Row@n November 2015 eNewsletter

November 2015 

January 2012 - 1

CONTENTS 

Welcome Letter 4 

Monthly Free Pattern 5 

Aran Influences AW15 6 

Free Rowan Shine Patterns 8 

Lisa Richardson Week Workshop 

In Tuscany 10 

Debbie Abrahams’ Mystery Blanket 

2016 12 

Rowan & Swarovski CREATE YOUR 

STYLE Design Talent Competition 16 

ROWAN Day Out 18 

Christmas Is Coming… 20 

2 - November 2015

Yell 

by Gemma Atkinson 

using Felted Tweed & 

Colourspun 

Knitting & Crochet 

Number 58 

November 2015 - 3

Hello and welcome to the November issue of the 

eNewsletter. 

The nights are getting longer, so what better way to fill them than to get the needles 

out? We bring you some fab gift ideas for the festive season to get you started! 

This month’s issue also contains details of Debbie Abrahams’ brilliant Mystery Blanket 

Club 2016, tells you about a stunning week long workshop in Tuscany next year with 

Lisa Richardson and takes a look at the origin of some of today’s cable and textured 

knits. 

Finally, we bring you news of our sparkling design competition – read on to find out 

how you could win a year’s supply of yarn! 

We hope you enjoy your new issue. 

The Rowan team 

Front Cover: 

Frozen 

by Marie Wallin 

Alpaca Colour & Chenille 


Magazine 58 

Click on the symbol 

where it appears for a link to 

further information 

Keep in touch with us on 

social media… 


EXCLUSIVE 

Polar 

by Heather Dixon 

Lima 

DOWNLOAD 

For this and hundreds of 

FREE patterns exclusive to 

members, 

click the button below: 


Aran Influences AW15 

Aran style knitting has long been a popular 

style, and this Autumn Winter sees yet 

further influences surface from the traditional 

techniques used in the past. Aran knitting is well 

known globally for its signature cabling, textured 

pattern and honeycomb effects and originates 

from a group of rocky islands off the west coast 

of Ireland; Inishmore, Inishmaan and Inisheer. 

Originally, Aran designs were knitted for practical 

reasons, providing warmth and protection 

from the elements. Inspiration for the designs 

came from the daily lives of the island women. 

Today, the chunky nature of the traditional knits 

translates perfectly into both mens and womens 

fashion trends, providing iconic, statement detail 

and style. 

Blustery 

by Gemma Atkinson 

using Lima Colour 


Magazine 58 


Dartmoor 

by Martin Storey 

using Hemp Tweed 

Hemp Tweed 

Fyn 


using Cocoon 


Magazine 58 

Shannon 


using Kid Classic 


Magazine 52 

Leith Guernsey & 

Flint 

by Martin Storey 

using Original Denim 

Denim The Next Generation 


Seven designs for women 

using Rowan Kidsilk Haze Shine 

1 

Free Kidsilk Haze 

Shine Patterns 

Rowan Kidsilk Haze Shine composes of 

61% mohair, 27% silk & 12% cotton with 

a meterage of 10m per 6g ball. Glittering 

and luxurious, each ball includes around 

100 sparkling Swarovski Create Your 

Style crystals. 

Download our FREE designs today, from 

garments featuring Rowan Kidsilk Haze 

Shine edging detail to accessories. Take 

out a Rowan Subscription and receive 

enough Kidsilk Haze yarn and crystals to 

make a shawl design as a free gift! 

ROWAN 

SUBSCRIPTION 

To view the lookbook of 

this collection, click the 

button below. 

Sheer Top 

by Jennie Atkinson 

using Kidsilk Haze 

Shine & Kidsilk Haze 

CLICK TO 

VIEW 

DOWNLOAD 

PATTERN 


Bobble Cuff 



Shine 

DOWNLOAD 

PATTERN 

Flower 



Shine 

Cardigan With 

Neck Tie 


using Rowan Finest & 

Kidsilk Haze Shine 

DOWNLOAD 

PATTERN 

DOWNLOAD 

PATTERN 

Spiky Bangle 



Shine & Kidsilk Haze 

DOWNLOAD 

PATTERN 

Pattern Yoke Sweater 




Sleeveless Top 

With Collar 




DOWNLOAD 

PATTERN 

DOWNLOAD 

PATTERN 


Lisa Richardson 

Week Workshop in Tuscany 

The Watermill, Posara, September 2016 

Saturday 10th September to Saturday 17th September 2016 

During her workshops, Lisa will be working on two specially designed projects. 

