Enjoy your days in Ireland! I have been to the West coast a long, long time ago and loved it. Nice that you remember Karen Templer, I liked her blog very much too.
Thanks, Mary! I'll be prepared. We also live in a very wet and green climate and have had so much rain this year. Our climate is different from yours in that we do have much warmer summers and have had some very destructive fires in recent years. The fires and potential drought keep me a bit more cheery or at least philosophical about the rain. But I'm longing for more sun and hope to find at least a tiny bit of sun while on our trip!
Lovely to see you again! Very nice reclaimed yarn, and how exciting, going to Ireland! I've always wanted to go, trying to convince my partner it'd be a good time
I’ve been to Ireland many times and bought a few beautiful cabled sweaters from small shops on the back roads. Also bought a few in Galway at a lovely shop. I still have all those sweaters. They last forever. One I wear all the time. I also made it Donegal and purchased a beautiful woven shawl (2003) I wear it all the time and it’s in perfect shape. Enjoy your trip to Ireland. Look for very small shops.
I loved Ireland and I’m sure you will have a wonderful trip. I’m 72 and have been knitting for 60 years. All my sweaters up until the last few years were bottom up. I now love knitting top down as it is nice to be able to try them on. I just finished Sarkle by Kate Davies which is bottom up in the round but I liked it so much I just wanted to make it. I used a sweater that fits me well to measure the Sarkle as I went along and it fits made it in Rowan felted tweed - one of my favourite yarns. Safe travels, Margaret in Vancouver, B.C.
Margaret, I think that using the measurements of a well-fitting sweater is a particularly good trick for bottom up construction. I have had my eye on the Sarkle and Hirne since they came out. I'd love to get up your way again. My son attended UBC and it was fun to visit him in your beautiful part of the world. Thanks for watching!
thank you for talking so thoroughly about the Pressed Flowers Cardigan, I do not like bottom up construction or drop shoulders, so I think I'll pass until she makes a steeked top down version, or I figure it out for myself (I have purchased both the shawl and the hat pattern - I have knit the hat).
Currently working on the pressed flower cardigan ( have knit the PF shawl and the PF sweater, which I love). Not sure how it’s going to go, so doing it on blind faith. Have a wonderful trip, big hugs from Calgary.
Love your Pressed Flowers! So pretty. I'm on my second-in-a-row bottom-up pullover (first was Vair, from Shetland Trader; current is Ninian, also by Gudrun). When I got close to the arm split, I put on waste yarn and blocked and measured and tried on, paying close attention to my personal measurements and the schematic (esp since I was off gauge and they both involve lace). Yeah, it's a lot of monkey business but worth it. I've made more than several ill-fitting top-down sweaters, so not convinced by the conventional wisdom of top down being easier to fit. I think understanding sweater math is the most helpful thing. Enjoy your trip!
Thanks so much! I'd love to try Vair or Maywick in Shetland Trader. I looked at Vair pretty closely, trying to see if I could adjust it to my measurements and your suggestions sound good. You're right that top-down sweaters don't always fit right, and I'd like to learn more about getting a good fit around the shoulders.
