Rowan Winter 2017 Newsletter
The Autumn/Winter season is well underway and there has been lots of mid-season activity keeping us busy! In this issue, we review the last couple of months which have seen the launch of two new Rowan Selects Yarns and new publications including titles from Kim Hargreaves and Georgia Farrell. We'll catch up with designer Jem Weston whose latest title ‘Cute Comfort Knits’ is perfect for those cosy winter evening knitting projects and we talk to Quail Studio about their exciting Rowan restyle project and much more.
The Autumn/Winter season is well underway and there has been lots of mid-season activity keeping us busy! In this issue, we review the last couple of months which have seen the launch of two new Rowan Selects Yarns and new publications including titles from Kim Hargreaves and Georgia Farrell. We'll catch up with designer Jem Weston whose latest title ‘Cute Comfort Knits’ is perfect for those cosy winter evening knitting projects and we talk to Quail Studio about their exciting Rowan restyle project and much more.
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<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong><br />
WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
1
Hello and welcome to the second issue of our new look<br />
quarterly newsletter!<br />
The Autumn/<strong>Winter</strong> season is well underway and there has<br />
been lots of mid-season activity keeping us busy! We review<br />
the last couple of months which have seen the launch of two<br />
new <strong>Rowan</strong> Selects yarns – Camello and Sultano – and new<br />
publications including titles from Kim Hargreaves and Georgia<br />
Farrell.<br />
The Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace is always<br />
an important date in our autumn calendar and this year was no<br />
different. It was a great show and the whole team thoroughly<br />
enjoyed the week!<br />
Also in this issue we catch up with designer Jem Weston whose<br />
latest title ‘Cute Comfort Knits’ is perfect for those cosy winter<br />
evening knitting projects and we talk to Quail Studio about<br />
their exciting <strong>Rowan</strong> restyle project.<br />
Don’t forget to check out our technique ‘How To’ pages, which<br />
in this issue focuses on Intarsia, with helpful step-by-step tips<br />
and images.<br />
Finally we hear from Debbie Abrahams and Jane Crowfoot<br />
about their exciting 2018 projects and we also catch up with<br />
two of our retailers The Wool Merchant and Web-sters.<br />
As always, we hope you enjoy your new issue. We’d love to hear<br />
what you think of the new website and collections, why not<br />
visit our Facebook page to tell us your thoughts!<br />
The <strong>Rowan</strong> team<br />
Cover: Wilkie Hat & Scarf<br />
by Martin Storey<br />
Knitted in Cashmere Tweed<br />
Cashmere Tweed<br />
<strong>Rowan</strong> Yarns<br />
17F Brooke’s Mill, Armitage Bridge,<br />
Huddersfield,<br />
West Yorkshire, HD4 7NR<br />
CONTACT<br />
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or<br />
any part of all material, including illustrations<br />
and designs, in this publication/pattern is<br />
strictly forbidden and is sold on the condition<br />
that it is used for non commercial purposes.<br />
No part may be reproduced, stored in a<br />
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form<br />
or by any means electronic, electrostatic,<br />
magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying,<br />
recording or otherwise without prior<br />
permission of the copyright owners having<br />
been given in writing. Yarn quantities<br />
are approximate and are based on average<br />
requirements. Images and shades are for<br />
guidance only as colours may not display<br />
accurately on screen or in printed format.<br />
Contact your local stockist to view a fringed<br />
(not digital reproduction) yarn shade card.<br />
© Copyright MEZ Crafts UK Ltd., <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
MEZ Crafts UK Ltd., 17F, Brooke’s Mill,<br />
Armitage Bridge, Huddersfield, HD4 7NR,<br />
Web: www.knitrowan.com<br />
2 ROWAN
CONTRIBUTORS<br />
………………………<br />
Katie Calvert’s background is<br />
in fashion and textiles, with<br />
previous experience in trend<br />
forecasting, public relations and<br />
events before joining the closeknit<br />
<strong>Rowan</strong> team as a freelancer<br />
in September 2015. Although<br />
her knitting skills leave much to<br />
be desired, she loves fashion and<br />
writing for <strong>Rowan</strong> means that<br />
she is able to pass that passion<br />
onto you!<br />
Katherine Lymer is a knitting<br />
tutor, designer and writer based<br />
in the inspirational countryside<br />
of the Scottish Borders. She<br />
enjoys travelling throughout the<br />
UK, giving workshops on all<br />
aspects of knitting and teaching<br />
people of all ages and skill levels.<br />
Follow us on Social Media…<br />
WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
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WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
………………………<br />
Contents<br />
24<br />
Novemeber Member’s Pattern<br />
- Askham 6<br />
December & January Members Patterns Preview 7<br />
Bohemian Blues<br />
- Jane Crowfoot Crochet Along 8<br />
Jem Weston<br />
- Designer Interview 10<br />
Events<br />
- Knitting & Stitching Show 13<br />
Debbie Abrahams<br />
- Mystery Blanket 2018 14<br />
Trends Round Up<br />
- New York Fashion Week 20<br />
Retailer Focus<br />
- Web-sters 22<br />
Mid Season Round Up<br />
- Autumn <strong>Winter</strong> ‘17 24<br />
ROWAN Style Edit 28<br />
Retailer Focus<br />
- The Wool Merchant 30<br />
Festive Knits<br />
- A Round Up of Festive Knits Past & Present 32<br />
Tips & Techniques<br />
- How to Knit Intarsia 34<br />
34<br />
WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
5
NOVEMBER’S<br />
MEMBERS PATTERN<br />
………………………<br />
Askham<br />
By Martin Storey<br />
Using Hemp Tweed<br />
DOWNLOAD<br />
6 ROWAN
Upcoming in<br />
December &<br />
January<br />
DECEMBER’S<br />
MEMBERS PATTERN<br />
………………………<br />
Duskiness<br />
By Martin Storey<br />
Using Kid Classic<br />
JANUARY’S<br />
MEMBERS PATTERN<br />
………………………<br />
Sutton<br />
By Sarah Hatton<br />
