February Baby Sweater Ensemble

It's a finished project!  And in time for the baby shower. This little sweater was the third February baby sweater that I've knit.  My niece, my girlie and now my cousin's daughter will all have versions of this sweater.  I also just learned that a first cousin's baby is a first cousin once removed - thanks Kate! (Oh, and by the way, I think she's going to be a Kate too - funny coincidence.)

All we need now is a 6-12 month sized babe.

I knit this in Louet Gems fingering weight wool. If I had to estimate I would guess that the final sweater is a smallish 6-12 month size. The pattern directions and garment construction are really efficient.  There is nothing fussy about it. The sweater is knit from the neck down and the only seaming are the arm seams. It's also a great way to get started with lace if you are interested in that kind of thing. The lace pattern is a four row repeat and you purl across rows two and four = easy to memorize. It's raveled here.

The only oops on this project was using the remnants from one ball of yarn before adding the full skein of what I thought was the same dye lot. It turns out that it isn’t the same and, the color shift is noticeable if you know where to look.  After blocking and hanging over the patterned blouse it seems to be less noticeable.  I don't have enough yarn to fix the whole thing, so it is what it is.

Love, love, love covered buttons.

The blouse is a pattern by Liesl Gibson of Oliver + S called the Class Picnic Blouse blouse.  I'm crazy about this pattern.  The Small Fry has several versions of this blouse, it's so simple and pretty.  And I love that it doesn't require any buttons or zippers.

A little note about Oliver + S patterns: I am by no means an accomplished seamstress.  The basics, I can handle, but beyond that I'm out of my depth.  Liesl's patterns are beautifully written, and the quality of the patterns themselves is fantastic.  There is no newsprint or flimsy, filmy pattern paper.  The Oliver + S patterns are quality.  The attention to detail in the garment construction is really high also.  The neckline seam allowances are sewn down to facings, hems are carefully measured and sewn and the finished products really reflect that attention to detail. 

I completed the gift by purchasing a tiny pair of Gap jeans and an equally tiny pair of pink ballet flats.  The shoes for a baby are completely ridiculous, and I know that.  But even knowing full well that the likelihood that these will stay on or even be worn is terrible, I couldn't stop myself.  I'm a sucker for clothing in miniature... what can I say? Cheers friends, I hope you have great weekends!