I don’t think I have ever seen Hellebore- such pretty flowers. I knit the Elton by Joji Locatelli, which is a top down drop shoulder. I found it hard to figure out the lengths too, but at least could try it on. I knit several sizes up for the sleeves as they were very small in the pattern. It worked out well and I love the sweater. I have the pattern and have ordered yarn for the Pressed Flowers cardigan, so appreciate your tips before I get started. Your Pressed Flowers is looking lovely! I am so impressed with your perseverance in ripping out the Irish sweater (had a good chuckle remembering the shoulder pads and puffy sleeves and how fast they disappeared- I fear they are making a bit of a comeback- lol). I like your idea of taking a shawl to knit- it won’t take up much room, but should have lots of knitting time in it so you don’t run out of projects- socks are always good too. I don’t know of any self striping sock yarn without nylon, but two Canadian companies on either end of the country have a few options. Sweet Georgia out of Vancouver, BC has a lovely variegated superwash merino, mohair silk sock yarn and Fleece and Harmony out of Prince Edward Island has a lovely Point Prim sock yarn that is Canadian wool (non-superwash) and Canadian mohair that is local and they have some lovely variegated yarns. With our Canadian dollar being so low compared to the US dollar our yarns are a bargain for you- about 30% cheaper. I have used both yarns and love them. Ireland will be so much fun. I am envious. A lovely shirt tail relative of mine went to Ireland with two of his brothers ( their parents emigrated from Ireland to Canada). I have knit him thrummed mittens and Newfoundland mitts to keep him warm while working in a dairy. He brought me back some rustic natural Irish yarn (before he bought his first Guinness apparently- how about that for an honour- lol). I made myself some Newfoundland Mittens and there was enough yarn left to make his wife a pair of mitts too. I will think of Francis and smile every time I keep my hands warm with those mitts. I am so impressed with how light you travel. You are my hero! Have fun on your trip and I look forward to hearing all about it, Kathy!
I'm still thinking about the Elton sweater, which looks like a light airy project. Thanks for suggestions for sock yarn. I'd love to get up to Canada again. I used to get up to Vancouver more often, but haven't been since Covid. I'm looking forward to seeing what Irish yarn I can find. And I'll definitely have a Guinness while I'm there! (Or half of my husband's).
Hi, love your podcast. I traveled the west coast of Ireland late last year I found most yarn shops closed on certain days so check opening times before going unfortunately the only place I found open was the Donegal mill in Kilcar which was wonderful, even the yarn shop in Dublin was closed when I visited I was so disappointed also there is a podcast called yarn journeys that has episodes of her travelling through Ireland with loads of information on Irish yarn and babbles yarn podcast is talking about a yarn festival coming up soon in Doolin co Clare, enjoy your travels☘️😊
Thanks for pointing out possible closures! As soon as I read your post, I checked our schedule and the calendar because we haven't been thinking much about what days of the week we'll be in each place. Fortunately, we're in Kilcar in the middle of the week, which is the place I care most about. Thanks for podcast suggestions, too. I'll look into the Doolin yarn festival!
I'm halfway through your podcast but stopped to tell you my husband and I just got back from Ennis, Ireland (a town we fell in love with ten years ago and vowed to return to). Please don't miss the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis. Staying there was wonderful ~ the King Suite was perfect for a long stay ~ but if that doesn't work for you, consider spending some time in the lobby in front of the fireplace. It's open to all and locals meet their friends there! You can order tea, wine, beer, and food in front of the fireplace and the locals love to visit and talk, having never met a stranger. I spent many drizzly afternoons in front of that fire, knitting. It was perfection. Deborah
Thanks for the advice! I did see the Old Ground Hotel and it looked nice, but we went with a B&B not far away from it. It looks like a good place to stop for a drink. I love the image of you knitting in front of the fire, which sounds like bliss to me!
Have a wonderful trip! Can’t wait to hear about your adventure. My Husband and I are planing on going back to Europe when we retire. We have 3 very long years to wait lol. Your cardigan looks great. The length looks perfect.
I’ve been staying away from bottom up sweaters. And then it happened. I follow a designer who had a pattern I liked and I bought the pattern and then discovered it was bottom up. Because I know the designer, I didn’t feel I could back out after I had talked to her about it. I had a really hard time with the stitch counts once I joined the sleeves to the body. I took it apart four times! I finally just decided to fudge it, thinking that I would end up frogging it in the end. But, it turned out great and it is one of my favorite sweaters. But I’m not going to ever do another bottom up sweater. Lol. So your husband has Irish citizenship because he has Irish ancestors? I have Irish ancestors, too. How does that work?
