There has been a bit of a trend... with many knitters jumping on the Puerperium Sweater Bandwagon :) I think the Yarn-Harlot's post probably helped things along, but it really is a great pattern and really does deserve all the attention it is getting!

Basically - this is a straightforward cardigan knit in one piece from the collar down. Nice and easy, basic increases, clear instructions, and quick and satisfying results.

I am often the type of person who disregards any recommendation of the use of stitch markers. (mostly out of misplaced bravado I'm sure... I'm an experienced knitter, I don't need to use those!) But in this case, whether for the variation in yarn colors, or whatever reason, I did find the markers to be useful for the yoke increases. I probably could have managed it without using them, but in my current state my attention span isn't running at full capacity. I tried first pish-poshing the markers, then got lost in an after-supper knitting session. For the second try, I tossed in the recommended number of markers and was off without a hitch. They really did make the increases brainless. Note to self: Jobo Don't be a dummy... just add the markers like you're told! That's why you have so many pretty ones!

I am really happy with the way the yarn turned out for this one. I had some leftover Merino from a commissioned project I completed a while back, and wasn't sure what to do with such a small amount. I had dyed about 10 ounces of fiber, and then used 7 - 8 oz, leaving 2 - 3 just sitting around. I love the plums, mauves and pinks, and especially the way they barber-pole and gently stripe from one color to the next. The nice fine Merino wool is very soft and was spun nice and lofty. Hopefully this will be the proper size and warmth for a new baby to come home in around late December this year (Disclaimer: No, I don't know that the baby is a Girl... I have no idea! I'm making both boy and girl items... hoping that something will fit and be appropriate in the end)

The next big hurdle - Buttons. I had bought a small set of 6 x 0.7 inch buttons some time ago... presumably for a sweater for myself someday. They are the cutest little square swirly white bone buttons! I love everything about them, and I think they match well with the cardigan... but it seems like a bit of overkill to put 15 bucks worth of fancy buttons on a kid's sweater. The other problem - the stupid buttonholes are a smidge too small for these buttons... I think 0.5 inch buttons would have been perfect. So I have a couple of options really: Go find another set of buttons (awwwww), or sew these buttons on the front of the placket anyways and use snaps to close the actual sweater (and reclaim the buttons after the brat has outgrown the sweater)

I find it really difficult around here to find nice buttons! Basically all we have are the plastic plain kinds that Walmart sells... which generally are not what I am looking for. I've been doing a bit of online ordering, but sometimes even then it's hard to find the perfect match for a project. I think I might go and do some more looking on etsy and see what I can come up with. Especially since I still need buttons for the masculine version of this cardi that I'm currently working on :)