Sounds like a good plan. The sleeves look wonderful and that color is great. I'm anxious to hear about your sweater design insights. It seems as though a good understanding of design would be a good thing to have as a knitter. I may have to work on that.

Wow! I’m impressed with your ambitious goals. The sleeves look wonderful! I’m sure that your sweater design turn out lovely.

I have the utmost confidence that this sweater will turn out spectacular. I can't wait until I get enough experience (and, um, courage) to try designing stuff on my own.

Do knitters say "good luck," or "break a leg?" =)

De-lurking to say you've inspired me to learn more about pattern making too. After never being happy with how a sweater has fit me, I need to learn to alter patterns... looking forward to seeing your results!

This is very exciting!!!

sounds like a great plan. i don't think you can go wrong with it. it should be a great sweater when it's all done!!

That is a nice, albeit long, list of goals. I think this is totally doable and you look like you are well on your way!

How are you getting such nicely lit photos indoors these days? Mine all suck.

I can't wait to see how this turns out. I want to see how you do the short row neck shaping.

I'm sure your sweater is going to turn out great! I'm very excited to see how it turns out.

Diana! I've been meaning to email you for days now. I've got some notes that I took that I'm going to scan in and email to you from my sweater design class. Although it looks like you already have a good plan of action. Also, for more reference, my mom's got a book that she really likes on sweater design called "A Knitters Template" by Barry Klein and Laura Militzer Bryant. I've taken a look at it and it's very detailed. Good luck!

Your plans are ringing a bell. I "think" that the fair isle sweater (using dk weight yarn) in "Handknit Holidays" is similar in construction. Maybe reading it would be helpful, although you really already have it all figured out. Can't wait to see it!

I'm glad you're using the simple, but totally stylish, straight sleeves. It's a no-fuss method, and I really like how the sleeves come out!

Your projects are always so inspiring to me! I have a bag of Cash Iroha intended for another project, but somehow I am thinking of hourglass sweater! Sure I would keep a close eye on yours! Wish you good luck with it. ;)

oooh it's looking great! i meant to share with you that i read on a blog recently (of course i can't remember which one) that cash iroha can bloom/stretch quite a bit with wash and wear. i don't mean to overcomplicate things for you but since you have really high aspirations for the sweater i thought you'd want to know (if you already didn't).

THe suspense is killing me! I can't wait to see it! It looks like its going to fit you really nice.

Question for you- does using the provisional cast on allow you to remove the waste stitches and then slip the first row onto needles, allowing you to knit any sort of edging you want???