Sunday, April 21, 2013

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

36 comments:

  1. What a stunning photo of your girl Kate. Her eyes, her gorgeous freckles and wispy hair. Beautiful! Obviously the cardi is a masterpiece as well. I just had to comment on the photo though..

    ReplyDelete
  2. EEeeek I would be so upset if somebody sold something I had knitted them for $5 ....although I guess if it went to a 'good' home then I'd feel ok .... maybe

    I love the cardi for Jazzy and so glad they didn't confiscate your knitting needles

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love the colour and the pattern of this cardi, need to knit my girl a new one for winter but seeing as I am so slow she only gets one every 2nd yr!

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's gorgeous Kate! I'm sure she'll treasure it. <3

    ReplyDelete
  5. You are so clever. I love Jazzy's cardigan and your photos of her in it. And the story behind it is incredibly special.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am a beginner; your post before you left inspired me to take some yarn and a crochet needle on a long car ride yesterday. Thanks so much for the idea, I now have a snug hat for one of my little guys and it made the journey much easier! Your cardigan is gorgeous and I love how you've "woven" your travel memories into it :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I would rather have something I hand-made, sold to someone who would love it and wear it, than to see it tossed in the dumpster or even shoved in the back of a drawer to never see the light of day. It's a beautiful cardigan, with a fantastic story behind it. I am sure that Jazzy knows its value.

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a beatiful story woven into a gorgeous cardi. And worn by a sweet, beautiful girl xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. Boy, has that cardi travelled!!! I would of course insist that my daughter keep it forever and when she out grows it, frame it and put it on her wall!!!! Stunning colour too! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  10. fabulous Kate! I love the thought of all that exotic sand and dust and flora being knitted into Daylesford stitches. As for the needles - I've found it sooooooo depends on who you get. I've never been stopped going through the security gates, but on one Qantas flight from Brisbane to Melbourne, a terribly officious Flight Attendant (middle aged male) came up to me after the plane had taken off, squatted down beside me, and said with a malicious smile "If you don't put that away (a cardigan being knitted on a circular needle) right now, I will take it off you and you will never see it again." I was speechless! My husband leaned over and asked him to produce the appropriate legislation that allows him to confiscate knitting as opposed to stiletto shoes and pens and styluses etc. etc. And pointed out that it had been deemed safe by the security staff, and that we had rung Qantas and checked the day before. The flight attendant replied, "Fine! You want to make a fuss! I can make a fuss!" I shoved the knitting into my bag and shook all the way to Melbourne. It was horrible. So good for you! Knitters unite!

    ReplyDelete
  11. you make me want to knit so bad!!
    that is gorgeous, Kate
    x

    ReplyDelete
  12. That rosy cardi is the perfect Jazzy colour and looks so soft and warm. I hope to see her younger sister wearing it one day too...before it heads off to the markets!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm kind of impressed, as the mother of someone who loses everything, that she still had the jumper to sell... Such a great cardigan and colour, full of so many memories. Whenever I have a long journey ahead of me or a few days away my first thought is 'which project shall I take - maybe none are suitable for travelling and I need to start a NEW project...' Great Instagram photos of your great trip - I never had a burning desire to visit Israel but I do now; hopefully going with a friend next year! X

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love it! The colour is sensational. You had every reason to be nervous going through security. Did you see my blog post recently about my experience? Lost my dear old mama's scissors :( My own fault, but still :(

    ReplyDelete
  15. It's beautiful. Those moments must have been so stressful :) I get nervous even if there isn't anything suspicious in my bag

    ReplyDelete
  16. beautiful. everything! the cardi, the photos, the words, the love.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh that cardi is perfect! Tikki's patterns are always great aren't they? I love getting back into knitting as the weather cools down (I tend to only pick up my needles for half the year!). :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a cardigan knit full of wonderful memories. I think Jazzy shall have to keep it forever and hand it down so they can tell the story of its travels. It looks very pretty. I just finished knitting the short sleeved version for my 4 mth old niece!

    ReplyDelete
  19. What a fabulous cardi and an even better tale! I cant wait for what you get up to next. Have a great week. Ps the model is gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  20. It is a beautiful cardigan and it carries so much meaning with it. I hope she gets to enjoy it for a long time.

    ReplyDelete
  21. What a beautiful, well traveled cardigan! Thank goodness you didn't get your needles confiscated! Frost already at your place...ouch indeed :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow hon what a lovely, lovely post. The cardigan is just beautiful - you are one very talented lady.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Slightly off subject (the sweater and the model are lovely indeed)but I'm really curious to know how you got from living in Israel to living in Australia. Are you Israeli or is there some other interesting story-if you feel like sharing it. I don't know how I found your blog, but I love it. I am a graphic designer in the SF Bay Area who has learned to knit 5000 times and have nothing to show for it. I think I don't have the patience.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I can so relate to your reaction to the $5 sale of a painstaking hand knit jumper at the trash and treasure! Unless you knit it seems you can't appreciate the work and love which goes into knitted garments. And fair isle no less! My lord. I remember having the same reaction at Camberwell market once and looking suspiciously at the person selling off the hand knitted goodness so cheaply. I'm sure Jazzy won't be doing such a thing!
    Pear tree yarn, by the way, is divinely soft. What a pity it seemed to disappear.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Oh I am so envious of your ability to knit, be creative, write an impressive story and shoot amazing pictures- And bring up a family as well. Inspirational!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm just packing up a hand knit to pass along this afternoon after a little mending. Maybe I'll just keep giving them away so my children can never let me down like that. Shocking!

    ReplyDelete
  27. yay! so glad you made it through that sneaky airport security. it is lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  28. ♥♥♥..... just so much ♥♥♥

    ReplyDelete
  29. Jazzy this is a gorgeous cardi.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'm not sure exactly why but this weblog is loading incredibly slow for me. Is anyone else having this issue or is it a issue on my end? I'll check back later on and see if the
    problem still exists.

    Here is my blog Ketone Diet

    ReplyDelete
  31. This post is so beautiful - words, pictures, everything :-) I would love to knit on the plane, but I am just so afraid they would take my needles away - so I never dare. But even to Israel you made it! I am amazed :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. It's beautiful!!!! I hope one day I will be able to knit such a beautiful cardigan...for each and everyone in my family and they will never find their way in to a thriftstore...but I must say if someone would ask me if I would buy one for $5 I know I would do it immediately :o)

    ReplyDelete
  33. You are brave to bring along your knitting with you thru the airports.

    Your Jazzy is such a lucky girl, owning and wearin mummy's beautiful handknit.

    Dont worry, i am sure she will treasure it for life :)

    ReplyDelete
  34. This is such a beautiful story. I have been reading your blog from the beginning since Jodi posted the link and I am in love with your life! I am inspired by your crafts and dedication to growing food for your family. Also, your writing is easy and honest. Thank you for sharing your story. You have a new reader from Northern California. :)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for stopping by...

I do read every single comment you leave and appreciate it very much, but I should let you know that I can be a wee bit on the useless side when replying to comments, that's just me, everyday life sometimes gets in the way....so I'll apologise now, just in case.

Kate XX

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Visit my other blog.