Using Kid Classic<br />
WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
7
8 ROWAN
CROCHET<br />
ALONG<br />
………………………<br />
Bohemian Blues<br />
Over the last 10 years we have seen a massive<br />
rise in the popularity of crochet with Crochet<br />
Along (CAL) style projects in particular having<br />
a huge impact on the market. Jane Crowfoot has<br />
been designing crochet along projects since 2011<br />
and we are so excited to be able to show you Jane’s<br />
newest project ‘Bohemian Blooms’.<br />
Jane has based her new design on various<br />
inspirations including English country gardens and<br />
London’s garden squares, but the main catalyst for<br />
her design was the paintings and iconic interior<br />
designs of turn of the Century artists Vanessa Bell<br />
and Duncan Grant at their home ‘Charleston<br />
Farmhouse’ in Sussex and their murals at the nearby<br />
Berwick Church. The project uses various yarns<br />
from the <strong>Rowan</strong> palette including Baby Merino<br />
Silk DK, Soft Yak, Felted Tweed and Summerlite<br />
DK and Jane has also used beads from the Debbie<br />
Abrahams range.<br />
Rather than release this new crochet along style<br />
project in the usual way - where the design is<br />
issued in pieces monthly or fortnightly – Jane has<br />
decided to release this project in book form giving<br />
crocheters the chance to work through the project<br />
at their own speed. The pattern book, which<br />
accompanies Jane’s yarn kits, are laid out in a logical<br />
order so that the crochet patterns get progressively<br />
more challenging and can be worked through in<br />
a CAL type way or in a more random sequence<br />
depending on the preference of the crocheter.<br />
The patterns include step-by-step images and are<br />
WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
written in Jane’s distinctive and informative style.<br />
The design includes crochet flower motifs,<br />
butterflies, circles and striped stitch motifs and<br />
Jane has included an array of techniques, including<br />
beading, 3D work and bobbles. To help with crochet<br />
techniques and in order to offer crocheters a little<br />
more guidance, Jane has also added technique<br />
downloads to her website making this a perfect<br />
learning tool.<br />
The kits for this project are currently available<br />
exclusively from Jane’s website, and a pattern only<br />
option (in book form) will become available in the<br />
New Year. Jane’s project packs include 31 balls of<br />
<strong>Rowan</strong> yarn, 2 packs of beads, a sew in label and the<br />
pattern book and are available at just £175, a price<br />
which is based on the recommended retail price of<br />
the yarns only which means that the beads, patterns<br />
and label are included for free! Jane is also offering<br />
free UK standard postage and reduced rates for the<br />
rest of the world.<br />
If you want to order a kit or take a look at Jane’s<br />
portfolio of crochet design click the button below.<br />
MORE INFO<br />
9
DESIGNER<br />
INTERVIEW<br />
………………………<br />
Jem Weston<br />
Jem Weston is a freelance designer, author<br />
and workshop tutor who has worked closely<br />
with <strong>Rowan</strong> for several years. Jem’s latest book<br />
‘Cute Comfort Knits’ is a charming collection of<br />
homewares and accessories in Jem’s wonderfully<br />
distinctive style. We caught up with her for a chat<br />
about her new title and to see what else she has<br />
been up to recently.<br />
Cute Comfort Knits is your third book,<br />
following on from the very successful<br />
Cute Little Knits and The Knitted Nursery<br />
Collection. What was your inspiration for this<br />
latest title?<br />
For me, there is nothing more comforting than<br />
curling up on the sofa with my cats, a hot chocolate<br />
and some knitting. I wanted Cute Comfort Knits<br />
to capture the feeling of that contented sigh at the<br />
end of a long day with projects that are comforting<br />
to knit and add cosiness to your home.<br />
You use a variety of <strong>Rowan</strong> yarns in your<br />
work. Do you have a favourite and why?<br />
Can I have more than one favourite?! I love working<br />
with Felted Tweed – I think tweedy toys look<br />
adorable. The colour palette is gorgeous, it goes a<br />
really long way and it’s fabulous for colourwork as it<br />
10 ROWAN<br />
plumps into the stitches and is very forgiving.<br />
I also adore Kid Classic. Canard is the most amazing<br />
shade in the world! Kid Classic is the ultimate<br />
fluffy, cosy yarn – it’s light, warm, quick to knit and<br />
washes beautifully.<br />
Cute Comfort Knits is a collection that<br />
instantly makes you want to snuggle up with<br />
your knitting on a cold winter night and<br />
includes, cushions, throws, socks and toys.<br />
Do you have a favourite project from the<br />
collection?<br />
I think I would have to say Haggis the Hedgehog<br />
& Family are my favourites! I became a little bit<br />
obsessed with hedgehogs when one temporarily<br />
moved into our garden. They’re a nice quick project<br />
that you can get done in a weekend and they make<br />
lovely gifts.<br />
I also really enjoyed knitting the Comfort Blanket.<br />
It’s a very simple project, but sometimes that’s just<br />
what you need. It’s made in three strips so it doesn’t<br />
feel too challenging, it keeps you super warm and<br />
cosy whilst knitting and it really is comforting to<br />
knit and comforting to snuggle up in when it’s<br />
finished!<br />
You use a variety of techniques in your
1<br />
2 3<br />
collections, from colourwork through to<br />
texture. What do you enjoy knitting the most<br />
and why?<br />
I like to have at least a couple of projects on the<br />
go at any time so that I can choose what I’m in<br />
the mood for. I love colorwork, such as the Deer<br />
and Pheasant Cushions, but sometimes I just want<br />
to knit something really simple that I don’t have to<br />
think about – like the Comfort Wrap or Blanket.<br />
The Cosy Floor Cushions have a good balance<br />
with the cables across the centre requiring enough<br />
concentration to keep it interesting…and then you<br />
can switch off your brain to do the stocking stitch!<br />
