Proper Wool for a Jumper
When you think of Ireland, do you also picture green rolling hills with sheep grazing? I was so excited to go to Ireland, find some wool, and knit a sweater, and that is exactly what I did. I assumed the most difficult part would be doing the math to fit all the stitches together in the design I wanted. Little did I know that procuring the wool would be just as, if not more, difficult.
Our group visited the Titanic Experience museum, and our professor told us to meet at the Titanic Heritage Museum at 2P.M., then pointed us in the right direction. I figured I would walk the opposite way for 20 minutes or so to try and find a yarn shop, then turn around and make my way to the museum. The first place I stopped was the Tregan Craft Centra where I saw many beautiful knitted articles, but no yarn. I asked the cashiers if they knew where I could find some yarn. They said I could find some wool for a jumper at To Go. At To Go, one of the local convenience stores, all I saw was acrylic yarn made in Turkey. I did not go all the way to Ireland to get yarn made in Turkey, so I left To Go and continued my journey, reading the names of the shops as I ambled along the street.
I noticed some knitting patterns taped to a propped open door and turned into the shop. Most of the yarn was behind the counter, so I perused a pattern book while waiting for the cashier to finish assisting a customer. When she was able to assist me, I told her I was looking for wool to make an Aran jumper. I think she must have thought I was referring to the Aran brand of yarn because she said she did not sell any Aran, but to check To Go or another convenience store a couple blocks away. I checked the second store she mentioned, but their scanty two boxes of yarn had no Irish wool.
After no luck in any of these stores, I went back down the street the direction the professor had pointed us in. I passed the Cobh Heritage Museum and thought, “That looks like a nice place. Too bad we’re not going there today.” I continued down the road which was parallel with the railway at this point. On the other side of the road there were large beautiful houses and a mural of the Titanic. After a while I wondered if I had passed the Titanic Heritage museum.
An elderly woman passing on the other side of the street called out, “Lovely day you’re having?” I returned the greeting, then asked if she knew where the Titanic Heritage museum was. “The Titanic Museum? Oh! You’re miles away from there! But I’ve just been out doing my errands and I’m on my way to the Cobh Heritage museum. You can join me if you like.” So we walked along together, retracing the steps I had just taken. She told me about her day, and how she loves the company because she lives alone. Then she wanted to know where I was from and what had brought me to Ireland. I told her about the Aran jumper I was trying to make and how I could only find yarn made in Turkey, but no wool. “Oh!” She said, “You want proper wool!” Then she verbally gave me instructions for a place across from Ryngs where I might find some. I knew where it was because I had passed by there earlier. In fact the store with the patterns on the door was a bit beyond Ryngs on the opposite side of the road.
Once we reached the Cobh Heritage museum, she invited me to lunch with her, but I declined because I still had to find my group and the place we were supposed to meet. Once I got to the Titanic Experience museum and still had not passed the Titanic Heritage museum, which was supposed to be on the same road, I figured I better check to make sure I had the right name. I saw the words, “Cobh Heritage Museum” on the itinerary. I had just been there! And I had passed it earlier! I felt stupid for not using common sense earlier. I checked my watch and figured I had enough time to run back to Ryngs. Unfortunately, the store was closed for lunch. I enjoyed the walk along the waterfront back to the museum entrance. I had not yet obtained any yarn, but luckily I made it to the museum with enough time to spare to stop at the gift shop and get a “Sheep of Ireland'' poster.
In the Cobh Heritage Museum there were several textile exhibits commemorating the lives of those who set out from Cobh never to set foot on dry land. Below is a quilt made to remember those who went down with the Titanic. It includes the image of a mother with five children who are noted in the memories of survivors. They are believed to be a local woman and her five sons.
There was also a little boat full of embroidered hats remembering the ship of women prisoners and their children who died at sea on their way to Australia. I also learned that so many male prisoners were sent to Australia that the population was 8 men to every woman, and women were recruited to live in Australia.
Upon leaving the Museum I set out for the shop across from Ryngs. I made it there, walked in the door, and saw yarn! Several steps into the store I realized this was the same store I had been in earlier when I saw the patterns on the door! Upon this realization I awkwardly turned around and left.
By this time I was a bit hungry since the sandwich I packed that morning was long gone. I gave up on “proper wool” and went to a cute ice cream shop which had a sign that read, “home of the Nutella ice cream doughnut.” This sounded intriguing. They had a sink faucet with Nutella instead of water flowing from it! The combination of the cold ice cream with the warm doughnut and gooey Nutella was a scrumptious snack to enjoy in the breeze by the water.
You are probably thinking, “Wait a second! Isn’t this supposed to be the post where we finally find out where the yarn for the gorgeous sweater came from?” The saga continues! Subscribe below to read the next post where the mystery will finally be solved!
