Fair Isle - Decided

I've finally decided on one of my nerdy patterns for my mom's Fair Isle sweater. (She said, "Surprise me," so it's my choice.) This one has CMM symmetry, and was inspired by the famous Cairo tessellation.



I know exactly what colors she likes in clothes, so I'm going with charcoal grey on a camel background. What I am more nervous about is the choice of yarn. Mom finds most of the wools that I like way too itchy for her. I'm hoping that merino will be a safe bet, either Zara or Torino.

She's leaving for Argentina on Thursday, and not coming back until early December. I'm hoping to have a hat done in the same yarn and stitch pattern to show her when she gets back. I'll ruin the surprise, I suppose, but there's no way I'm going to knit her a whole sweater and then find out afterwards that she doesn't like the pattern or it's too itchy.

ETA: Argentina is a vacation. My father is from Argentina, and most of his extended family (not to mention one of his four sisters, plus her kids/grandkids) is still there. My brother and his wife are also going. I would have gone too, but this is my busy season at work and I'm not allowed to take any long vacations in November. Just as well, since I'm not sure that I'm quite ready for Wibbles on a Plane.