Would like to go to Ireland for a few days.
Anyone know where the cheapest knit aran sweaters are, as I'd like to bring some home as gifts, or is it all expensive like the rest of Britain?
>>1295085
>like the rest of Britain
Triggered
>>1295085
>like the rest of britain
reeeeeeeeee
anyway
tourist shops
if you want authentic you're gunna have to go out west, to the aran islands, or at least galway/mayo
good luck kek
>>1295085
Spend a few moments learning how to tell machine-knitted from hand knitted. Even if you don't. You don't want to be sold the former at prices appropriate tot he later.
>>1295085
I've never heard of this. Is this some kind of british craft or something?
How much do they normally cost?
>>1295214
It's Irish, it's made with the wool of Aran islands sheep. Very comfy. I have the same jumper in OP's pic or one that looks very much like it, bought it in a shop called The Sweater Shop in Dublin.
>tfw it smelled faintly of sheep for years
>>1295943
>It's Irish
Ah, but is there a British version of them? I might want to get one too if I ever visit the UK.
>>1295085
Wool is like gasoline or gold. It is a commodity that has an international market value.
Actual aran wool, icelandic wool, shetland islands, wherever the heck it is from isn't sold cutthroat and at deep discount because of some secret connection you might find. People who live in islands have pretty high expenses actually, what with food imports, that high cost of gasoline, etc. They aren't selling their time or their wool for cheap.
Wool goods are as such, luxury items. What is decent about wool is that you don't die from hypothermia should it get wet. Outdoor workers dream, whether it be a fisherman or a hiker. As another anon said, understand imported machine knit sweater designs if you really want to buy someone something special for a lifetime. Some wool is exceptionally different, warmish like icelandic sheep with cool designs, or silky soft like lambswool or cashmere. Poorly processed wool can cause allergies from the lanolin left in the wool. Aran islands, where I've been ehh, you know the irish fisherman pattern like your picture. There are gift shops on the ferry side in Doolin. I'd buy scarves to pair with a coat, or throws for cozy armchair comfort for people unless I knew their sizes very well.
>>1295085
You can't get them cheap, but if you get a real one they'll last you forever
>t. buddy got me a sweater direct from the aran islands, 10 years later its still /comfy/ and keeps me warm in the winter
>>1296662
Honestly someone in his family probably made it for him. But the ones in the stores in the Aran Islands are good quality and as "authentic" a tourist will probably get it. A lot of times local women make them to sell there for extra money