If hot spiced cider isn’t actually a magic potion, it’s one of the closest things we know. It’s an ancient recipe that hasn’t changed much since the 16th century: pressed apples and warming spices, simmered slowly. The cloud of fragrant steam that rises from a pot of mulled cider instantly summons the festive spirit, and a sip is enough to warm you right down to the bones.

Hot spiced cider is a descendant of the famous “wassail”, a drink originally made with spiced mead and roasted crabapples. Yuletide wassail ceremonies were meant to invoke good luck for the coming year: blessing your orchards in the hope of good harvests and toasting your neighbour’s health in the hope of good relationships. Wassail and the earliest ciders were decidedly boozy, and there are still plenty of recipes to carry on that legacy! But these days I find that a bottle of cloudy apple juice, a cinnamon stick and an orange stuck with cloves (if you’re feeling fancy) is enough to get the magic flowing.

The Hot Spiced Cider Cowl has its own warming magic. It’s knit in the round, with pretty chevron and eyelet lace finished with peaks of garter stitch. Made from cuddly DK yarn held double with a strand of silk mohair for extra fluff, it knits up faster than you might expect. I’ve also included two sizes in the pattern, so you have the option of a single-skein project, ideal for stash busting and gift knitting. If you prefer, you can knit the Hot Spiced Cider Cowl without the fluff: you might want to go down a needle size if you do, but you don’t have to worry much about gauge.

Size
Small (Medium)

Finished Measurements
Small
66cm/26” circumference
28cm/11” wide
Medium
76cm/30” circumference
36cm/14” wide

Yarn
Small
Ash and Eve Designs Luxury DK (100% SW Merino wool; 225m/246 yds per 100g) 1 x 100g skein
Colour: Cinnamon Sticks

Held together with
Gepard Kid Seta (70% Super kid mohair, 30% Shappe silk; 210m per 25g) 1 x 25g ball

Medium
Ash and Eve Designs Luxury DK (100% SW Merino wool; 225m/246 yds per 100g) 2 x 100g skein
Colour: Hot Spiced Cider

Held together with
Ash and Eve Designs Mohair Silk (72% Fine Kid Mohair, 28% Silk; 420m/460 yds per 50g) 1 x 50g skein
Colour: Hot Spiced Cider

Needles
5 mm (US 8), 40cm (16”) long circular needles (or size to obtain gauge)

Notions
Tapestry needle
5 (6) Stitch Markers

Gauge
16 sts/22 rows = 10cm (4”) in stockinette.

Exact gauge is not critical but may affect the amount of yarn needed if different.