The Secret Passages Aventail is a cozy mid-season layering piece perfect for ye olde nerds…. or anyone who appreciates a bit of texture and cables in their Autumn/Winter wardrobe.

As part of my ongoing Secret Passages Collection, the medieval inspiration continues!
For this design, sparring grounds, armories, and chainmail pieces all contributed. Among those pieces, the Aventail or Camail, a chainmail cowl that covers the neck, lower face and shoulders/chest of the wearer prevailed.

An aventail attaches to the coif, or helmet, to create almost seamless protection in the wearer’s armor, just as the cowl’s shape protects your neck from snow and wind.

Next, the design itself features a central texture inspired by books on a library shelf, and winding cables framing the shelves denote twisted passages that weave away behind the door.

The construction is top down, with shaping throughout, beginning in the round, then separating for the front and back sections.

It is knitted on US 7/4.5 mm needles, and for my sample I used the DK weight yarn, Hillesvag Sol. A yarn that blooms beautifully after blocking, and lends drape to the overall fit, more closely mimicking mail.