Pattern: Baby Sweater on Two Needles (February) by Elizabeth Zimmermann from Knitter’s Almanac
Yarn: Artesano Ltd Opulencia (discontinued, I think), 2 x 50g skeins in colour: Amethyst
Needles: 3.75mm Addi circs

When I discovered that the bump was definitely a girl, I knew I had to knit one of these. And thanks to either the wonders of the postal system, the varying efficiency of eBay sellers or simply me being disorganised and not getting a zip, it ended up being my first finished non-hat-or-sock baby garment, despite the Tomten clearly having the moral right to be called so.

I do wonder if there’s much I can say about this pattern that hasn’t been said before, though. It’s such a quick and simple pattern, but the end result is so cute.

The pattern is written in EZ’s usual style, which I think you either love and go with the flow, or curse her name under your breath. It’s not hard to follow, but do remember to start making buttonholes at the neckline downwards. She fails to mention them at all ’til you’re on the lace pattern, by which time the yoke is done and buttonhole-free. Like a lot of people, I also adjusted the sleeve directions so that they were knitted in the round, instead of casting on the extra stitches on the sleeves and knitting them flat. Other than that, I just followed the pattern as written.

The yarn was lovely to knit with – I believe the base yarn is Inca Cloud, which is my favourite alpaca yarn – but the dye rubbed off onto my hands and needles something terrible: I had a nice purple stripe on my right index finger where I tension the yarn as well as blotches on the palms of my hands. I’m hoping that now it’s been blocked (when more colour leaked out) that it’s got over the urge to bleed everywhere and won’t turn the baby into Violet Beauregarde when she wears it. As far as I can tell,the yarn is no longer being made by Artesano, anyway, so I guess it’s a moot point, but I wouldn’t use it again.

I’m delighted/relieved the buttons match as well as they do. It’s hard when there’s nowhere close to me that sells buttons and I’m forced to rely on a photo on a website and just hope for the best, while being fully prepared to buy several different types until I find the right ones, but the little lilac hearts I bought from this eBay shop were the first I bought. They really go well with the yarn and are even the perfect size (it was a lot of fun debating whether to get 12mm or 15mm buttons… who’d have though that 3mm could make such a difference?).

Almost up to date with the FOs now! I shall never look this productive again.