Noughts and Crosses

I have spent the last few weeks thinking that Thomas needed a(nother) winter jumper.
I bought the yarn to knit an Owlet, but I've seen a few cabled jumpers in the shops that I really liked. What to do?
Firstly, there is this funnel neck jumper from Monsoon.

A Shawl collared cardigan in Mothercare

And a few similar things elsewhere.
Friends gave me some ideas of potential patterns...
The Childhood Remake sweater seemed perfect to use up some gorgeous brown handspun I got from Katie in return for a p/hop donation. I also loved this version of an old Debblie Bliss Pattern for a shawl collared aran sweater - suitably 80's retro! I found the book on ebay for 99p...
However, I decided to take a few of the elements of these and make something up.
Using the instructions for the Garter Yoke Cardigan I made for Tom earlier in the year I cast on using the handspun from Katie. I added 8 stitches to the back and used 4mm needles.


When I had finished the yoke I joined to knit in the round, adding 8 stitches to the centre front (in order to add a funnel/shawl collar later). I then copied the design from the monsoon sweater above, but made the cables into proper noughts and crosses (like the Hugs and Kisses jumper I made for Carys). This body is knit in a ball of The Yarn Yard Bonny in a colourway called Conker left over from my fair isle mittens. A lovely semi-solid brown which matches perfectly with the handspun. I'm using the yarn doubled and am worried I might run out before I get to the arms. However, I'm sure I can find something else to substitute in there if necessary!
I'm actually really enjoying the fact I can just knit and see what happens... it is liberating!
At the moment I am planning on a garter stitch band at the bottom in the handspun. I may (or may not) continue the cable pattern down the arms.
I'm not really sure if Thomas appreciates all of this hand knit love... but he'd better get used to it.
He is now wearing his Emil(ia)....

And he seems to like it!