Hello, lovely knitters!
It was snowing when I woke up this morning, and continued to do so all day long. I don’t mind it – I’m a pretty big winter fan – but the weather definitely sent me reaching for my new favorite sweater. And as the snow has continued to fall all day, I thought it was a good opportunity to share it with you. Presenting Cider Mill:

(Make your own right here on customfit!)
This is the kind of sweater I wear all winter long in my studio. I’ll be honest: I keep things pretty darn chilly in here – cold enough that I need a substantial sweater from about October through March. When I have a choice, I reach for something that’s comfortable enough to snug up in for an entire day, and stylish enough to look great in a video call.
Cider Mill has slipped into my wardrobe perfectly: The long length, A-line shape, and bonus pockets are as cozy as it gets; at the same time, the unusual wide twisted rib and artisan glass buttons are clean and modern.

I made this sweater out of Jill Draper Makes Stuff Rockwell, a 100% cormo-merino crossbred wool that’s made, from sheep to skein, in the Northeast.
Knitters, it would take someone with better words than I have to describe how amazing this yarn is. It’s warm and rustic, but so soft you could weep. The marled colors are exquisite, and work perfectly with Cider Mill’s clean lines. Wearing a sweater out of this yarn simultaneously transports me to my favorite fall fiber festival, and makes me feel like I’m getting a giant hug all day long. The fact that Jill is so thoughtful in the way she produces her yarn puts it over the moon. I strongly encourage you to try some, if you can.

Since the yarn is so exquisite, and the overall shape is so forgiving and comfortable (honestly, there’s nothing better than an A-line on a chilly day), I had a little fun with Cider Mill’s details. The sleeve and hem edges are trimmed in a clean, eye-catching 3×1 twisted rib, and the V-neck trim is worked such that the trim overlaps in the point of the V. Patch pockets are added for extra snuggle potential, and I put buttonholes on each of the pockets and the neckline to show off some of my prized Moving Mud buttons.

I hope you like Cider Mill – I’ve worn mine enough already that I see another in my future! You can find the Rockwell by clicking here, and you can make your own pattern right here on CustomFit.

Until next time, happy knitting!