night with a baby shower this week.

The pattern is Little Hanten from the Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders book. A little surprisingly, it specifies sport yarn rather than fingering. I had some of this beautiful green and blue speckled yarn left over from another baby project and was happy to direct it to this baby. Isn't speckled yarn beautiful in garter stitch?

This is the back of the sweater. Both it and the fronts (which feature a fetching diagonal garter design) are easy and straightforward to work. But there ends the easy knitting of garter!

I read notes from other Ravelers and knew to pick up more stitches along the neck band and the pattern called for - I did this and it worked. I also eliminated the neck shaping which many noted actually distorts the neck band. But I ALSO had to pick up FEWER stitches along the armhole to begin each sleeve, which no other knitter had mentioned. This is what happened the first time I knit the sleeves - way too much flare!

I ripped those out and re-knit them. I also struggled with seaming. Of course I used mattress stitch (usually so neat and clean) - but seaming diagonal garter to horizontal garter was no picnic. I probably ripped and reworked at least half of the stitches. There may have been cursing.

I decided not to work the ties that the pattern calls for. Many other knitters replaced the flimsy crochet chain ties with i-cord, but I decided this just needed to be an open cardigan. I will not be knitting patterns from this designer again.

Nevertheless, this baby will be ensconced in wool (and cotton and other textiles) - as well as enjoy reading many gorgeous books. We can't wait to meet the wee one next month!