The pattern is easy to follow and turned out perfectly. I used Spud and Chloe superwash wool in sweater weight, and some wooden buttons. The sweater came out smaller than I had hoped (I was knitting for a 1.5 year old - this would fit a 0 to 3 month old). So, I made a second version, altering the design based my gauge and desired size. I also added a cable detail that I think looks like owls at the base of the sweater. I forgot to do short rows in the collar in this second version, but it looks fine with the same number of rows as there is along the button area.
I've written out the owl pattern I used below. If you want to alter this sweater the same way, it requires some planning to make sure the owls are evenly spaced depending on the number of stitches. Add as many owls as will fit (I did 7) and change number of pearls between the owls to make it fit (I have put the changeable # of pearls (right side... so knits when working wrong sides) in brackets. You may need to have a different number of pearls at the edges of the sweater than throughout to make it work. Just make sure it's consistent. I highly recommend writing it out on graph paper to make sure it will work for you. Writing out your own owl pattern is crucial if you're as forgetful as me!
Knit as many rows as you like below before starting the owl pattern. I started mine approximately 10cm below base of arm hole.
ABBREVIATIONS
RS = right side
WS = wrong side
P = pearl
K = knit
C4F = slip two sts onto cable needle and hold in front, k2, k2 from cable needle
C4B: slip two sts onto cable needle and hold in back, k2, k2 from cable needle
OWL PATTERN
Row 1 (RS): *P(3), C4F, C4B, repeat from * to end
Row 2 (WS): *K(3), P8, repeat from * to end
Row 3 (RS): *P(3), K8, repeat from * to end
Row 4 (WS): *K(3), P8, repeat from * to end
Row 5 (RS): *P(3), C4F, C4B, repeat from * to endRow 6 (WS): *K(3), P8, repeat from * to end
Row 7 (RS): *P(3), K8, repeat from * to end
Row 8 (WS): *K(3), P8, repeat from * to end
Row 9 (RS): *P(3), K8, repeat from * to end
Row 10 (WS): *K(3), P8, repeat from * to end
Row 11 (RS): *P(3), K8, repeat from * to end
Row 12 (WS): *K(3), P8, repeat from * to end
Row 13 (RS): *P(3), C4F, C4B, repeat from * to end
Row 14 (WS): pearl
You can make your owl shorter or longer by adding or removing an even number of straight rows between the cabled rows.
I added yellow eyes to the owls by sewing them in after with yellow yarn. It would be fun with button eyes, or maybe something glow in the dark too!
