0 Knitting Bits

Onto the next knitting project!
I'm going for my most challenging yet.
Milena- a free pattern on Ravelry.  It's a bottom up cardigan in 5 ply cotton (my finest gauge yet- eep!).  Also, it has rather scarce instructions- no gauge and no schematic.  Hmmmm!  But so cute, I can't resist.

I've created a gauge swatch and tried to calculate how big it will be based on the number of stitches in the pattern.  I've got about 3 inches of negative ease at the bottom.  That seems like quite a lot!  But I tried wrapping it around me and it seems it will stretch to fit me.  Well... it better.  lol!

Of course my gauge swatch was for the stocking stitch on 3mm needles, while the ribbing is on 2.75mm needles.  So I don't know what that means for my calculations.  I THINK I'll be alright.  Maybe.

Anyway, I have a lesson for you all.  I bought some circular needles to knit this on and it was torture!  Why?  Because the cheap needles had a horrible join that the stitches kept catching on.  It was incredibly slow and painful.

They may look innocent, but they are EVIL.

So the basic moral of the story- buy the good needles.  Hobbies should be fun right?  I went out and bought some Knit Pro needles (Knit Picks to U.S people), and it's night and day.   Lesson learned- don't waste time on inferior tools friends!  They may be cheaper but not worth the pain!

Here is my small amount of progress.  I have a feeling this knit will take me forever, but that's okay.  I really enjoy the process (when I'm using decent needles that is!).

What do you guys think- any thoughts on the ease factor?  Will the ribbing stretch enough?
Do you obsess over ease like me?  Heh heh :)