Joyce, I keep seeing bottom up sweaters everywhere I look, so I'd like to get more comfortable with them. But it definitely gives me pause! I did a quick google search and it appears that a person may be eligible for Irish citizenship if they have (and can prove) that you they have a grandparent born on the island. Or a parent, of course. And maybe even a great-grandparent, if you also reside there. So some digging into old birth records is probably required.
What a nice surprise...I've had a sleepless night and have you to keep me company. I finished my Burgos vest, which I think you saw on Instagram, and I love it. I rushed through it as I wanted it for a Spring transition piece. Right now I'm working on the Gloam by Caitlin Hunter. I think my first time knitting one of her designs. I'm knitting it oversized and drapey, which is how I think it's intended. Others in my knitting group are knitting it more fitted. I've also joined in on Anna Johanna's sweater MKAL, "It's a Bug, Not a Feature"...we're just on the first clue, and I'm loving the colour-work...actually trying Ladderback Jacquard for the first time!
Gloam looks like fun! It seems more like a jacket than a cardigan. A layering piece. I have to look into that MKAL, but think I'll have to enjoy it from afar. The Ladderback Jacquard has been something I want to try.
Hi Kathy, I’ve left you a pretty long comment with Irish wool yarn-y tips for your trip; in case UA-cam is holding it back because I was trying to give you some links to yarn places you might want to visit, as well as my email, I just wanted to leave this comment letting you know. Check your Held For Review comments if you don’t see my original one 🤗 Susan
Susan, I'm not seeing any comments held for review. Can you see your original comment below my video? Your podcast looks interesting...I just subscribed.
Enjoy your days in Ireland! I have been to the West coast a long, long time ago and loved it. Nice that you remember Karen Templer, I liked her blog very much too.
Hi from Ireland ☘. Its been the wettest March we have had in years. Bring plenty if rain gear. Enjoy your vacation.
Thanks, Mary! I'll be prepared. We also live in a very wet and green climate and have had so much rain this year. Our climate is different from yours in that we do have much warmer summers and have had some very destructive fires in recent years. The fires and potential drought keep me a bit more cheery or at least philosophical about the rain. But I'm longing for more sun and hope to find at least a tiny bit of sun while on our trip!
I like to wear blue too, and yes it looks good on you.
OMG the hellebores are sooo beautiful🎉
Lovely to see you again! Very nice reclaimed yarn, and how exciting, going to Ireland! I've always wanted to go, trying to convince my partner it'd be a good time
I’ve been to Ireland many times and bought a few beautiful cabled sweaters from small shops on the back roads. Also bought a few in Galway at a lovely shop. I still have all those sweaters. They last forever. One I wear all the time. I also made it Donegal and purchased a beautiful woven shawl (2003) I wear it all the time and it’s in perfect shape. Enjoy your trip to Ireland. Look for very small shops.
Phyllis, how nice to have those beautiful sweaters to remind you of your visit to Ireland.
You will have such a great trip
I loved Ireland and I’m sure you will have a wonderful trip. I’m 72 and have been knitting for 60 years. All my sweaters up until the last few years were bottom up. I now love knitting top down as it is nice to be able to try them on. I just finished Sarkle by Kate Davies which is bottom up in the round but I liked it so much I just wanted to make it. I used a sweater that fits me well to measure the Sarkle as I went along and it fits made it in Rowan felted tweed - one of my favourite yarns.
Safe travels, Margaret in Vancouver, B.C.
Margaret, I think that using the measurements of a well-fitting sweater is a particularly good trick for bottom up construction. I have had my eye on the Sarkle and Hirne since they came out. I'd love to get up your way again. My son attended UBC and it was fun to visit him in your beautiful part of the world. Thanks for watching!
thank you for talking so thoroughly about the Pressed Flowers Cardigan, I do not like bottom up construction or drop shoulders, so I think I'll pass until she makes a steeked top down version, or I figure it out for myself (I have purchased both the shawl and the hat pattern - I have knit the hat).