You recently exhibited at Yarndale and K&S.<br />
How did it go? What do you enjoy most<br />
about the shows?<br />
I love everything about the shows! I enjoy the<br />
planning, creating kits, playing with displays,<br />
meeting lots of enthusiastic knitters and spending<br />
time with my friends and colleagues.<br />
Whether it’s a small show where I’m exhibiting<br />
independently or as part of the <strong>Rowan</strong> team on<br />
a larger stand at K&S – the shows are always hard<br />
work but fantastic fun!<br />
Do you have a favourite design from the<br />
current <strong>Rowan</strong> AW collection? What are you<br />
knitting at the moment?<br />
My favourite deign from Magazine 62 is Buttrick<br />
by Martin Storey. It’s a lovely relaxed shape and I’m<br />
keen to knit a garment in Hemp Tweed as I’ve only<br />
used it for accessories so far.<br />
I have a few things on the needles at the moment<br />
– but the main project I’m knitting is the Meriden<br />
wrap by Amy Herzog from <strong>Rowan</strong> Loves no.5. I<br />
can’t wait to finish it - It’s going to look perfect<br />
with my winter coat.<br />
What’s coming up in 2018? Do you have any<br />
new projects coming up?<br />
I will be launching some new single patterns in<br />
2018 and refreshing some old favourites….watch<br />
this space!<br />
Pop over to Jem’s website to follow her weekly blog<br />
and social media and keep up to date on her new<br />
designs, events and knitty ponderings.<br />
1. Deer & Pheasant Cushions<br />
2. Haggis & Family<br />
3. Comfort Blanket<br />
Cute Comfort Knits<br />
JEMWESTON.<br />
CO.UK<br />
WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
11
R O W A N<br />
S E L E C T S<br />
SULTANO<br />
4 designs for women by Quail<br />
using ROWAN Selects Camello<br />
Visit www.knitrowan.com for more information<br />
12 ROWAN
EVENTS<br />
………………………<br />
Knitting & Stitching Show<br />
Alexandra Palace<br />
The Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra<br />
Palace has always been an important date in<br />
the <strong>Rowan</strong> calendar and this year was no different.<br />
Joining forces with our partner retailer, Lady Sew<br />
and Sew, weeks of planning led us to set up day<br />
where the team worked tirelessly to create what we<br />
believe to be one of our strongest stands to date!<br />
Admittedly we are biased, but we did have lots of<br />
lovely compliments and so we hope that you agree!<br />
During the course of the show we were joined on<br />
the stand by some wonderful designers including<br />
our very own Lisa Richardson, Georgia Farrell<br />
who was launching her new book ‘Inspired Knits’<br />
(see page 26 for more info), Jem Weston with her<br />
latest title ‘Cute Comfort Knits’ (see our designer<br />
interview with Jem on page 10), Martin Storey<br />
with his fantastic new cable titles, ‘Easy Cable Knits’<br />
and ‘How to Cable’ and his fantastic menswear<br />
collection, ‘Journeyman’. Dee Hardwicke also<br />
joined us on the stand to promote her current title<br />
‘A Story in Yarn’. Dee then hot-footed it over to<br />
Liberty where she spent the next day at our flagship,<br />
followed by a <strong>Rowan</strong> workshop at the Liberty<br />
Sewing School.<br />
A particular highlight for us was being nominated in<br />
the Aceville Awards and we were absolutely thrilled<br />
to win ‘Best Luxury Yarn Brand’ and ‘Favourite<br />
Pattern House’. What a great way to round off a<br />
fantastic few days!<br />
All in all, it was a busy show but we all thoroughly<br />
enjoyed it and hope you did too!<br />
WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
13
DEBBIE ABRAHAMS<br />
………………………<br />
Mystery Blanket<br />
2018<br />
14 ROWAN
After celebrating a decade<br />
of Mystery Blanket<br />
designs in <strong>2017</strong>, Debbie is<br />
back in the studio working<br />
on her eleventh Mystery<br />
Blanket creation for 2018. For<br />
her tenth anniversary blanket<br />
this year she took inspiration<br />
from all her previous Mystery<br />
Blanket designs, reworking<br />
some of her favourite patterns<br />
in new colourways. However,<br />
for 2018 Debbie promises<br />
her members a brand new<br />
knitting challenge inspired<br />
by a theme that promises a<br />
rich mix of colours, patterns<br />
and textures. The concept of<br />
the Mystery Blanket Club<br />
remains unchanged, and it’s<br />
a very simple one. Members<br />
…………………………<br />
The concept of the<br />
Mystery Blanket Club<br />
remains unchaged<br />
…………………………<br />
receive the knitting kit in two<br />
instalments which include all<br />
the yarn and embellishments<br />
needed for the whole project.<br />
They then receive the patterns<br />
in ten monthly instalments,<br />
beginning in February and<br />
finishing in November. The<br />
theme of the project is kept a<br />
secret, only to be discovered as<br />
the squares are completed and<br />
the blanket takes shape. And to<br />
keep the Club exclusive and<br />
more desirable to join she limits<br />
the number of memberships<br />
each year - when they have<br />
sold out she closes the Club<br />
so that the patterns are only<br />
available to those who have<br />
signed up to it. Debbie writes<br />
a monthly blog on her website<br />
which keeps the members up<br />
to date with all the latest news,<br />
advice and knitting tips for the<br />
project.<br />
All ten of Debbie’s Mystery<br />
Blankets have used yarns from<br />
the <strong>Rowan</strong> collection, but for<br />
her next Mystery Blanket she<br />
is thrilled to have been offered<br />
the opportunity to have her<br />
own colours dyed up in one<br />
of her all-time favourite yarns.<br />
This is what Debbie has to say<br />
about her exciting new design<br />
challenge for 2018:<br />
“I have many favourite yarns<br />
in the <strong>Rowan</strong> collection, but<br />
one of my all-time favourites is<br />
Cotton Glacé. It is a lightweight<br />
double-knitting mercerised<br />
cotton that has a fabulous<br />
colour range and it knits up<br />
beautifully, resulting in a very<br />
flat, smooth, opaque fabric. So<br />
imagine my excitement when<br />
this year <strong>Rowan</strong> gave me the<br />
opportunity to have my own<br />