She tells us what the inspiration behind them is: 


Cafe curtain/table runner 

“I wanted to create 

something influenced 

by the area in which the 

workshop will be held. 

I chose beautiful Italian 

lace and could picture 

myself sitting in a rustic 

Italian café, looking out 

through the café, curtain 

at the passers by whilst 

drinking my espresso! I have used 

the super soft Rowan Fine Lace yarn 

which, although fine, I find a pleasure to 

crochet with. Two basic motifs are used 

and can be learned during your time on 

the workshop. If you have little crochet 

experience, it may be worth bringing some 

slightly chunkier yarn to practise with. 

If the cafe curtain is not for you, then the 

motifs also make a wonderful table runner 

or scarf. 

You will be supplied with the yarn to make 

the project. You will just need a 2mm 

crochet hook, plus a larger hook if you are 

bringing along some practice yarn.” 

Slip stitch bag 

“I love slip stitch 

patterns! You can 

create intricate colour 

work very easily simply 

by slipping stitches. 

This bag will show 

you this process, but 

also how changing 

colour placement can 

dramatically alter the 

overall look of a project. The bag could 

easily be adapted to a cushion if desired. 

You will be supplied with 5 balls of Rowan 

Felted Tweed to make the project. You 

will need to bring two pairs of needles – 

3¼ mm and 4mm.” 

More about the Watermill, 

by Lois & Bill Breckon 

“Our beautiful and historic watermill stands 

beside the River Rosaro in the small 

village of Posara. Peaceful and secluded, 

yet part of the village, the mill is just a mile 

or so from the walled medieval town of 

Fivizzano with its cafés, restaurants and 

shops. This is the heart of Lunigiana, in 

the North-west of Tuscany 

We have lovingly restored the historic 

buildings and created five self-contained 

apartments around a courtyard. These 

apartments come together for our painting 

and creative writing courses. When the 

courses aren’t on, the apartments are 

available for holiday lets. The bright 

and airy rooms are well decorated and 

tastefully furnished. All enjoy lovely views 

of the river, the gardens or the mountains. 

Around the mill, there’s a walled garden, 

a vine verandah, a winding rose pergola, 

and riverside gardens, all with tables 

and chairs and providing delightful spots 

for sun-kissed or shady relaxation and 

contemplation. Then there are further 

secluded, private gardens where you can 

stroll beside the millstream for about a 

quarter of a mile.” 

Rowan Subscribers receive a discount 

of £100. Quote your subscription 

membership number at time of booking. 

MORE 

INFORMATION 

ROWAN 

SUBSCRIPTION 


Back To The Country 

- 2014 

Debbie Abrahams’ Mystery Blanket 

Club 2016 

“My passion for designing knitting 

patterns has always been inspired by the 

infinite possibilities that colour, stitch and 

embellishment offer, and this has been 

the focus of my work for many years. I 

launched my first Mystery Blanket Club 

in 2008, and this project gave me the 

perfect vehicle to explore all of these 

things through the squares that I design 

for the blankets. Next year sees the 

launch of the ninth design in my Mystery 

Blanket collection, for which there are 

six-hundred memberships available to 

knitters worldwide. The patterns for each 

blanket are only available to the members 

that join, and as a consequence they 

have become very collectable items. The 

concept of the Mystery Blanket Club is 

very simple. Members receive the knitting 

kit in three instalments, which include 

all the yarn and embellishments needed 

for the whole project. They then receive 

the patterns in ten monthly instalments, 

beginning in January and finishing in 

October. The theme of the project is 

kept secret, only to be discovered as the 

squares are completed and the blanket 

takes shape. There is a monthly blog on 

my website, which keeps the members 

up to date with all the latest news, advice 

and knitting tips for the project. Many 

of the members have created localised 

groups that meet up regularly to knit their 

squares and talk about the project. For 

the 2016 blanket, I am using some of my 

favourite Rowan yarns including Cotton 

Glacé, Kidsilk Haze, Truesilk and Tetra 

Cotton. Although I am not going to give 

you any hints about the theme, I can tell 

you that the colour palette is a mix of soft 

sweet shades, combining dove grey, coral 

pink, lavender, greengage and biscuit 


Nordic Adventure 

- 2013 


with brilliant white. If you are interested 

in joining my 2016 Mystery Blanket Club, 

you can sign up straight away by visiting 

the online shop on my website.” 

-Debbie Abrahams 

Mystery Blanket Club 

FAQ’s 

What is the Mystery Blanket about? 

