Bourrasque is a design built directly into CustomFit, which means that each Bourrasque pattern is written specifically to your choice of gauge and size. (This means that your Bourrasque pattern can be made for anyone you like -- be they adult, child, etc. -- out of any yarn you like.)

Bourrasque is an homage to one of my most favorite store-bought tops: A wide-necked A-line number that I wear constantly. It’s incredibly comfortable, makes me feel chic the second I slip it on, and is roomy and flowy enough for me to stop thinking about the clothes I’m wearing and just get on with whatever I’m doing.

I feel the same way about the sweater. Worked up in Indigodragonfly Chameleon Sock, an incredible merino-cashmere-silk blend, the fabric is almost unspeakably delicious next to the skin, and has a great fluidity and movement. The A-line shaping makes the sweater float next to my body rather than clinging to it. Bourrasque has found a new home at the top of my closet rotation.

I’m wearing the pullover in a close fit, which pertains largely to the shoulders: In A-line sweaters, the bottom is still plenty roomy (this sample has about 5’’ (12.5 cm) of ease in my hips) even in a ‘close’ fit.

A-line garments in CustomFit will typically ensure at least a 6’’ (12.5 cm) difference between sweater cast-on and bust/chest, though you can make that larger if you like by clicking “customize fit specifics” and altering the CO widths. All shaping occurs at the side seam, and can be worked however you like, as usual with edge shaping in CustomFit sweaters. (For more information on your choices, please see my edge shaping tutorial. For more information on A-lines in CustomFit, please see my blog post announcing their release.)

I used Indigodragonfly Chameleon Sock in the colorway “Patina Fey” for this sweater. The mix of merino, silk, and cashmere is utterly to-die for, and gives a soft, fluid hand to the fabric of the sweater. I strongly, strongly recommend it or a similar blend.

If you’re using the Chameleon, I liked a gauge of 7.5 stitches to the inch. (…I know. But if it helps, trust me: Fingering weight sweaters are amazing.)

Whatever you use, CustomFit will create your pattern to the gauge you specify - and for that reason, it’s difficult to give any kind of yardage advice! To estimate how much yarn you’ll need, I strongly recommend the “Stashbot” app or pamphlet by Hannah Fettig.

I think A-line sweaters cry out for drapey, fluid fabrics, so if you’re substituting yarn, please choose something with a nice amount of either linen, rayon/bamboo/viscose, silk, or alpaca for a similar look.