Israel - the cardi

Last week my gorgeous friend Tania bought a hand knit jumper for five dollars from a girl at a trash and treasure market.

The jumper was all intricately knitted with reindeer and colour-work and patterns. The jumper was knitted from super soft, cuddly wool. And the jumper was knitted for the girl who sold it to Tania by her Mum. For FIVE DOLLARS!!

My Jazzy chose the pink Australian merino wool for this cardigan a few days before we left for Israel.

I cast on and knitted the first few rows at about two o'clock in the morning the night before we left in the hope of convincing airline security that I was indeed a knitter and not just the carrier of two pointy sticks and a ridiculous amount of yarn.

I held my breath each time we passed through the x-ray machines in airports and then happily knitted rows of the lace detail all the way through to the sleeve separation before we landed in Israel.

Jazzy's Israel cardi was the perfect traveling knitting project. Long rows of knit and purl that I could pick up on the bus, or after meals, or in the hotel at night and then shove down deep in my bag under cameras and phones and chargers and bits of paper.

I knitted that cardigan while we were acclimatising on our first few days in Tel Aviv. I knitted it in Jerusalem in between visits to the Old City and the markets. I knitted a big chunk on our trip to the desert down south, if you look carefully I'm sure you'll find bits of Negev sand and dust from the dust storm we got caught up in. I got a lot of knitting done the day we drove from all the way south, all the way up north, lucky I don't get car sick. I knitted the last of the length on our way back to Tel Aviv and decided to save the sleeves for the plane home.

I did worry a bit that I would finish the sleeves to quickly and be left on the plane home with empty, idle hands, but I needn't have.

Again I held my breath each time we passed through airport security. I imagined myself in tears if they took my needles away and how my precious stitches would unravel. But again, the sticks must have looked safe enough and I knitted all the way home.

Short round rows of 53 stitches, all the way home.

There are so many miles in this cardigan. So many stories and adventures and details. From the wool carefully chosen at last year's Bendigo Sheep and Wool show, to the selection of the beautiful Tikki pattern and all that travel in between. I hope My Jazzy wears it often and it reminds her of how loved she is.

But if you happen to see her at a trash and treasure market in about ten years time selling this jumper for $5, would you do me a favour and remind her. Thanks.

Ravelery details here, I'll finalise the yarn totals when I can get it off her.

Big love peeps.

I hope your weekend is delicious.

I'm off to deal with the carnage left by the first frost of the season. Ouch!

xx