Purple hearts cardigan

And another long blogging gap - life has been busy this year!

This was my first finish of this year (back in January) and I've already written a bit about it here so I won't repeat myself.  I'm pleased with how it's turned out and I managed to power through the sleeves pretty quickly - well for me anyway - with the added impetus provided by the #sundaysweaterkal on instagram and Foyle's War being back on TV on Sunday evenings - sadly finished forever now - a great series which I will miss.

Purple hearts cardigan in Madelinetosh Sock colourway Thicket

Because I used 4-ply wool rather than the aran/worsted weight the pattern was designed for I was able to add more pattern to the front, and I also put lace panels on the back - it was an easy pattern to knit and I'm quite tempted to use it again. 

Back view which shows up the stitch pattern a bit more clearly

I've knitted four more cardigans so far this year - I rather hibernated during the winter evenings with TV box sets of series set in the 30s, 40s and 50s and now have a long wishlist of jumpers and cardigans I want to knit based on those I've seen on TV!  I've also got two jumpers on the go at the moment as well.  All this knitting has meant that I've only just recently started sewing again - I'd already knitted more yardage by the middle of May this year than I did in the whole of last year and there are only so many hours in the day, well evenings and weekends, so the sewing was rather abandoned.  However... my machine is now back in action and I've made two dresses and have another which should be finished soon.  I actually cut it out on the August bank holiday weekend last year and would really like to wear it before this summer disappears!