Amhrán Na Farraige, or Song of the Sea, is based off the eponymous children’s animated movie. With alternating motifs of lace waves interspersed with mermaid tails – or as Irish myth calls their more seal-like cousin selkies – this cowl is designed to invoke the deep, cold northern seas off the coast of Great Britain. Full of mysteries, enchantments, and wonder, may you plumb the depths of your knitting imagination as you knit this cowl. And, if you’re looking for a little inspirational music to accompany your deep-dive into the world of selkies, I recommend you give the main theme of Song of the Sea a listen: as the pattern reveals, that score played an integral role in the striped element of the Amhrán Na Farraige Cowl; it is knitting intended to soothe your soul and transport you to an otherworldly, watery realm of myth and magic.

Materials
Yarn
This cowl was designed specifically with sock sets that have (2) 20-gram minis in mind. Some yarn-pairing possibilities include:

MC – 100 grams of fingering weight yarn (400 yds)
CC – (2) 20-gram minis – OR – 1 half-skein (50 grams) – OR – (4) 10-gram minis (2 stripes of each color) – OR – (8) 5-gram minis or scraps from stash (this cowl can be a great stash-buster!)

TOTAL Yardage Requirements:
140 grams (approximately 560 yds) fingering weight yarn, ideally 100 grams/400 yds of which are for the MC, with 160 yards of a contrasting color or colors for the stripes to your choosing

Yarn used in photos:
Stress Knits Yarn - Favorite base – fingering weight yarn – 80% superwash merino, 20% nylon 2-ply in Ophelia (MC – pale pink speckle), Mountain Mama (CC1 – green), and Glow (CC2 – blush).

Needles
US 5 (3.75 mm) circular needles (24” or 32” recommended), or size needed to obtain gauge.

Notions
1 tapestry needle
Optional: stitch markers to mark lace repeats if desired, but not necessary

Gauge & Notes
27 stitches & 40 rows = 4” in Stockinette

Cowl is worked in the round with color changes at the stripes; MC yarn can be carried up each 4-row repeat stripe of color to avoid yarn breaks and extra yarn tails at every stripe break. Pattern features lacework, including eyelets, knits and purls, and decreases in alternating mermaid/selkie tails and waves motifs. Knit on slightly larger needles paired with open lacework, this cowl is generously sized to be lightweight and airy. Instructions are written.

Finished size: 32” circumference x 22” deep