After four years of knitting, I felt able to take on colour work. Actually, truth be told, I don’t know if I considered it that much. I still didn’t know what I didn’t know. What I *did* know was that I wanted to make this pattern.

The original is Invading Your Earspace (Ravelry link) by Catherine Paul. I combined it with the Garter Stitch Baby Cardigan (Ravelry link) by Joji Locatelli (designer’s site) except I made it a stockinette baby cardigan to allow for the pattern. I didn’t realise who wrote this pattern until now! I had no idea who any designers were until the last couple of years, but now I know that she’s a Big Deal.

Anyway, I used that pattern for a starting point of how many to cast on, and how to do the neck decreases. The lack of garter makes the edges quite curly but I think I like it round the neck – less so on the bottom hem but it’s not as bad as it could have been. Looks like I did garter stitch edges, or at least the edge with the buttonholes in it.

It’s intended for fingering weight yarn but I went ahead and used DK. I don’t recall if I made a smaller size of the pattern to make up for that or if I just figured my wee pal would grow into it. I was more concerned with finding a cast on number that would fit with the space invaders pattern, I do remember thinking about that a lot.

I’m amazed how good this still looks. Usually I look back at earlier projects with what can best be described as a fond tolerance – either they’re so simple that it makes me smile to think how proud I was to complete it, or they’re distinctly homemade looking. Even things I make now sometimes give me that second reaction. So to see this precise colour work is a real joy. Well done, me from the past!

I’ve made the kimono pattern several times and last time forgot about the internal fastening. Looks fine lying flat, but put it on a toddler and the inside droops out and looks quite unsightly. Definitely don’t skip that step. I also made the original Invading Your Earspace hat, though I don’t have pictures. Both patterns have served me well, especially for something free!