choice of unique colours dyed<br />
up in it for my 2018 Mystery<br />
Blanket! It’s been great fun<br />
choosing the colour palette,<br />
and I’ve opted for seventeen<br />
shades, plus two shades from<br />
the existing range. It’s a strong<br />
vibrant collection of colours<br />
for next year, combining deep<br />
indigo blue with terracotta,<br />
rich red, sunshine yellow and<br />
Opposite<br />
A French Romance<br />
2016<br />
WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
15
emerald green – plus many<br />
other shades which I am<br />
going to keep a secret until<br />
the launch in February! And<br />
of course there are many of<br />
Debbie Abrahams Beads in it too!<br />
…………………………<br />
Its a strong vibrant<br />
collection of colours for<br />
next year,<br />
…………………………<br />
These are the sorts of colours<br />
that really inspire me because<br />
of their vibrancy and depth. I<br />
feel so excited about my new<br />
Mystery Blanket design – the<br />
inspiration, the colours I have<br />
chosen and all of the new<br />
textures and patterns I am<br />
working on. Blanket squares<br />
are the perfect vehicle for<br />
my designing, giving me the<br />
freedom to explore colour,<br />
texture and embellishment<br />
within a set number of stitches<br />
and rows for each block –it’s<br />
just pure adventure! “<br />
The process of creating the<br />
design for each of Debbie’s<br />
Mystery Blankets is a lengthy<br />
one, usually taking from eight<br />
to twelve months to complete<br />
each one of her blanket<br />
designs. Her starting point is<br />
a source of inspiration, from<br />
which she takes all of her ideas<br />
for colour, texture and pattern.<br />
After creating a colour palette<br />
she then works on a colour<br />
layout to determine roughly<br />
where the colours are going<br />
Nordic Adventure<br />
2013<br />
16 ROWAN
to be used in the forty-nine<br />
squares of the blanket. Then<br />
a rough sketch is drafted up<br />
of the whole design so that<br />
she has a plan to work to for<br />
the placement of pattern and<br />
texture. When all of this prep<br />
work has been done, it is only<br />
then that Debbie picks up the<br />
knitting needles and starts to<br />
knit samples of each square in<br />
the blanket. And this can be a<br />
lengthy process in itself, with<br />
…………………………<br />
Designing a blanket is<br />
all about balance and<br />
harmony,<br />
…………………………<br />
many of the squares being<br />
revised and reknitted several<br />
times over before she is happy<br />
with the results:<br />
“Designing a blanket is all<br />
about balance and harmony,<br />
and my challenge is to create<br />
something that is not only<br />
visually pleasing to the eye,<br />
but also has enough exciting<br />
stitch patterns in it to keep<br />
the knitter motivated for ten<br />
months. I take care of the<br />
design side of the blanket, but<br />
I have a team of other people<br />
that work alongside me,<br />
without whom there would<br />
be no Mystery Blanket Club.<br />
I have three test knitters who<br />
each knit a complete blanket,<br />
three postal teams who deal<br />
with the packing and posting<br />
of the parcels, a local printer<br />
who looks after all the printed<br />
patterns, two graphic designers,<br />
a web and technical support<br />
team, plus my mother-in-law<br />
who is my all-round assistant!<br />
So there’s a lot that goes on<br />
behind the scenes to make it<br />
all happen for the hundreds of<br />
knitters worldwide who take<br />
on my challenge each year.”<br />
Debbie’s Mystery Blanket<br />
Club is open to all knitters, and<br />
it has become a truly global<br />
project with members joining<br />
her from all over the world:<br />
“It is such a joy for me to see all<br />
the different countries across<br />
the world that my Mystery<br />
Blanket kits have been sent<br />
to, from as far afield as South<br />
Africa to New Zealand! And<br />
what is really lovely is the<br />
number of new friendships<br />
that have been made through<br />
the Mystery Blanket Club,<br />
with many people meeting<br />
up regularly to knit up their<br />
blanket squares together.<br />
The Club has also been<br />
especially useful for people<br />
with disablements or mobility<br />
issues as all of the materials and<br />
patterns are sent directly to<br />
your door, so you don’t even<br />
need to leave the house to take<br />
part in it!”<br />
If you are interested in joining<br />
Debbie’s 2018 Mystery Blanket<br />
Club then you can sign up<br />
straight away by visiting the<br />
online shop on her website.<br />
Memberships can be purchased<br />
for UK, Europe and the World.<br />
Top<br />
Perugian Perspectives<br />
2015<br />
Bottom<br />
Arabian Nights<br />
2009<br />
EMAIL<br />
WEBSITE<br />
WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
17
<strong>Winter</strong>scapes<br />
…………………<br />
12 designs for women, by Sarah Hatton, using<br />
Alpaca Merino DK.<br />
Now available from knitrowan as digital<br />
purchasable patterns.<br />
VIEW<br />
COLLECTION<br />
18 ROWAN
Etherow<br />
by Sarah Hatton<br />
using Alpaca Merino DK<br />
<strong>Winter</strong>scapes<br />
CLICK TO<br />
PURCHASE<br />
WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
19
NEW YORK<br />
FASHION WEEK<br />
………………………<br />
Trends Round Up<br />
By Katie Calvert<br />
This September, New York delivered another<br />
great fashion week for spring summer 2018.<br />
Floral designs were in evidence, it wouldn’t be<br />
spring without them, but, this time, the romance<br />
they created was more modern and colourful, like<br />
those seen at Tory Burch. Although it’s doubtful that<br />
there will be many people challenging Moschino’s<br />
all-in-one flower look...<br />
NYFW is such a fast paced week, it would be<br />
impossible to talk about every trend, but a select<br />
few really shone through, in particular, the colour<br />
yellow. It was everywhere, dominating the catwalk.<br />
Not a light shade, but a bold spring daffodil yellow,<br />
illuminating any item. At Calvin Klein, satin<br />
yellow trousers were the order of the day, whilst at<br />
Matthew Adams, yellow cable knits, usually more<br />
suited to the winter season, were present. We all<br />
