A fight to the finish (well, the start, actually)

I have been fighting and fighting with the sweaters for two. days. now. I couldn't get the gauge right on the aran cardigan (even though the gauge swatch was perfect). Then I wanted to start the pewter coat, got the foundation row done--which was really hard because it starts right in the cable pattern, and realized I was using the wrong size needle. Sigh. I'm going to try and fudge it though....I was using a size 9 and I was supposed to be using a size 8. Hopefully my anal-retentiveness won't make me redo the whole thing!