Currently working on the pressed flower cardigan ( have knit the PF shawl and the PF sweater, which I love). Not sure how it’s going to go, so doing it on blind faith. Have a wonderful trip, big hugs from Calgary.
Love your Pressed Flowers! So pretty. I'm on my second-in-a-row bottom-up pullover (first was Vair, from Shetland Trader; current is Ninian, also by Gudrun). When I got close to the arm split, I put on waste yarn and blocked and measured and tried on, paying close attention to my personal measurements and the schematic (esp since I was off gauge and they both involve lace). Yeah, it's a lot of monkey business but worth it. I've made more than several ill-fitting top-down sweaters, so not convinced by the conventional wisdom of top down being easier to fit. I think understanding sweater math is the most helpful thing. Enjoy your trip!
Thanks so much! I'd love to try Vair or Maywick in Shetland Trader. I looked at Vair pretty closely, trying to see if I could adjust it to my measurements and your suggestions sound good.
You're right that top-down sweaters don't always fit right, and I'd like to learn more about getting a good fit around the shoulders.
@@northwestknitting5993 yes, shoulders are pesky! I've got my eye on Maywick too.
I don’t think I have ever seen Hellebore- such pretty flowers. I knit the Elton by Joji Locatelli, which is a top down drop shoulder. I found it hard to figure out the lengths too, but at least could try it on. I knit several sizes up for the sleeves as they were very small in the pattern. It worked out well and I love the sweater. I have the pattern and have ordered yarn for the Pressed Flowers cardigan, so appreciate your tips before I get started. Your Pressed Flowers is looking lovely! I am so impressed with your perseverance in ripping out the Irish sweater (had a good chuckle remembering the shoulder pads and puffy sleeves and how fast they disappeared- I fear they are making a bit of a comeback- lol). I like your idea of taking a shawl to knit- it won’t take up much room, but should have lots of knitting time in it so you don’t run out of projects- socks are always good too. I don’t know of any self striping sock yarn without nylon, but two Canadian companies on either end of the country have a few options. Sweet Georgia out of Vancouver, BC has a lovely variegated superwash merino, mohair silk sock yarn and Fleece and Harmony out of Prince Edward Island has a lovely Point Prim sock yarn that is Canadian wool (non-superwash) and Canadian mohair that is local and they have some lovely variegated yarns. With our Canadian dollar being so low compared to the US dollar our yarns are a bargain for you- about 30% cheaper. I have used both yarns and love them. Ireland will be so much fun. I am envious. A lovely shirt tail relative of mine went to Ireland with two of his brothers ( their parents emigrated from Ireland to Canada). I have knit him thrummed mittens and Newfoundland mitts to keep him warm while working in a dairy. He brought me back some rustic natural Irish yarn (before he bought his first Guinness apparently- how about that for an honour- lol). I made myself some Newfoundland Mittens and there was enough yarn left to make his wife a pair of mitts too. I will think of Francis and smile every time I keep my hands warm with those mitts. I am so impressed with how light you travel. You are my hero! Have fun on your trip and I look forward to hearing all about it, Kathy!
I'm still thinking about the Elton sweater, which looks like a light airy project. Thanks for suggestions for sock yarn. I'd love to get up to Canada again. I used to get up to Vancouver more often, but haven't been since Covid. I'm looking forward to seeing what Irish yarn I can find. And I'll definitely have a Guinness while I'm there! (Or half of my husband's).
Might be cool in Ireland still bring wool clothing or better yet find a beautiful cabled sweater to wear home.
Hi, love your podcast. I traveled the west coast of Ireland late last year I found most yarn shops closed on certain days so check opening times before going unfortunately the only place I found open was the Donegal mill in Kilcar which was wonderful, even the yarn shop in Dublin was closed when I visited I was so disappointed also there is a podcast called yarn journeys that has episodes of her travelling through Ireland with loads of information on Irish yarn and babbles yarn podcast is talking about a yarn festival coming up soon in Doolin co Clare, enjoy your travels☘️😊
Thanks for pointing out possible closures! As soon as I read your post, I checked our schedule and the calendar because we haven't been thinking much about what days of the week we'll be in each place. Fortunately, we're in Kilcar in the middle of the week, which is the place I care most about. Thanks for podcast suggestions, too. I'll look into the Doolin yarn festival!
