I love knitting for babies. It's quick and there are so many gorgeous patterns. I have a number of go-to patterns that I keep coming back to because the patterns are well-written and I've had great results - Jacki Kelly's Felix's Cardigan, annypurls' Peace Baby, Georgie Hallam's Rainbow Dress, and the Ribbon-tied Wool Vest from Erika Knight's Simple Knits for Cherished Babies.
But when I found out my little Sister was pregnant with a second daughter, I wanted to find something new. I settled on Tara Froseth's Little Sister's Dress, which I'd had my eye on for a while.
Pattern: Little Sister's Dress
Yarn: Luxury 4ply by Bendigo Woollen Mills
Colour: Leaf
Started: 26/09/11
Finished: 22/10/11
Buttons: faux mother of pearl plastic buttons in the shape of flowers, from one of those bags of mixed buttons you get at craft stores.
I loved this pattern, although I did find that the yoke seemed to take forever and I had trouble getting the button loops finished neatly.
Other thoughts - this pattern comes out rather large. My gauge was not exact but not that far off, so I expected it to be a little large, but this is a newborn size and the end result was about a 1year old size from other patterns. In fact, it is so large that it was rapidly appropriated by my 20 month old niece (the older sister of the recipient) and fits her quite nicely. It would absolutely swim on the little lady it was intended for.
Oh well, babies grow, and she will be able to wear it eventually. I just wouldn't recommend knitting this pattern without alteration if you want it to fit a newborn baby.