I really agree with you about non specific instructions. I'm noticing that on the IK blog, they are addressing the problem of instructions that don't tell how much ease was designed in to the sweater, but clearly pattern designers have a long way to go before they get it right. Compliments on the bon bon sweater and the babycables. They both are up to your high standard. Can't wait to see them on you and the wee one.

You probably already know this, but if you take the whole length of the sweater and divide by the spaces, that means that your top and bottom buttons should be at the very top cast off and the very edge of the bottom cast on. You actually want to place them mid-collar, and in the bottom ribbing, and not necessarily put each one the same distance from the top and bottom edges. So first you figure out where you want those buttons, then divide the distance by the spaces.

Here is what knotology on ravelry said about spacing those two buttons for an adult sweater:

"I like to put the top-most button in the neckline edging, not in the sweater body (so the edging doesn't gape). I also like to put the bottom-most button about 2-3" up from the bottom (unless there's lots of rib at the bottom, in which case I put it about 1" up to keep the rib from pulling the buttonbands apart)."

Also, here is some advice from Lily Chin on spacing buttons.

Mark dots 1" apart on a length of 1/2" to 1" elastic. Now choose the number of dots to represent the number of buttons that you are placing onto the cardigan. Pull the elastic over the edge of the cardigan and mark!

Hope that helps.

Julia

I saw that Lily Chin tip on that Knitty Gritty episode. One of the best Knitty Gritty episodes I've seen. She had lots of really helpful ideas! In this case, I think I'm just gonna count rows - it'll be easy on such a tiny baby sweater.

Hmmm...I think, as girly and pink as the sweater is, I myself would have just let the buttons be on the wrong side. But then, I'm lazy.

The sweater is adorable, as all your work for the little dumpling is.

But may I say that most of all I appreciate the consistency with which you post. For those of us trapped at work, bored out of our skulls, it is wonderful to have a great daily post to depend on! Thanks.

I'm going to side with Sarah R and say that any delicate pink sweater loaded with bobbles and cuteness is never going to be confused with 'a boy sweater'. But, these things are the knitter's prerogative so rip away and I'll watch the results. Always learn great stuff here, thanks.

I never really understood the difference between boys and girls clothing. Are the buttons really on opposite sides?

(shows how observant I am)

Yep, they really are on different sides. I'm told that it's a throwback to the time when women had lady's maids to dress them, while men I guess have pretty much always preferred to dress themselves. I have absolutely NO IDEA if it's true, but it's an interesting tidbit. I have put the buttons on the "wrong" side of a sweater before and just left it because it really doesn't matter since babies ALWAYS need someone to dress them, right????? ;-) I totally agree with the vague directions. Row numbers people, give me row numbers!!!! LOL! Does this make us perfectionists?

I have so many issues with button bands, it's hard to choose just one. I prefer to knit my button bands as an integral part of the fronts, working button holes a set number of rows apart and then matching up the buttons on the other side. I know there are reasons for knitting the bands on separately, but none of them comes close to making up for the aggravation of doing it that way.

And yes, buttons (and belt buckles and zippers on pants and all sorts of other fasteners) are supposed to be reversed on women's clothes because women had people to dress them. Since this no longer applies, I figure it makes more sense to just do them however makes the most sense.

I am SOOOOOOOOO there with you on the "if you're going to sell me a pattern, it better have clearer directions that "cook until done"!" Drives me NUTS! (Admitedly, not a very long trip.....)

Oh, I am totally with you on needing specifics when doing button bands. I want directions, that's why I'm using a pattern, hey?

I don't think that could be mistaken for a boy's sweater, wherever the buttons are ;)

Me, I'd knit both the bands without holes, then bung the buttons on as decoration and put snaps on as fasteners.

Button bands! I do it the same way--count the rows after the first one is done. I see no other solution.

That's crazy - do the band with the buttonholes first, and then sew on the buttons. It's much easier to move the buttons around than try to match the buttonholes. That's how you do it in dressmaking, isn't it? There should be a shorter space between the top and second buttons, so that it looks neat when the top button is undone. I can sort of see why they don't tell you how many rows to leave between them, because your gauge might cause you to need an extra row here and there, but it's mad to do the buttonholes after the buttons.