Test knitting this lovely pattern for Sarah of Whistling Girl Knits.

Very pleased with the yarn choice…a wide variety of attractive shades are available in small (1-ounce /112 yd) amounts, and the yarn --springy and soft-- was easy to work with, if a bit drying on the hands. Not sure I’d use the peach for background in the upper band again, but that’s just personal preference.

This smallest size (12 to 18 months) uses tiny amounts of contrast colours (less than 5 yards each of the loden, coffee, rust, crimson and golden oak, and 20 yards of the peach) and just 300 yards of the main colour, sand.
I’m pleased to have lots left over for matching hat/mitts/socks or other projects.

This pattern is a delight. There are several interesting and new (to me) techniques: the Channel Islands cast-on, the fluted rib stitch used for the bodice, and the Anna Zilboorg-inspired buttonband -- all were clearly explained and easy to execute on the first try.

The handsome motif also offers an opportunity to practice stranded colourwork --still need to improve tension, but blocking helped even things out.

The bodice came out a bit small due to tension changes with fluted rib stitch. The recipient Clara (shown at 16 months) is quite tiny and slender, so I think it will fit well, but I’ll need to make accommodations next time.

I’ll definitely make this again. In fact, I can’t wait to try a Spring or Summer Garden!

Notes for next time:
Skirt: reduce stockinet portion by an inch
Bodice: try larger needle (3.5mm) to compensate for tighter tension with fluted rib
Buttonband: reduce stitches by one between buttonholes
Armhole Finishing: p/u 80, reduce 4 st, then 2 st
Neck Finishing: p/u 82, reduce 4st