know that springtime doesn’t always bring us the<br />
warmer weather that we yearn for, but this yellow<br />
will shine through.<br />
Last season was all about embellishment, and this<br />
season echoes that. Yellow embellished dresses<br />
could be seen at this season’s Marc Jacobs and<br />
Prabal Gurung shows. Usually a bold evening<br />
statement for winter, adding a touch of decoration<br />
to spring shades makes it perfect for day. Just take a<br />
look at the shades that Coach 1941 has used with<br />
embellishment. So don’t save your embellished<br />
knitted shawl for evening, throw it over a dress for<br />
daytime.<br />
You might need a cover up for your fancy garment.<br />
With spring comes spring showers, so what better<br />
piece than a trench coat. It’s both lightweight and a<br />
good cover up. Why not go a bit bolder and ditch<br />
the sleeves. It’ll let you show off your summer<br />
sweater and still keep you dry, just don’t forget your<br />
umbrella. Phillip Lim has a few to choose from, and<br />
one even comes in yellow! If you don’t fancy that,<br />
the traditional trench could still be seen at plenty<br />
of shows, including Michael Kors and Derek Lam,<br />
who has even designed one in, yes you guessed it,<br />
yellow.<br />
20 ROWAN
Trench coats are often belted, but this won’t be the<br />
only thing that you’ll want to add a belt to. For<br />
spring summer 2018, belts are a core accessory. The<br />
size and style is your choice and it can be worn over<br />
any piece of knitwear. A comfy, oversized sweater<br />
can be transformed into a statement evening, or<br />
day, piece with just the touch of a belt. Diane von<br />
Furstenberg steers away from their famous wrap<br />
dress by defining the waist with a belt over shirt<br />
dresses and romantic styles.<br />
Romance is another firm favourite for spring<br />
summer 2018, illustrated by many floral designs,<br />
bringing these trends full circle. Oscar de la Renta<br />
and Marchesa showcased some of the most beautiful<br />
pieces, with eye watering prices to match, no doubt.<br />
More subtle romantic looks were seen at Victoria<br />
Beckham and Carolina Herrera, with long skirts<br />
the go to style. But Brock Collection typified just<br />
why florals never go out of fashion. Their romantic,<br />
floral, lace designs are so versatile that they could be<br />
worn for a wedding or simply thrown on for the<br />
beach. They even feature belts!<br />
All images sourced from vogue.com ready-to-wear<br />
www.vogue.co.uk/shows<br />
WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
21
RETAILER<br />
FOCUS<br />
………………………<br />
Web-sters<br />
USA<br />
Now in their 34 th year, centered in beautiful<br />
Ashland, Oregon, The Web-sters began as a<br />
retailer of yarns and supplies for knitting, spinning<br />
and weaving. Owner Dona Zimmerman, who<br />
raised sheep (and continues to do so), sought to<br />
marry her love for the fiber arts with the growing<br />
population of her community – new residents<br />
who mirrored the New Age trends of healthier,<br />
thoughtful and natural living.<br />
Taught to knit at the age of seven, Dona was one<br />
of the first retailers to embrace the <strong>Rowan</strong> brand<br />
in the Pacific Northwest. From the beginning,<br />
she was drawn to the way that the colour palettes,<br />
story stylings, yarn construction and pattern designs<br />
inspired her and her customers to create their own<br />
signature knitting styles. 30+ years later, with a full<br />
<strong>Rowan</strong> library, Dona still believes that these factors<br />
are key to the quintessential <strong>Rowan</strong> brand.<br />
Tweed yarns have always been popular at The Websters.<br />
Dona believes that they are more visually<br />
interesting to use and confided that her favourite<br />
<strong>Rowan</strong> yarn was Edina Ronay’s Silky Tweed. She<br />
has great hope for <strong>Rowan</strong>’s new Cashmere Tweed<br />
and featured it at her stand at Vogue Knitting Live<br />
in Seattle this November.<br />
The Web-sters has a full schedule of classes and<br />
special events monthly. Currently there are beginners<br />
classes in knitting, socks and needle felting, as well<br />
as drop-in classes for spinning and knitting. Trunk<br />
shows from suppliers revolve around each season to<br />
keep the shop, which also sells handmade jewelry<br />
and wearable art, looking fresh.<br />
Ashland, Oregon (population 25,000) hosts over<br />
350,000 tourists each year, many for their Oregon<br />
Shakespearean Festival. To stay in touch with<br />
visitors, the Web-sters started producing a catalog<br />
in the 1990’s, which is still updated twice annually.<br />
With the addition of a comprehensive website, the<br />
shop can easily stay connected to knitters across the<br />
world.<br />
<strong>Rowan</strong> is pleased to have partnered with The Websters<br />
and looks forward to supplying their customers<br />
for years to come.<br />
MORE INFO<br />
22 ROWAN
WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
23
AUTUMN WINTER ‘17<br />
………………………<br />
Mid Season<br />
Round Up<br />
Arabian<br />
by Lisa Richardson<br />
using Camello<br />
<strong>Rowan</strong> Selects Camello<br />
24 ROWAN
ROWAN Selects<br />
Camello<br />
……………………………...<br />
ROWAN Selects<br />
Sultano<br />
……………………………...<br />
Camello is a limited edition yarn for AW17/18.<br />
A beautiful blend of 68% extra fine merino, 18%<br />
baby camel and 14% nylon, which was added to<br />
give strength to the chainette structure of the yarn.<br />
This lofty yarn has long yardage and is available in<br />
ten beautiful shades, including rich jewel-like tones.<br />
It is accompanied by a collection of 8 designs by<br />
Lisa Richardson and Sarah Hatton.<br />
Sultano is a highlight of the <strong>Rowan</strong> autumn/winter<br />
collection and like Camello, it is a limited edition<br />
for AW117/8. Composed of 38% silk, 38% kid<br />
mohair and 24% cashmere this is a super soft and<br />
luxurious yarn ideal for small exclusive accessories.<br />
It is available in 4 stunning shades. We have recently<br />
introduced the <strong>Rowan</strong> Pom Pom to our range<br />