The Mystery Blanket is a unique project 

that is split across ten months. The design 

follows the same format as Debbie’s other 

blanket designs in “Blankets & Throws 

To Knit” and “More Blankets & Throws”. 

It is constructed from individually knitted 

squares that are assembled together to 

create a finished block. The mystery is 

that you won’t be told the theme of the 

project, so part of the fun is to discover 

this while you are knitting it up! 

This blanket design will not be published 

or re-produced in any other form, so 

you will be part of a very special one-off 

project. 

How many months will the project run for? 

The project begins in January and runs for 

ten months. Patterns are sent monthly by 

email. The first email is sent mid-January 

with subsequent emails sent on the first 

of the month (Feb to October). Yarn and 

beads are sent in three parcels: January 

March and May. There is an option to 

have printed paperwork which is posted 

to members each month and for which 

there is an extra cost. 

How do I subscribe to the Mystery Blanket 

Club? 

Membership is strictly on a first-come-firstserved 

basis and there is a set number of 

places in the club. 

You can purchase your membership now 

in Debbie’s online shop and make your 

payment using a debit or credit card or 

Paypal. Then all you need to do is sit back 

and wait for your first package to arrive in 

January. 

Alternatively, if you would prefer to make a 

payment by BACS directly from your bank 

account then contact Debbie at debbie@ 

debbieabrahams.com and she will give 

you her bank account details. 

What if I don’t have an email address? 

If you do not have an email address you 

can send an application form by post. 

Please make sure that you include your 

full address details, telephone number, 

your choice of package and your payment. 

Cheques should be made payable to 

Debbie Abrahams Ltd. 

How will the parcels be sent to me? 

Each parcel is sent by Royal Mail. For 

UK customers all parcels are sent by 

FIRST CLASS. All European and World 

customers are sent parcels by AIRMAIL. 

A Celebration Of Sport 

- 2012 


There is an option for UK customers to 

have SPECIAL DELIVERY (guaranteed 

next day delivery), and for overseas 

customers to have tracked and/or signed 

for delivery, for which there is an extra 

cost. 

What will be included in my materials 

parcel? 

Your three materials parcels will include 

enough yarn and embellishments to knit 

up the whole blanket. 

You are sent whole balls of yarn and 

packets of beads. If you have any left 

over, it is very important that you keep 

it safe because you will need it for other 

squares later on in the project. As a 

consequence, the quantities of yarn and 

beads in your parcels might differ, but in 

total you will have enough to complete the 

whole blanket. 

But what if I am a novice knitter? Can I still 

join the Club and successfully complete 

the project? 

There are two options given for the same 

blanket design and everyone is sent 

the pattern instructions for both options. 

Most of the squares are the same for 

both options, but when there is a choice 

it is clearly stated. Option one includes 

textured stitches like cables and knit 

and purl stitch patterns, intarsia colour 

work, fairisle colour work, stripes and 

some beading. Option two includes all 

of the above, but any fairisle and intarsia 

squares are replaced by either stripes, 

beaded or textured designs. 

House Of Aphrodite 

- 2011 

What if I get stuck and need some advice? 

In every mail-out there is an information 

page which gives lots of important 

information about the techniques that 

are used in the blanket. In addition to 

this, Debbie also has a dedicated blog 

on her website for the Mystery Blanket 

which is updated monthly and includes 

extra tips and techniques that she feels 

will be helpful to you. Another place to get 

help is on the Ravelry forum. It is easy 

to become a member (if you have not 

already joined) and there is a dedicated 

thread for Debbie Abrahams Mystery 

Blanket, through which you can “meet” 

other members and pick up lots of useful 

advice. You can also contact Debbie to 

ask a specific question by emailing her at 

debbie@debbieabrahams.com. 

Debbie’s contact details are: 

Address: 26 Church Drive, Carrington, 

Nottingham NG5 2BA, UK 

EMAIL 

WEBSITE 


Rowan & Swarovski 

CREATE YOUR STYLE 

Design Talent Competition 

This autumn, we haveteamed up with Swarovski CREATE 

YOUR STYLE to launch a sparkling design competition, 

which will enable crafting talent and skill to be recognised. 

Be inspired by the party season and design an original 

shimmering accessory piece using Rowan yarn and 

Swarovski Create Your Style crystals*. Simply create an 

accessory piece and photograph your idea. 

