Gauge: 5 stitches = 1 inch

I knitted this sweater in something less than a week, determined that I would make Boo an actual sweater that she could wear on her first skiing trip. I hadn’t intended to use the Cascade Quatro for this particular pattern, but when I was making the decision about what to knit I realized that I really wanted to use the yarn, and that I really wanted to make this pattern.

Admittedly, the yarn is not ideal for cables. The cable pattern does get a bit lost with all the color. But it looks better than I thought it might, and even if the cables had disappeared in the yarn they still kept me from having to do miles of nothing but stockinette.

I used a heavier weight yarn than called for, and knitted the sweater at 5 stitches per inch instead of 5 1/2. Using the larger gauge, the four-year instructions made a sweater that matched the six-year size, which was perfect for Boo.

I really enjoyed working with this pattern. It was easy and yet interesting, and it was very satisfying to complete what was a nice-looking sweater in such a short time.

I had expected to use four of the five balls of yarn I had, but the sweater took only a little less (as in twenty yards left over) of three balls. With all the yarn left over to play with, I made the matching hat, then worked up a pattern for a matching pair of mittens, then made a pair of plain socks. I did have to break into the fifth ball to finish the foot of the second sock.

Update, 3 years on: For the record, the sweater still fits Boo around her torso now that she is eight. The winter of 2010 I had to rip back the sleeves and hem and add 2 inches, but the top-down design made that relatively simple. Good design, with plenty of growing ease.