Comments about Misti Alpaca Misti Alpaca Jana Ladies Jacket Pattern - Royal:

This sweater should be great when I finish it. The pattern, on the other hand, fought me ten rounds to a draw. The decreases in the first rows, deliberately designed to flair out the bottom, and the immediate start of the cable pattern made it difficult to sort out the pattern for the first couple of rows. After about four rows, this problem resolved itself, but then the photograph (which appears to be a sweater knit with a coin cable) and the pattern diverged. This confusion could be remedied by a close-up photograph of the pattern in the instructions. Another point of confusion was exactly how the three stitches should be crossed in Row 1. This was resolved by a close study of the photograph, but really should have been dealt with in a clearer description of how the stitches should be crossed. Finally, although my gauge is usually spot-on, with this pattern, I find myself working a two-step decrease in needle size into the bottom flair of sweater and sleeves to accommodate the difference between the recommended needle size and the actual gauge I'm getting.

When it comes to recommending this pattern -- if you've got the persistence to hang in there for the first four rows until the pattern becomes clear to you, I'd recommend the pattern. If you aren't certain of your skills, try something else.