Buttoned Crochet Jacket

We're nearing the end of winter here in Wellington and the flowers are beginning to bloom and remind me that sunny summer days aren't too far away.  The magnolia tree near our house always reminds me of spring's imminent arrival.  

Over winter, LP (little person) needed a few warmer layers to get through the colder weather.  Rather than purchase I wanted to use up stash to make her something.  I crocheted a 'Buttoned Jacket' by Mon Petit Violon Designs.  

Its got an 'average' difficulty weighting. It wasn't a difficult crochet but I'm not super impressed with the pattern.  On the plus side, it has three different stitches.  Double crochet for the yoke with increases, a cluster type stitch (double then single) for the body, and a single then chain for the sleeves. 

I used two types of yarn for the cardi; the lighter green was left over from blanket I made for LP (and finished while in the early stages of labour!).  I'm trying very hard not to build up my yarn stash again!  The darker was three new balls from knitworld bought to match up the weight and finish off the cardi.  Of course, now I'm left with a different green in stash!  I even bought the  balls one at a time so I could just work with what I needed - but didn't quite manage to finish with the end of a ball.

I love the cluster stitch in the body - but the yoke increases at the back make it bobble out a bit and I don't think I got the tension right on the sleeves - they're a bit tighter than the rest of the make.  The jacket is also a little on the short side so I added a few rows to the arms and body.  I also changed the fastenings as I didn't really like the additional straps.  The cardi doesn't close up/fold over in front (I should have paid more attention to the photos of the pattern) and I should have probably blocked it to reduce the bobbled in the yoke at the back.  I *think* the pattern may have the wrong numbers for the body part row 1 as the numbers didn't seem to stack up for me.  But I winged it and didn't spend the time trying to figure out if it was me or the pattern.  Not a make I'd be keen on doing again so I didn't waste the time.

Yarn: 1 ball of Peter Pan merino baby (light green) and 2.5 balls of Broadway yarns Merino DK (100% superfine merino superwash - 50g balls - darker green - colour 31 - wash at 30 degrees and cool iron).  Both purchased at Knitworld.

Pattern: 'Buttoned Jacket' by Mon Petit Violon Designs.  Size: 12-24 months.  

Changes: Lengthened sleeves and body by a few rows by eye as it was a little short on LP.  Possibly something weird on row 1 for the body for size 12-24 months.  I also didn't bother crocheting up the front and just finished the neckline in the darker green.

Hook size: can't remember (but I did swatch first!)