Introducing: Really really thick socks

It's this time of the year again: Days are getting shorter and it's getting colder. Cold feet anyone? 

Try these:

I've been knitting very warm socks and getting the creativity flowing with the different cable patterns. This style is inspired by my trip to the Aran Islands (where the famous Aran sweaters are sold). The yarn is also called Aran yarn, but it doesn't mean the yarn is from the sheep from the Aran islands. It just means that this is the suitable yarn to knit those big, warm, heavy Aran sweaters. And surely, the material will work well with socks too. 

Last year I made the first pairs, and I tested them myself. 

Test results: 
The socks are warm. The ones with cable pattern especially.
The socks are great inside the house, to wear instead of shoes. 
The socks are great for wearing in bed too. 
The socks make great presents
The socks are washable, I've washed mine quite a few times, and they are still as new (in the washing machine, 30 degrees, with other knitwear)

The material is between 25 and 30% wool, 75 to 80 % acrylic (except the grey ones which are 100% acrylic). It's very soft and nice. 

As always, none of the socks I have for sale have ever been worn, I don't have the greatest pictures, but the socks were not worn by anyone before. (I have a bit of an issue with feet myself). If there are photos showing my socks worn by somebody, then a fresh pair was knitted for Etsy. 

Socks can be bought here (while stocks last): 
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Gigi82Knits?section_id=12177719

Trip to Galway: The Aran Islands: Inis Mor (2)

Beautiful coastlines, the rough Irish countryside, a sandy beach, the Atlantic Ocean, stone walls, cows, horses and donkeys: Inis Mor (English: Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands):

There are a few ferries going to Inis Mor, we took the 10.30am ferry out and the 6.30pm ferry back. In winter the last ferry leaves earlier. Taking the ferry can be an adventure in itself, the Atlantic ocean is rough, there's water splashing on the deck, people get seasick, people see dolphins...

 

Having been on a few trips around Ireland, I had the experience that it usually rains, even in mid-August. I was pleasantly surprised that the sun was shining when we got to Inis Mor. This meant that we could hire bikes and make our own way around the island. There are plenty of bikes to rent, for 10 EUR you can choose a bike for the day.

Otherwise you can:

- Hire a horse-drawn coach

- Go on a mini-bus tour

- Walk around the island

 

If you're a "sporting ace" like me (I hadn't been on a bike for about 10 years), you'll be wrecked at the end of the day, but it's not so bad: The routes are mostly even, there's very little traffic (just the occasional minibus) and you can take lots of breaks. I did like the freedom of the bike, and it's much quicker than walking. Also, the bikes aren't locked, everyone just leaves their bike near them when they stop and hop on again later.

The main attraction was Dún Aengus, I will write about this little hill tomorrow.

Trip to Galway, Connemara and Inis Mor

Last weekend I went on a weekend trip to Galway and from there I visited Inis Mor (engl: Inishmore) and Connemara. Here are some impressions, more to come in the next few days:

Spectacular view from Dun Aonghasa over the cliffs on Inis Mor

A sandy beach on Inis Mor. On a sunny day! In Ireland! Who knew...

Evil looking cow

Kylemore Abbey in Connemara