Once that’s done you’ll be able to experience the KnittingTours website perfectly.
If time permits we will also pay a visit to This is Knit, an independent, family-owned yarn shop where the shelves are filled with high quality, natural-fibre yarns, from top Irish and international brands. Overnight in Dublin, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included.
Anita and Helena will also introduce you to carders for wool and learn how to comb Wool Bats and Rolags in preparation for Spinning. Next it’s on to the spinning wheel! Learn how to draft and prepare fibres and then spin them into wool ready for making your knitwear creations. Your day at the studio also includes some knitting techniques where the honeycomb, blackberry, diamond and cable stitch are learned, practiced and perfected. After lunch nearby (included), you will learn how to felt a flower using Merino fleece and decorating it with silks, to create a Stunning Brooch. After almost a full day at the studio, we travel onward to Kilkenny and check into your hotel. Long renowned as Ireland’s Medieval Capital, the city’s origins date back more than 1,500 years. Kilkenny, from the Gaelic "Cill Ceannaigh", derives its name from a 6th century monk called Saint Canice. Characterised by beautifully restored old buildings and covered slipways, Kilkenny City is small and compact enough to explore on foot, yet full of fascinating, historical buildings, and contemporary shops, design galleries, cafés and restaurants. Overnight in Kilkenny, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included.
Next we travel outside Kilkenny city and stop at Zwartables Ireland Sheep Farm to meet Suzanne and her family who breed and rear Zwartables Sheep. Tour the farm, meet the sheep and chat with the family who will tell you all about their unique yarn which you can buy direct from the farm if you wish. After lunch (included), your final stop for today is Cushendale Mill where products made on site are crafted using natural-fibre textiles made with mohair, Irish wool and merino lambswool. Enjoy a tour of the mill and see the spinning mule in action. You might even spot some of the wool from the sheep at Crampton farm! Return to Kilkenny where the remainder of the evening is free. Dinner is not included tonight so that you can sample one of Kilkenny’s many fine restaurants if you wish. Overnight in Kilkenny, Bed & Breakfast included.
The studio was started by Beata Jezek after she saw a gap in the market for soft yarns in vibrant colours. Staff will be on hand to talk to you about the yarn and you may purchase some if you wish before we move on to Blarney Castle. Cormac MacCarthy, a great Irish chieftain constructed Blarney Castle nearly 600 years ago and since then this remarkable fortress and its ‘stone of eloquence’ has been attracting thousands of curious visitors every year. Legend has it that if you kiss the stone you will never be lost for words and have as the Irish say, ‘the gift of the gab’. Built in 1823, Blarney Woollen Mills was originally known as Mahoney’s Mills and provided valuable employment to the people of Blarney and nearby areas. Today Blarney Woollen Mills is Ireland’s largest Irish Gift & Craft Store. Continue to Killarney and check into your hotel where dinner will be waiting for you. Overnight in Killarney, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included.
After your class we will travel to Kenmare for lunch (included) and afterwards you will have some time to explore Kenmare at your leisure. We return to Killarney via the mountain road to Moll’s Gap and Ladies View where you will be treated to unrivalled views of the Killarney Valley. With its three famous lakes and majestic mountain ranges, Killarney has been the inspiration of poets and painters over many centuries. The Killarney National Park is internationally renowned both for its scenic beauty and scientific interest. Overnight in Killarney, Bed & Breakfast included.
Continue to Dingle where after a few hours to explore the town and have lunch at your leisure we will explore the peninsula. The peninsula itself is ringed by sandy beaches and craggy cliffs and Inland you will find rolling hills and mountains, including the 952m Mount Brandon which towers overhead. Return to Killarney where the remainder of the evening is free for your personal sightseeing or shopping. Overnight in Killarney, Bed & Breakfast included.
Today, Adare village is an architectural wealth of scenic beauty. The mix of centuries is blended into everyday life as some of the thatched cottages are home to arts and crafts shops. The main street of Adare is punctuated with beautiful stone buildings, medieval monasteries and ruins and the picturesque village park. Continue to Dublin where the afternoon is free for your personal sightseeing or shopping. This evening meet back at the hotel and we will travel together to a local restaurant for a final farewell dinner in a local Dublin restaurant. Overnight in Dublin, Bed & Breakfast included.
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