The most beautiful thing I have ever made

If you don't count my kids, this is the most beautiful thing I have ever made.  I have knit a lot of things, most of them pretty sweet.  But this cardigan, known as "A Cardigan for Merry," (as in Merry, a hobbit from Lord of the Rings) takes the cake.  It's the cake, the icing, and the sprinkles on top.

It's DONE!

I started this cardigan in early October 2011, with the intent or finishing it BEFORE my friend had her baby - she was due February 13, 2012.  However, I had never done cables before.  Have you done cables before?  Maybe if I had, I would have known that a first-timer probably should not attempt a 24-stitch 8-row cable pattern like this:

Did I mention the cables are reversible?  That's right.  They are identical front and back.  I had to rip out the first few inches twice until I finally figured out what I was doing.  And for as many hours as it took for me to knit this, I STILL had to refer to the cable chart every. single. row.

That being said, it was also a more difficult knit physically because you knit this with worsted weight (10 ply) yarn on 3.0 mm needles.  Yup.  That's US Size 2.5.  Usually reserved for such tiny things like socks and fingering weight yarn.  The result is a very thick and warm fabric which will keep out the wind on those crisp spring days or sunny fall walks in the stroller.

So after hours (I lost count) of watching Ellen on the PVR while knitting, it's finally done.
Just in time for my 14-month-old to model it for the camera before I wrap it up:

Rockin' the Cardigan!

Can I get the buttons off myself?

All that I have left to do is give the cardigan to my friend. 

Think she'll like it?