A Bit of Irish Wool

The planning for yarn buying in Ireland started shortly after we bought plane tickets. There had to be some yarn stores in Dublin, right? I wasn't going to roam the countryside but surely I could find a few skeins that had to come home with me?

Fortunately, our friend Joe knows Dublin really well and could walk us right to the shopping center where This is Knit  has a nice corner on the first floor.  The delightful staff there was absolutely pleased to point out what yarns were local to Ireland and also to sell some additional things to other friends who'd followed me in to see just what a yarn store actually looked like. 

Despite the best laid plans, I only brought home half a suitcase of yarn. I didn't even have to squish all of the air out of the travel/vacuum seal bag! 

Studio Donegal was the primary local source I pulled from, with a sweater quantity of an Aran weight in this rich cranberry tweedy color. It's a fairly soft wool though heavy enough that I'll look for patterns where I can layer it over a long-sleeved t-shirt.  I expect it to absolutely pop with cables.  

I'd almost missed that they also had a fingering weight of the yarn as well, fortunately the staff member who was chatting with me pointed it out.  This will be enough for a large and very cozy shawl.  

And finally, a close up shot of a skein of Townhouse Camden Tweed, which has 15% Donegal Nep and is dyed by one of the employees at This is Knit.  

The bags of yarn then followed me around to the pubs and back to the hotel where I started making great plans for them.