Well, it does come with a Dreadful Warning. I like the idea of finishing both at the same time - can't bear starting a second sleeve when I have just finished one, so I have to knit two at once there. I'm not sure about using different coloured wools and doing two sets of two- that would be even more oppressive.
Thanks Tamnymore, today I have hopes that I will survive! Grandson was introduced to balaclavas since he tried the one I made for his elder brother when he was about three. (he asked for purple, but I toned it down by putting a dark brown edging on a strong purple) Being hand knitted it had a lot of stretch and was worn for at least a couple more years. They got to see the benefits of having warm ears before that age when they dismiss everything. They spend a lot of time outdoors but I'm not sure it will go on into teenage.