A merry cardi in the making

I started musing about knitting a Christmas sweater for Julian on the weekend. I had 6 balls of Knit Picks Andean Treasure in Lagoon in the stash and tried to find a pattern that called for exactly that amount (or less). Since I didn't find it, I decided to try my hand at designing his Christmas sweater myself. Here's what I have so far...

It's a back and two sleeves knit with just under 3 balls. I had two ideas for this sweater: either a simple raglan sweater with a moss stitch placket and collar or {0r} a raglan cardigan hoodie with a cable going up one side, around the hood and down the other side a la IK Cardigan for Arwen with a toggle button closure a la Elizabeth Zimmerman's Aran Coat from the classic Knitting Around.

I prefer the second option but am really nervous about having enough yarn to knit a hood and a yarn-eating cable so the first option is a kind of a security blanket. I started knitting the back and sleeves since these are identical for both options and am giddy as punch that I have only used up half my yarn...so I think I can safely forge ahead with my cable band toggle button closure cardi.

I had planned on using the super cool reversable cable from the Cardigan for Arwen pattern but since it is worked on 24 stitches, I'm worried that it will be too wide for a kiddie sized cardi. So I'm going to hit Barbara Walker's Treasury of Knitting Patterns (I love, love, love these books and strongly recommend them for anyone...plus they would make a terrific Christmas present for yourself or any knitter on your list....check out my review of them here) to see if I can find a more suitable cable to use.

Wish me luck (and stay tuned). this'll either be really cool or really disastrous and either way it's good blogging fodder ;0)

Cheers!