This is a fundraising pattern for my late brother, Mino (1971-2004)

This pattern was released on July 8, 2015, Mino’s 44th Birthday.

“Talking to the Moon” is a simple triangular shawl with two different yarn over sections and a stockinette stitch base. Its charm is the subtle picot point edge. This is a relaxing and quick knit, and there are so many ways to play with the colors.

I was thinking of designing a shawl for a while, but could not get myself going. On May 4th, 2015, I learned that it was “National Star Wars Day” (‘May the force (4th) be with you’). I laughed so hard and started designing with the force. I pushed it through Mino’s 11th passing day on May 10th, and finished knitting a sample on May 15th. During this designing process, I listened to “Talking to the Moon” by Bruno Mars many times.

My brother, Mino, was always looking at the moon from his room at hospice. He was very poetic, saying “Everyone sees the same moon from any part of the world.” He had many friends all over the world, thinking of him. When I was in the US, not visiting him in Australia, I looked at the moon, knowing Mino was looking at the same moon. Now, my children always look for the moon at night and talk to the moon, “Uncle Mino, how are you?”

The pattern includes a table with stitch count row by row as well as completion percentage to estimate the yardage needed, and an instruction for 5 variations (’Variation Sheet’).

Please look through the test knitters’ projects. We have used many different yarns and tried 8 variations in 2 different sizes.

Skills required: k, k2tog, m1l/m1r, p, s2k1psso, ssk, yo

Small:
Finished size (blocked): 51” wingspan x 25.5” depth (130cm x 65cm)
Yarn: Madelinetosh Merino Light (100% Merino, 420 yards) Heucheria 0.92 skein. 7g of Lichen for the BO.
Needle: Size US 5 (3.75mm)
Gauge (blocked): 9 sts and 16 rows = 2”/5cm in Stockinette st.

Finished measurement for the large size should be about 57” wingspan x 27.5” depth (145cm x 75cm) based on my gauge.

All the proceeds of this pattern will be donated to the Minoru Hokari Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Australian National University. My late brother, Minoru Hokari (“Mino” 1971-2004) died of cancer at the age of 32. The scholarship fund supports young scholars who study Indigenous Australians through fieldwork. We are trying to fully fund it to achieve its perpetuity. Please help.

Please visit Being Connected with HOKARI MINORU to meet Mino.