and this is a perfect fit with the Sultano collection,<br />
especially the classic beanie hat!<br />
VIEW<br />
YARN<br />
VIEW<br />
YARN<br />
VIEW<br />
COLLECTION<br />
VIEW<br />
COLLECTION<br />
WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
25
ROWAN<br />
Pom Poms<br />
……………………………...<br />
Inspired Knits<br />
by Georgia Farrell<br />
……………………………...<br />
<strong>Rowan</strong> Pom Poms… are handmade, using 100%<br />
vegan fibres & 100% animal friendly.<br />
A wonderfully tactile and soft alternative to fur.<br />
Each Pom Pom has a ribbon, so it can be easily<br />
attached, and offers the perfect finishing touch to<br />
any knitted hat, scarf , shawl or simply as a bag<br />
accessory. Available in five natural shades<br />
Inspired by her love of modern architecture and<br />
mathematics, the result is a fabulous collection of<br />
knitwear with a strong, modern aesthetic. Georgia<br />
has used a range of <strong>Rowan</strong>’s core yarns including<br />
Felted Tweed, Kid Classic, Hemp Tweed, Cocoon<br />
and Big Wool.<br />
VIEW<br />
COLLECTION<br />
VIEW<br />
RANGE<br />
26 ROWAN
Grey<br />
by Kim Hargreaves<br />
……………………………...<br />
4 Project<br />
Booklets<br />
……………………………...<br />
This is the latest collection from Kim Hargreaves<br />
and features 21 designs including garments and<br />
accessories. Kim has used Kidsilk Haze, Fine Lace,<br />
Brushed Fleece, Alpaca Merino DK, Superfine<br />
Merino 4ply, Cocoon and the new Alpaca Soft DK.<br />
The ‘4 Project’ booklets from Quail Studio have<br />
been a great success and this season has seen the<br />
launch of three further titles, all capturing the latest<br />
high street trends – Mohair, Colour Block and<br />
Ruffles.<br />
VIEW<br />
COLLECTION<br />
COMING SOON<br />
TO KNITROWAN<br />
WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
27
THE ROWAN<br />
STYLE EDIT<br />
By Quail<br />
Autumn/<strong>Winter</strong> 17 and <strong>Rowan</strong> Magazine 62 sees<br />
the launch of the ‘<strong>Rowan</strong> Style Edit’ by Quail<br />
Studio. Taking current <strong>Rowan</strong> designs, Quail<br />
Studio re-style the collection to offer a different<br />
take on the original <strong>Rowan</strong> photography.<br />
Drawing upon streetstyle trends, styling choices are<br />
aimed to allow you to take your wardrobe favourites<br />
and pair them with your hand knitted garment to<br />
get the complete look!<br />
Launched twice a year, for the spring/summer and<br />
autumn/winter seasons, selected designs will feature<br />
seasonal trends as well as timeless classics.<br />
Hutton<br />
by Lisa Richardson<br />
originally from<br />
Knitting & Crochet<br />
Magazine 62<br />
In this first edition, a selection of designs from<br />
Magazine 62 including the stunning Hutton Scarf,<br />
Georgia Farrell’s Wilshaw Coat and the fabulous<br />
front cover garment by Galina Carroll have all<br />
been restyled to create an alternative look. Designs<br />
using our new Valley Tweed yarn – Braden, Dearne<br />
and Wold have also been styled to offer another<br />
perspective. Other garments to be given the restyle<br />
treatment include Irma in our new Alpaca Soft DK<br />
and our eye-catching ‘<strong>Rowan</strong> Yarns’ cardigan in the<br />
ever popular Pure Wool Worsted.<br />
Quail Studio bring to life the designs with catwalk<br />
videos and a technical hints & tips youtube channel<br />
Watch out on social media for behind the scenes<br />
sneak peaks and exclusive additional content.<br />
ROWAN STYLE<br />
EDIT<br />
Brekkan<br />
by Martin Storey<br />
originally from<br />
Cashmere Tweed<br />
28 ROWAN
Imra<br />
by Martin Storey<br />
originally from<br />
Timeless DK<br />
Whispered<br />
by Sarah Hatton<br />
originally from<br />
Knitting & Crochet<br />
Magazine 62<br />
Farnley Scarf<br />
by Emma Wright<br />
Wilshaw<br />
by Georgia Farrell<br />
both originally from<br />
Knitting & Crochet<br />
Magazine 62<br />
Mackintosh<br />
by Martin Storey<br />
originally from<br />
Cashmere Tweed<br />
WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
29
RETAILER<br />
FOCUS<br />
………………………<br />
The Wool Merchant<br />
UK<br />
The Wool Merchant is located<br />
in picturesque Dartington,<br />
Devon, on the edge of the<br />
rural Dartington Hall Estate<br />
near Totnes. It is situated in the<br />
arts and crafts shopping centre<br />
‘The Shops at Dartington’, with<br />
history and the beauty of nature<br />
right on the doorstep, along<br />
with some great places to find<br />
coffee and cake and of course the<br />
wonderful shop itself crammed<br />
with woolly goodness!<br />
The Wool Merchant stocks a<br />
wide range of yarns, patterns and<br />
accessories and Dawn and her<br />
team, Chris and Jane, are always<br />
on hand to offer help and advice<br />
and to share their experience<br />
and knowledge. They hold a knit<br />
group on Friday mornings which<br />
is continually growing and new<br />
members are always welcome!<br />
They also offer a workshop<br />
programme which covers a<br />
broad spectrum of subjects from<br />
Fair Isle and Lace to Weaving and<br />
Crochet. Next year’s programme<br />
is currently in the pipeline and<br />
so keep an eye on the website.<br />
Dawn offers popular one hour<br />
session for beginners.<br />
Dawn shares her thoughts with<br />
us on the craft, the sharing of<br />
knowledge and skills and knitting<br />
consciously:<br />
“A strong tradition of creativity<br />
combined with the need to<br />
provide protection from seasonal<br />
changes in the weather have over<br />
generations produced a wealth<br />
of knitting techniques which<br />
until recent developments in<br />
information technology have<br />
been confined to within each<br />
geographical and social area of<br />
their conception. Now however<br />
there are fewer barriers and I<br />
am constantly discovering that<br />
my personal dislike of modern<br />
technology is rapidly being<br />
replaced by excitement and<br />
curiosity as I discover how these<br />
advances are working hand<br />
in hand (literally) with many<br />
crafters desire to search for new<br />
ideas to bring many hitherto<br />
little known traditions and<br />
fascinating techniques to greater<br />
numbers of people than could<br />
