How to Choose The Right Wool

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We have been stocking knitting wool for a number of years now. We found there a has been a huge resurgence in art of knitting , it’s thereaputic, a great way to relax and and a great way to customise an outfit with a handknit scarf or hat.

There are a number of great knitting workshops held in stores in Dublin, with the likes of This is Knit and The Constant Knitter providing in fantastic in-store classes.

As well as stocking the finished product, we stock a large range of Donegal Wool, Kilcarra Homespun Wools, Tivoli and Cushendale Wools.

Kilcarra Homespun wools from Kilcar in County Donegal have long since been suppliers of wool to great Manufacturers like Rossan Knitwear, Carraig Donn and Arancraft knitwear, all which we stock, now you can purchase the wool to make products yourself.

Kilcarra Purple Wool

Kilcarra Wool

Studio of Donegal have a wonderful range of 100% pure new wools for the authentic wool feel, pure Merino soft wools for that more luxurious feel and and soft Donegal wool in the 50g balls are probably our most popular products.

Tivoli Wools from County Cork, make great wool blends, very reasonably priced, easy to work with and all machine wash friendly. Many of their wools come with free patterns for comtempory hat, scarf and sweater sets.

Tivoli Green Wool

Tivoli Green Wool

Cushendale Wools based in County Kilkenny have a fantastic knitting kit called the one ball wonder containing 100g Wool/Mohair, a pair of chunky wooded needles and a knitting pattern for a snood all for €20, a great starter kit for beginners or a re-introduction for those who haven’t knitted for a while in a range of vibrant colours.

Cushendale Wool

Cushendale Wool

We are currently selling 1 kilo bags of Kilcarra wool for €50, enough to make a large sweater or many accessories. If you want to get an idea of how much wool something needs, just weigh a hat or scarf and this will give you a rough idea or ask one of our members of staff for advice, they are all great knitters!

How to Tell a Genuine Aran Sweater

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With the progression of technology, the knitwear manufacturing industry is capable of producing Aran jumpers on a mass scale.  Some of the jumpers look very similar to the real deal, with machines able to knit a range of designs at the rate of millions of stitches per minute.

However it is impossible for machines to make an exact replica of a genuine Aran sweater. Here are just a few ways to spot an authentic Aran jumper.

  • machine knit jumpers use finer wool. A genuine Aran sweaters should feel heavier than you expect when you pick them up
  • traditional stitches cannot be recreated by machines, therefore only on authentic Aran jumpers are the intricate historical stitches truly visable
  • mass produced Aran sweaters loosen with wear. Hand knit or hand loomed Aran jumpers are more tightly knit making them longer lasting
  • although in the past Aran sweaters were made from untreated undyed sheep’s wool, these were found to by itchy and uncomfortable. Now it is more common to use treated and dyed pure wool which is tightly twisted and not too soft to the touch. Machine knit jumpers use softer wool which will lose stitch definition over time. This will not happen with real Aran sweate

Aran Cardigan Designs

The Aran Cardigan is a classic that has been changed many times to suit fashion and trends, but the original cardigan is something people will always come back to. It’s an ageless piece, and we’ve enjoyed the age range it has attracted, from the young hipster to the more mature lady let’s say!

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Knitting Wool & Yarn

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Here at the Donegal Shop we stock a large range of knitting wools and yarns in store and online. Knitting has made something of a comeback the last few years and we have found that customers of all ages are getting into it or rediscovering it again.

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Magee Tweed Jackets

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MageeBlueWe are delighted to be stockists of Magee Tweed Jackets. Established in 1866, Magee of Donegal Town are renowned for their quality and durability. Using the best of Donegal Tweeds, we have 4 of the most popular herring bone tweeds in stock.  Ranging in sizes from 38-46 all available in short, regular or long sizes, and we can offer next day delivery on anything we don’t have in stock.

MageebrownblackDonegal is famous for it’s tweeds, one of their jackets can last a lifetime, such is the quality of the fabric.  Tweed Jackets have been through something of a metamorphosis of late, they can be seen in the High St. as well as long established stores as our own, they are now ageless, can be worn by any age and teamed with jeans can make a great smart casual look for men and women.

Christmas Market IFSC December 12TH-23RD

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xmas 1We are looking forward to taking our products to the 12 days of Christmas this year in the IFSC docklands in Dublin from the 12th-23rd of December. We will be there everyday with a great selection of our wool products, from socks and scarves to hats and sweaters.

There is a great Christmas feel at this market from the mulled wine on tap to the smells of freshly cooked food as well as a host of small independent businesses selling their wears.

It’s also an opportunity for us to connect with the northside of the city, as we have spent the last 18 years on the southside! Come by and say hello and check out our stand on the floating dock area.

Why Aran’s Make the Perfect Christmas Present

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Despite the change in seasons, we sell aran sweaters all year round, however, when winter rolls in, it’s a time when people really seek out comfort and warmth, and the Aran sweater really comes into its own. It makes a fantastic Christmas present, pure new wool, available in a range of colours, stitches and sizes, it’s suitable for all the family, young and old. A unisex sweater, while broad in style, ladies love to wear an oversized aran over leggings, men can wear it as an extra layer, kids can wear it over a turtleneck if sensitive to wool and for the older generation who really feel the cold an aran cardigan is a versatile garment to keep warm inside or even to be worn as an outdoor jacket.

The Aran is a classic, it has yet to date, it comes in and out of fashion, and it’s been on the European catwalks the last few years now!

All pure new wool, the basic aran starts at a very reasonable €49.99 for a machine made aran and can go up to €250 if you want a handknit which can last a lifetime.

Donegal Pens

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We have been stocking the Donegal Pens for the last two years now. Remarkably they are made by two school boy brothers, who have a workshop in their back garden in County Donegal.

When brothers Rónán & Conor McGarvey came into the shop to show us their handmade pens, we were blown away that two school boys were producing such a high quality Irish made product, we immediately placed an order and have been selling the pens steadily ever since.

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The Origin Of Linen

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Linen is made using flax fibre and has been spun and woven in ireland for centuries. The industry really took hold in the north of Ireland where ship building and linen making were the two biggest industries there since the 19th century. To this day, all our our linen suppliers are based in the north of Ireland and are reknowned the world over for their quality and durability, ironically considering the history, the British monarchy have always been known to only use Irish linen in their households.

Today the most popular linen products tend to be table cloths, t-towels, handkerchiefs and the magic hanky a delightful gift that can be either a handkerchief or a babies bonnet, just a stitch makes the change, so it can be given as either a Christening gift or as a good luck token for a wedding.

Most Popular take Home Gifts for Visitors

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Wild Goose Products

Made in Kinsale Co. Cork, these products are extremely popular, made using bronze they make a seies of celtic, Christian and Gaelic signs and expressions. One of the most popular is the Slainte sign meaning welcome in Irish as well as a number of Celtic crosses. They make beautiful gifts for the home and come in a presentation bag and information leaflet.

Another very popular product are our linen t-towel sets. Made using 55% linen and 45% cotton they come in 2 packs and retailing at €12.99 they are a very affordable and lightweight gift from Ireland. The natural linen colour set in a rustic twine pack are our best selling item in store and online. Not only do they make great gifts they are also extremely well wearing and durable.

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