Ballindooly Cowl

About:

The Ballindooly Cowl is named after the village of the same name in County Galway, Ireland, which rests beside Ballindooly Lake—a quiet lough whose rippling surface shifts with every breeze.

When I designed this cowl, the spiraling ribbing immediately brought to mind the movement of water—streams winding their way across the landscape, currents flowing gently around the edges, and ripples drifting across the lake.

This fingering-weight cowl—with both written and charted directions—was created for those moments when you want something easy yet interesting in your hands. Just enough variation keeps you saying “just one more round,” while the flowing texture carries you forward.

The Ballindooly Cowl is a fun, easy, and wearable project to relax into. Filled with a spiraling rib that grows from the edges like water fanning out across the surface of a lake, it’s accessible to confident beginners, with enough depth to captivate advanced knitters. A quick knit, available in one size, it’s as timeless and refreshing as a walk beside the lough itself.

Needle:

US 3 (3.25 mm), 16” (40 cm) circular needles or size needed to get gauge

Suggested Yarn: Amano, Ayni, Fingering, 1 skein, 80% Baby Alpaca/20% Silk; 218 yds (200 m)/ 50 g or any fingering weight yarn of your choosing

Sample uses: Colorway Creek 5026, approx. 218 yds (200 m)

Gauge: 28 stitches/34 rounds = 4” (10 cm) square in Body Pattern using US 3 (3.25 mm) needles or whatever size needle gives you the fabric you would like.

Other Notions: darning needle, 1 BOR marker, 32 stitch markers for texture (optional).

Special Techniques:

Knit, purl, cast on & bind off

Final Measurements:

19” (48 cm) circumference x 9.5” (24 cm) tall