Send this to us by email at mail@knitrowan.com and include 

details of which yarn and crystals you have used, along 

with colour choices. The winning entry will be professionally 

photographed on a Rowan shoot and the designer will be 

interviewed for www.knitrowan.com – there is also a year’s 

supply of yarn** and stunning collection of CREATE YOUR 

STYLE crystals up for grabs! The competition launches 

on 15th October and will close on 30th November 2015 at 

5pm UK time. 

For full terms and conditions, see www.knitrowan.com. 

*Designs must be original ideas and only use Rowan yarn and Swarovski 

CREATE YOUR STYLE crystals 

** Ten balls per calendar month 


Triangle Shawl 



PURCHASE 

PATTERN 


ROWAN 

Day Out 

Join us for another exciting Rowan Day Out in London this November. 

The day will include a guided tour of the Fashion & Textile Museum 

followed by a talk from Dame Zandra Rhodes. The afternoon will 

consist of a design workshop on colourwork with Dee Hardwicke. 

Highlights will include: 

• Meet Zandra Rhodes, founder of the museum, hear about her exciting life in 

fashion as a pioneering designer and her work with Rowan. 

• Enjoy an informative guided tour of the new Liberty Exhibition at the Fashion 

and Textiles Museum. Liberty in Fashion celebrates the 140th anniversary of the 

company. The exhibition charts Liberty’s history as ‘the’ fashionable place to shop 

as well as its role as the source and originator of key trends in fashion history. Over 

150 garments, textiles and objects demonstrate Liberty’s strong relationships with 

designers since 1875, from Arthur Silver of Silver Studio to collaborations with 

Jean Muir, Cacharel, Yves Saint Laurent and Vivienne Westwood. 

• There is also a display of Susan Collier and Sarah Campbell’s work for Liberty 

from 1961 to 1977, including their iconic Bauhaus design. 


Image Credited to Daniel Lewis 

Learn intricate intarsia techniques and 

gain design inspiration in a workshop 

with artist and designer Dee Hardwicke, 

author of Little Colour Knits, who will 

show us how she gains inspiration for her 

colourful designs from the things around 

her. All materials will be supplied. 

Places are limited so get in quick and 

book a slot for yourself and a friend for this 

exciting day out. Price includes private 

tour of the exhibition and lunch. It’s going 

to be a great day in like-minded company, 

so come and join us. 

Schedule for the day 

10.30am Meet at the Fashion and 

Textiles Museum 

11.00am Guided tour of the 

exhibition 

12.30pm Buffet lunch provided 

1.00pm Talk by Zandra Rhodes 

2.00pm Workshop with 

Dee Hardwicke 

4.00pm Pack up and browse 

exhibition 

6.00pm Gallery closes 

Details 

Dates: 24th November 2015 

Price: £80 

To book a place call +44 (0) 1484 681881 

Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm. 


Christmas 

is a-coming… 

Why not treat someone to a hand knitted 

gift this Christmas? 

Here are our suggestions of ideas which 

are bound to bring a smile on the big day. 

Star Hat & Mitts 

Shine Collection 

PURCHASE 

PATTERN 

Cherish Scarf 

10 Simple Cosy 

Projects 

PURCHASE 

PATTERN 

Mayvala 

Valerie Lenton Shawls & Capes 

Designer Collection 

PURCHASE 

PATTERN 

Geometric Weave 

Poncho 

20 - November 2015 

Lexy Scarf 

Pure Wool Worsted 

Autumn Collection 

PURCHASE 

PATTERN 

Moldart Tartan 

Fingerless Mitts 

DC and Tutor Competition 

Online Collection

Stockists 

To find your local stockist view our 

store locator at www.knitrowan.com by 

clicking the button below 

STOCKISTS 

Workshops 

To view a full list of workshop dates 

visit www.knitrowan.com by clicking the 

button below 

WORKSHOPS 

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or any part of all material, including illustrations, in this publication is strictly 

forbidden. No part may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, 

electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission of the copyright 

owners having been given in writing. 

The designs in this publication are copyrighted and must not be knitted for re-sale. Reproduction of this publication is protected by copyright and is 

sold on the condition that it is used for non commercial purposes. Yarn quantities are approximate as they are based on average requirements. Colour 

reproduction is as close as printing will allow. 

First published in Great Britain 2015 by Mez Crafts UK LTD 17F Brooke’s Mill, Armitage Bridge, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD4 7NR. 

E-mail: mail@knitrowan.com Web: www.knitrowan.com © Copyright Mez Crafts UK LTD 2015 


Shire 

by Lisa Richardson 

using Hemp Tweed 

Hemp Tweed

Row@n November 2015 eNewsletter

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