ever previously been envisaged.<br />
A generation ago it would have<br />
been the norm to learn from<br />
mother, grandmother, aunt<br />
orneighbour the local traditions<br />
of knitting or crochet and to<br />
continue for the rest of your life<br />
in blissful ignorance of any other<br />
methods, variations or traditions.<br />
The advantage of this isolation<br />
was that over generations some<br />
very diverse and beautiful<br />
30 ROWAN
techniques and traditions<br />
developed. What I see now daily<br />
in my shop The Wool Merchant<br />
at Dartington Devon is the way<br />
that social media and the internet<br />
have given knitters access to<br />
countless traditions from all<br />
corners of the globe. The effect<br />
this is having is to enlighten and<br />
embolden the once insular craft<br />
knitter.<br />
Another aspect of change I have<br />
seen over the course of my 56<br />
years of knitting experience is that<br />
now rather than knitting being a<br />
necessity to provide cheap warm<br />
clothing for every member of<br />
the family it has become a leisure<br />
activity of choice. This has meant<br />
that the type of knitting that<br />
my customers do has changed.<br />
There are some who wish to<br />
create heirlooms to be passed<br />
down through their families and<br />
others who just want to be able<br />
to knit something simple whilst<br />
watching the television.<br />
In a world of mass produced<br />
goods produced from synthetic<br />
materials in far flung places it is<br />
becoming more important than<br />
ever to a lot of my customers to<br />
make something unique and to<br />
choose yarns made with love and<br />
care from natural fibres.<br />
I specialise in yarns made from<br />
natural fibres which are not only<br />
better for the environment but<br />
are more enjoyable to knit with<br />
and more comfortable to wear.<br />
We all need to think hard about<br />
the effect our wasteful society<br />
is affecting the natural world<br />
so let’s do our bit and knit<br />
conscientiously and thoughtfully.<br />
By supporting your local shops,<br />
spinners and dyers and farmers<br />
you are helping the environment<br />
and the local economy. MAKE<br />
IT ONCE, MAKE IT WELL,<br />
MAKE IT LAST. Be mindful of<br />
how you knit and what you knit.<br />
The Wool Merchant has over<br />
4,500 lines for you to choose<br />
from. Come and enjoy the<br />
colours and textures.”<br />
MORE INFO<br />
WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
31
FESTIVE KNITS<br />
………………………<br />
A Round up of<br />
Festive Knits Past &<br />
Present…<br />
For the Home…<br />
This Christmas Bauble by Lisa Richardson is<br />
crocheted in <strong>Rowan</strong>’s Kidsilk Haze. Choose from<br />
over 30 shades to create a stunning addition to<br />
your tree! There are plenty of festive shades to<br />
choose from and so you’ll be spoilt for choice!<br />
DOWNLOAD<br />
Sarah Hatton’s Christmas Wreath is the perfect<br />
addition for your home this Christmas!<br />
Choose five shades of Kid Classic to create this<br />
wonderfully festive decoration!<br />
What could be mor<br />
Isle scarf! This stunn<br />
Richardson is work<br />
<strong>Rowan</strong> Selects Ca<br />
of extra fine merin<br />
ensures the lucky<br />
warm and cosy this<br />
DOWNLOAD<br />
DOWN<br />
32 ROWAN
Knitting for a gift…….<br />
The Charlotte Beanie Hat in our luxurious<br />
<strong>Rowan</strong> Selects Sultano would make an ideal<br />
gift this Christmas. Sultano is available in a<br />
range of four shades from a frosty grey to a<br />
rich deep plum and one of our new Pom-<br />
Poms would make a perfect finishing touch.<br />
DOWNLOAD<br />
e festive than a Fair<br />
ing design by Lisa<br />
ed in six shades of<br />
mello. This blend<br />
o and baby camel<br />
recipient will be<br />
Christmas!<br />
<strong>Rowan</strong> Felted Tweed is the<br />
perfect choice for these Fair Isle<br />
leg warmers by Jem Weston. Her<br />
signature style combined with her<br />
wonderful eye for colour, these are<br />
a welcome addition to any winter<br />
walk!<br />
DOWNLOAD<br />
LOAD<br />
WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
33
34 ROWAN
Tips & Techniques<br />
………………………<br />
How to To<br />
Knit Intarsia<br />
by Katherine Lymer<br />
Jensen<br />
by Martin Storey<br />
using Pure Wool Superwash Worsted<br />
Timeless Worsted<br />
Intarsia, Its mere mention<br />
can prompt strong,<br />
polarised opinions: We<br />
seem to love it – or hate it!<br />
Years of teaching knitting<br />
workshops suggest that any<br />
negative reactions are often<br />
due to a fear of falling foul<br />
of the commonly cited, yet<br />
avoidable, pitfalls. We hope to<br />
debunk some of these in this<br />
article.<br />
Sometimes known as “picture<br />
knitting”, intarsia is often<br />
associated with bold motifs<br />
where the contrasting colour is<br />
concentrated to specific regions.<br />
Unlike stranded knitting, this<br />
provides greater control over<br />
pattern placement and produces<br />
a fabric of single-thickness –<br />
perfect for worsted-weight yarns<br />
or garments for our springsummer<br />
wardrobes. Yet this isn’t<br />
the limit of its uses. Martin<br />
Storey’s striking “Jensen”, in<br />
“Timeless Worsted”, uses the<br />
intarsia technique to create a<br />
WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
stylish diagonal stripe where the<br />
edges of each colour are locked<br />
together in a satisfyingly even,<br />
seamless line.<br />
As with any successful project,<br />
thorough preparation is essential<br />
and this is particularly true for<br />
intarsia. Before casting-on, we<br />
need to study the chart, identify<br />
which yarns are worked where<br />
and in what order, estimate the<br />
amount of each yarn that will be<br />
used and wind shorter lengths as<br />
needed. Embrace the process:<br />
You’ll better know your pattern<br />
and your yarn – allowing for<br />
a more satisfying and pleasing<br />
process and, ultimately, an<br />
improved finished object.<br />
The chart is key to intarsia. It<br />
is the most effective method<br />
of displaying the shape, size<br />
and position of the motif (or<br />
colour change) within the<br />
