About:
I was born with the last name Kenny, and in the quiet village of Ballintober, County Roscommon, you’ll find a small pub by the same name—Kenny’s Bar—just down the road from the ruins of a 14th-century castle. It felt like a sign. Most of the places I’ve drawn on for my designs reflect my mother’s side of the family, but this one honors my father’s roots, which trace back to Westmeath, just a county over. Naming this design the Ballintober Tee is a nod to that connection, to my dad’s lineage, and to the quieter corners of Ireland that still hum with memory.

The Ballintober Tee is a DK-weight garment written in 9 sizes, with a stockinette yoke and lace panels running down the sides. The lace features interlocking leaves that grow from the underarm to the hem, flowing naturally into the ribbing for a clean, cohesive finish.

A “just one more row” kind of project—easy to pick up, hard to put down. The Ballintober Tee was designed with that balance in mind: lace that keeps your hands moving and your mind relaxed, with rest rows in the body so you can breathe between repeats. The pattern also includes step-by-step guidance for German short rows, making it approachable for first-time garment knitters and a joy for anyone who appreciates clarity and rhythm in their knits.

This tee is a soft, wearable tribute to place and family. The leaf lace evokes nature winding around castle stone, just as your stitches will trace something enduring and rooted. Whether you’re knitting it for the texture, the story, or the simple joy of watching lace unfold, the Ballintober Tee offers you a moment of calm with every round.

And for me, it’s a small way to honor my father’s side—a connection that’s always been there but now has a place in my work.

Needles:
US 4 (3.5 mm) and US 5 (3.75 mm), 24” (61 cm) and 40” (100 cm) circular needle or needles needed to get gauge

Yardage Needed:
583 (660, 740, 825) (910, 1008, 1115) (1220, 1328) yards;
534 (604, 677, 755) (833, 922 , 1020) (1116, 1215) m.

Suggested Yarn: Universal Yarn, Dunescape, DK Weight, 57% Cotton/ 30% Viscose/13% Linen; 262 yds (240 m)/100 g or any dk weight yarn of your choosing

Skeins Needed if Using Suggested Yarn:
3 (3, 4, 4) (4, 5, 6) (6, 7)

Sample uses: Barley, approx. 660 yds (604 m)

Gauge: 19.5 sts/28 rnds = 4” (10 cm) square in stockinette using US 5 (3.75 mm) needles or whatever size needle give you gauge.

Other Notions: Stitch markers, darning needle

Special Techniques:
Knit, purl, increasing (m1r, yo), decreasing (k2tog, ssk), working from charts (written directions available), lace, German short rows, cast on & bind off

Sizes:
1 (2, 3, 4) (5, 6, 7) (8, 9)

Final chest measurement:
32.75 (36, 41, 44.25) (49.25, 52, 57) (60.25, 63.5)” 82 (90, 102.5, 110.5) (123, 130, 142.5) (150.5, 159) cm.

Note: I suggest this be knit with 2” (5 cm) of positive ease. Size 2 shown in photos.