think I found the perfect pattern!

3/9 - Not sure about the gauge on this pattern. I typically have to go DOWN a size on my needles, but in this case, my swatch indicated to go UP two sizes. I keep measuring as I go along, and I seem to be okay, but keep feeling like I’m not getting a good measure while it’s still on the needles. Guess we’ll see how it measures against my son once I take the body off the needles (he’s only a day older than the recipient).

3/10 - put the body stitches onto scrap yarn and took a moment to measure it correctly (and without interference from the silly circ cable). The body should be under 24” wide and it was nearly 26”. I could scream! I did several swatches with my size 8, size 9, and size 10 needles trying to meet the 4sts/inch gauge, and ended up using the size 10 needles. Threw it all back in my project back to look at again in the morning.

3/11 - Still too annoyed to touch the sweater. Giving myself another day to cool off before I have to rip the entire thing out and start again on another set of needles. Debating on whether I will do more swatches as I’m already irritated that I did several before casting on and was completely led astray.

3/12 - Ripped it all out and CO with size 8’s and am just going with it.

4/2 - took several days off to finish up a few other projects and things are looking a lot better. Getting ready to start the sleeves.

4/7 - worked on the sleeves on and off past few days…have about 6 rounds left on 2nd sleeve…just too tired to finish.

4/15 - just tying up loose ends and need to get to the store to buy 1/2” buttons…the ones I originally bought when I thought I was going to do a different pattern, are 1” and don’t fit the buttonholes.

4/22 - ordered buttons online, they arrived over the weekend. Sewed them on, added the tags, and made my 3yr old son try on the sweater. Going to made a headband to go with, then will get it all packed and sent off, hopefully no later than this Friday.