knitted fabric. Each square of<br />
the chart represents a stitch.<br />
We start reading the chart from<br />
35
the bottom, right-hand corner<br />
square and then read across, from<br />
right to left, as we work our right<br />
side (RS) row. After turning our<br />
needles, to work the wrong side<br />
of our fabric, we “turn” direction<br />
on our chart, now reading from<br />
left to right – and so continuing,<br />
in a smooth, “Ƨ” type pattern.<br />
For the meaning of the symbols<br />
used in the chart, consult the<br />
key provided in the pattern. In<br />
colour knitting, symbols (or<br />
coloured squares) indicate the<br />
yarn colour to be used.<br />
The chart also allows us to<br />
plan ahead by winding-off the<br />
required length(s) of yarn into a<br />
bobbin(s) – an approach that can<br />
be essential when working the<br />
same colour multiple times across<br />
the same row, as in the wonderful<br />
“<strong>Rowan</strong> Yarns Sweater”, also<br />
from “Timeless Worsted”: Of the<br />
ten colours used in the jumper,<br />
only two of these are required<br />
in quantities of more than one<br />
ball. Hence bobbins become<br />
our friends, particularly when<br />
we learn how to reliably estimate<br />
the length required: Try counting<br />
the squares on the chart to be<br />
knitted in the contrast colour<br />
and then wrap the yarn around<br />
the needle (of the same size as<br />
specified in the pattern) the<br />
appropriate number of times.<br />
For example, to knit the letter<br />
“O” block from the “<strong>Rowan</strong><br />
Yarns Sweater”, the chart shows<br />
that there are 88 knitted stitches<br />
in the contrast colour to form<br />
the letter. Rather than wrapping<br />
88 times, instead wrap the yarn<br />
around the needle eight times<br />
and then multiply this length by<br />
11 to calculate the initial length<br />
36 ROWAN<br />
Left:<br />
<strong>Rowan</strong> Yarns Sweater<br />
by Martin Storey<br />
using Pure Wool Superwash Worsted<br />
Timeless Worsted<br />
Right:<br />
Kukiko<br />
by Brandon Mably<br />
using Cocoon<br />
Timeless Cocoon
a<br />
b<br />
Working intarsia in straight, vertical<br />
lines<br />
a, Drop working yarn at position of<br />
colour change<br />
b, Pick up the new yarn from<br />
underneath the old<br />
a<br />
b<br />
Working intarsia on a diagonal with<br />
the slope to the left<br />
a, Pick up the new yarn from<br />
underneath the old, knitwise<br />
b, Pick up the new yarn from<br />
underneath the old, purlwise<br />
required for all 88. A “wrap”<br />
uses less yarn than a “knit” so<br />
we can refine our estimate by<br />
multiplying that number by<br />
1.25 (increase by 25%). We also<br />
need to add additional lengths<br />
for each tail (perhaps another 2<br />
x 10cm) to provide us with the<br />
total length of yarn needed for<br />
that section (remembering that<br />
too much yarn is better than<br />
too little!). Then wind into a<br />
bobbin – or onto a commercially<br />
available plastic version. For a<br />
demonstration on how to wind a<br />
bobbin, watch the <strong>Rowan</strong> Yarns<br />
YouTube video, “Calculating<br />
yarn amounts and making a<br />
bobbin”. Repeat for all other<br />
yarns in your chart/chart section.<br />
Ends – and their sewing in –<br />
can quickly become a timeconsuming<br />
side-effect of<br />
working with multiple colours,<br />
so it is advantageous to try to<br />
eliminate these as we work. One<br />
method is to introduce the yarn<br />
a stitch before the chart specifies<br />
and weave-in its end, in a similar<br />
method to weaving-in our floats<br />
in stranded knitting (please see<br />
“How to knit Fair Isle” in the<br />
last newsletter). Thus, at the<br />
point where the chart states to<br />
start working the new colour, it<br />
is already secured into our work.<br />
A similar approach can be taken<br />
to weave-in the “tail” of the<br />
contrast colour at the end of its<br />
section.<br />
When it comes to changing<br />
colours, care needs to be taken<br />
to ensure that no gaps form<br />
between the two colours by<br />
twisting together the yarns at the<br />
point of the colour change. In<br />
WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
37
Working intarsia on a diagonal with<br />
the slope to the right<br />
a, Pick up the new yarn from undeneath<br />
the old, knitwise<br />
a<br />
b<br />
b, Pick up the new yarn from<br />
underneath the old, purlwise<br />
vertical blocks of colour, such as<br />
Brandon Mably’s “Kukiko”, we<br />
work to the position of the new<br />
colour. Drop the working colour<br />
yarn and then pick-up the new<br />
colour from underneath the old<br />
colour and continue to knit (a)<br />
/ purl (b). By “catching” the old<br />
colour at the back of the work,<br />
we ensure a tight join between<br />
the two sections.<br />
A similar approach is taken for<br />
colour changes on the diagonal,<br />
such as in “Jensen”, though here<br />
we have to resist the temptation to<br />
over-twist the yarns, which could<br />
distort the work. With RS facing,<br />
when the colour on the right is<br />
increasing (shown here as blue),<br />
we adopt the same procedure of<br />
dropping the working yarn at<br />
the colour change and picking<br />
up the new from underneath<br />
it knitwise (a) and purlwise (b).<br />
When the colour on the left is<br />
increasing (shown here as pink),<br />
we do the same again knitwise<br />
(a) and purlwise (b).<br />
Blocking is an essential step<br />
in producing a professionally<br />
finished piece of intarsia. Use a<br />
method in keeping with the care<br />
instructions on the yarn’s ball<br />
band before pinning-out your<br />
work to the correct dimensions<br />
and leaving to dry. In doing<br />
so, your stitches will sit evenly<br />
together creating a smooth,<br />
unitary finish.<br />
For consolidation of these<br />
techniques, consult the <strong>Rowan</strong><br />
calendar for a workshop<br />
convenient to you.<br />
38 ROWAN
ROWAN<br />
………………………<br />
Workshops<br />
To view a full list of workshop dates visit<br />
www.knitrowan.com by clicking the button<br />
below.<br />
WORKSHOPS<br />
WINTER <strong>2017</strong><br />
39