I'm halfway through your podcast but stopped to tell you my husband and I just got back from Ennis, Ireland (a town we fell in love with ten years ago and vowed to return to). Please don't miss the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis. Staying there was wonderful ~ the King Suite was perfect for a long stay ~ but if that doesn't work for you, consider spending some time in the lobby in front of the fireplace. It's open to all and locals meet their friends there! You can order tea, wine, beer, and food in front of the fireplace and the locals love to visit and talk, having never met a stranger. I spent many drizzly afternoons in front of that fire, knitting. It was perfection. Deborah
Thanks for the advice! I did see the Old Ground Hotel and it looked nice, but we went with a B&B not far away from it. It looks like a good place to stop for a drink. I love the image of you knitting in front of the fire, which sounds like bliss to me!
Have a wonderful trip! Can’t wait to hear about your adventure. My Husband and I are planing on going back to Europe when we retire. We have 3 very long years to wait lol. Your cardigan looks great. The length looks perfect.
Thanks, Teresa!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the pressed flower cardigan. I’m back on the fence about whether or not I’ll make this!
A pullover version has been released. And is top-down in DK weight, so it would be faster for sure.
I’ve been staying away from bottom up sweaters. And then it happened. I follow a designer who had a pattern I liked and I bought the pattern and then discovered it was bottom up. Because I know the designer, I didn’t feel I could back out after I had talked to her about it. I had a really hard time with the stitch counts once I joined the sleeves to the body. I took it apart four times! I finally just decided to fudge it, thinking that I would end up frogging it in the end. But, it turned out great and it is one of my favorite sweaters. But I’m not going to ever do another bottom up sweater. Lol. So your husband has Irish citizenship because he has Irish ancestors? I have Irish ancestors, too. How does that work?
Joyce, I keep seeing bottom up sweaters everywhere I look, so I'd like to get more comfortable with them. But it definitely gives me pause!
I did a quick google search and it appears that a person may be eligible for Irish citizenship if they have (and can prove) that you they have a grandparent born on the island. Or a parent, of course. And maybe even a great-grandparent, if you also reside there. So some digging into old birth records is probably required.
@@northwestknitting5993 Thank you for this information. It’s quite interesting to think I could have citizenship in another country based on ancestry.
Your Pressed Flowers cardigan is lovely. Have a safe, enjoyable trip and look forward to hearing about your adventures in Ireland.
Thanks, Susan!
What a nice surprise...I've had a sleepless night and have you to keep me company. I finished my Burgos vest, which I think you saw on Instagram, and I love it. I rushed through it as I wanted it for a Spring transition piece. Right now I'm working on the Gloam by Caitlin Hunter. I think my first time knitting one of her designs. I'm knitting it oversized and drapey, which is how I think it's intended. Others in my knitting group are knitting it more fitted. I've also joined in on Anna Johanna's sweater MKAL, "It's a Bug, Not a Feature"...we're just on the first clue, and I'm loving the colour-work...actually trying Ladderback Jacquard for the first time!
Gloam looks like fun! It seems more like a jacket than a cardigan. A layering piece. I have to look into that MKAL, but think I'll have to enjoy it from afar. The Ladderback Jacquard has been something I want to try.
Hi Kathy, I’ve left you a pretty long comment with Irish wool yarn-y tips for your trip; in case UA-cam is holding it back because I was trying to give you some links to yarn places you might want to visit, as well as my email, I just wanted to leave this comment letting you know. Check your Held For Review comments if you don’t see my original one 🤗 Susan
Susan, I'm not seeing any comments held for review. Can you see your original comment below my video? Your podcast looks interesting...I just subscribed.