Run on Sentences...: Finished Coworker Baby Sweater II

I've had the knitting done for weeks now. I sewed the ribbon onto the bonnet over the weekend. The sweater was more of a challenge. The lack of buttons on the pattern bothered me and I searched for other closure options. First, I was going to sew ribbon to the button bands and then attach snaps or buttons and use my sewing machine to add sewn buttonholes. It turns out that the button bands on this sweater match no ribbon know to man. Or at least no ribbon known to me and Beverly. Then, I thought about using the sewn buttonholes & buttons without the ribbon. I even did a sample on the swatch. But I worried about the stability of buttons & buttonholes without ribbon on this teeny tiny yarn. I know it's only for a baby, but still. I also worried about messing up the buttonholes and throwing all that knitting work down the drain over a badly sewn buttonhole.

Buttonholes have never been my thing. I used to sew whole garments and then beg my mom to do the buttonholes for me. The sewing machine I have now has automatic buttonholes which makes me even more nervous because I push a button and the machine just goes on it's own without much control on my part. (someday soon I'll get back to sewing and force myself to learn how to do button holes like a pro) So with this monkey/sweater on my back and my co-worker's due date looming I knew I had to do something this week (her last day at work is Friday!) . Monday I debated about hitting the gym after work or going to knitting group. Knitting group won out just so I could get ideas on this sweater. I made the right choice, for it was knitting group to the rescue! Someone suggested I-cord button loops. Armed with a viable alternative to sewing, I decided Tuesday was the night. I went to Beverly's and stocked up for Plan A, B, & C. (shank buttons for buttonhole loops, hook & eye tape, & hem tape to sew onto button bands instead of ribbon, not a bad replacement but they didn't have pink so I bought white which left me kind of cold)

I tried the I-cord first. It was too thick to work with the dainty buttons I bought. But I liked the idea of it. So I went to my Vogue Knitting book and tried some of their suggestions. Those didn't work either. Finally I tried the crochet button loops as described for Candy. It worked!

I did the single crochet along the both button bands edges because it had the added benefit of stretching out the garter stitch bands to their intended length. (HA! no blocking for me!) I think it makes the whole garment look more finished. (although honestly it could have used a good blocking) I can see more crochet edges in my future. Here's a close up of the finished closed sweater.

The pattern originally intended for it to be finished by just a ribbon through loops in neckband that you tied around the baby's neck. I didn't like that idea, which is why I went through all the button trauma. And although I liked the look of the ribbon in the neck band I wondered about the wash-ability of it. At this point it was already 1am and I figured if I was going to be a perfectionist, I might as well go all out. So I added little baby snaps onto the ribbon and the inside of the sweater. It allows the ribbon to stay put, while also making it completely removable.

The finished sweater & bonnet turned out just as wonderfully as I hoped they would. They are so very sweet that I hated to give them away. Fortunately I have a whole cone of the yarn left. I wonder if it's enough for me to make a sweater like it in my size? (no bonnet for me, thanks)

The pattern is free here. Check the finished projects section if you want even more info.