Cabled decreases

I am trying to recreate the cabled decreases found in most ready-to-wear sweaters as a decorative detail. So far, my technique is creating a subtly cabled raglan seam, suitable for just about any raglan sweater. Here is a picture, followed by instructions:



Each cabled decrease is accomplished over 8 stitches, with the second four mirroring the first. If the stitches are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, then you K2tog (1 over 3), K2tog (2 over 4), K2tog (7 over 5), K2tog (8 over 6). I'm doing this without a cable needle, but it would be much easier with one, especially for the fiddly second group in each set of decreases.