Top-down baby cardigan: finished....

Ta dah!  Here is the top-down baby cardigan that I blogged about recently.  I was inspired by our beautiful weather and by the lovely photos in many of my favourite blogs especially Dayana Knits.  So I went out into the garden and gave the neighbours something to wonder about!!  The pale patch at the bottom right of the cardigan is just a reflection.  I should go back out and take another photo; but I'm off to work soon, so there isn't time....sorry.

It could have been a quick knit, but I have been manically busy recently.  Luckily it was a fairly easy knit and I'm pleased at how it turned out considering it was the first time I have knitted this type of pattern.  It was knitted in one seamless piece, though I had to pick up stitches for the collar and sleeves.  The collar was actually easier than expected as the pattern is well written.  The sleeves were the first I have ever knitted on dpns and went so well that I might use this method in future.  

The yarn I used was Chelsea Silk which is 65% silk and 35% wool.  It was donated to me by Joanne of the Cup On The Bus blog, It makes a very warm and strong garment.  I wouldn't normally use such a thick yarn for a baby knit but this will eventually be going off to a cold country where keeping babies warm is very difficult.  This seamless pattern was perfect as I can imagine that seams sewn from this yarn would be too bulky for a baby.

The buttons are nice enough but not brilliant.  They were in my already big collection and I couldn't justify buying more.  As usual, I sewed them on very carefully as I hope this cardigan will be worn and passed down for years.

 I found the pattern on Ravelry here.  I knitted the 6-12 months size and it took just under 200g of Aran weight yarn.  Knitters on Ravelry have commented that this pattern knits up big. From distant memory of my daughter when she was a baby, I think this would be suitable as a coat or jacket for a baby and then as a cardigan as the baby grew bigger.  The beauty of knitting for charity is that it will fit someone out there!  

When I started knitting this pattern I wasn't sure if it was easier than knitting a cardigan in individual pieces.  But once I got past the increases on the yoke, it was a breeze.  I will definitely knit this again.