The cowl is worked in the round as a tube using the stranded colourwork technique. The cast-on edge uses a crochet provisional cast on method so that the edge has live stitches. On completion, the live stitches at the ends of the top and bottom of the tube are twisted and then grafted together using Kitchener stitch to form a continuous tube.
The inspiration for the design is a pattern found in a bronze sculpture from Benin, West Africa. Mino – meaning ‘our mothers’ – was the name given to an all-female military regiment from the Kingdom of Dahomey (now Benin). These female warriors are immortalised in the films, The Woman King and Black Panther.
The Mino Cowl is knit using an updated chart from the Mino Vest pattern.
Sizes: 1 (2, 3) Circumference: 69 (84, 96.5) cm / 27.25 (33, 38) in Width: 16.5 (22, 22) cm / 6.5 (8.75, 8.75) in
Size 1
MC: 1 x skein Spincycle Yarns Moonspun (sports weight; 300 yds / 274 m per 75 g skein)
CC1: 1x skein Spincycle Yarns Dyed in The Wool (sports weight; 200 yds /183 m per 50 g skein)
CC2: 1x skein The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers Oh Dang (lace weight; 328 yds / 300 m per 50 g skein)
Sizes 2 & 3
MC: 2 x skeins The Spinster’s Daughter (sports weight; 300 yds / 274 m per 75 g skein)
CC1: 2 x skeins Spincycle Yarns Dyed in The Wool (sports weight; 200 yds /183 m per 50 g skein)
CC2: 1 x skein The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers Oh Dang (lace weight; 328 yds / 300 m per 50 g skein)
Approximate yardage MC: 240 (413, 439) m / 263 (452, 480) yds CC1: 183 (275, 275) m / 200 (300, 300) yds CC2: 36 (84, 84) m / 40 (92, 92) yds
Gauge: 29 sts x 31 rounds = 10 cm / 4 in over stranded pattern knit in the round after washing and blocking.
Needles: 3.75 mm / US 5 (or size needed to obtain gauge) 60 cm / 24 in circular needle, or any other needle types to suit your preferred method of knitting in the round. Second circular needle or dpns in similar size to hold stitches for grafting (kitchener stitch)
Notions: Tapestry needle Stitch marker Locking stitch markers Crochet hook (size not important) Scrap yarn