January 2012 - 1

December 2015

2 - December 2015

CONTENTSWelcome Letter 4

Monthly Free Pattern 5

Retailer in the Spotlight…

The Old Pharmacy 6

Amy Herzog Options Knit Along 2015 7

Marie Wallin 8

Caroline Austin 10

The Sock Collection by Sarah Hatton 12

Our Second Martin Storey Knit Along 14

Mystery Blanket Club 16

December 2015 - 3

Longdendaleby Sarah Hattonusing Alpaca Merino DKWinterscapes

4 - November 2015

Hello and welcome to a fabulously festive December eNewsletter!

As we move into holiday season, we are starting to think about all the lovely knitting time we will treat ourselves to over the break – what better way to spend time than tucked under a cosy blanket in front of a log fire with your needles!

As part of this, we bring you news of our stunning FREE sock pattern collection by the wonderful Sarah Hatton – the perfect gift – and of course your monthly exclusive design, this issue Rathlin in Big Wool by Heather Dixon.

We also give you a hint about an exciting knit along we have coming soon early next year and look at details of Marie Wallin’s fairisle blanket club.

We’d like to take this opportunity to wish you a very happy holiday season and a fabulous New Year, here’s to an amazing 2016!

The Rowan team

Front Cover:Wedenshaw Hat & Scarfby Sarah HattonAlpaca Merino DKWinterscapes

Click on the symbol where it appears for a link to further information

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December 2015 - 5

Rathlinby Heather DixonFur

For this and hundreds of FREE patterns exclusive to

m e m b e r s , click the button below:

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6 - December 2015

Retailer in the Spotlight…The Old Pharmacy

Kent

Take a step back in time in The Old Pharmacy; a beautiful character building turned craft haven in the historic town of Faversham.

The shop carries a good range of Rowan alongside friendly tips, advice and regular events.

To find out more about the shop, visit www.theoldpharmacyfaversham.co.uk, where you can also see pictures of its unique and historic setting.

December 2015 - 7

Amy Herzog Options Knit Along 2015

We are now nearly at the end of our fantastic Options Knit Along with Amy Herzog, the final video is available and discusses finishing. It also features a helpful demonstration on how to pin in a sleeve cap and advice on mattress stitch.

Don’t forget to share your progress on our Facebook and Ravelry pages!

8 - December 2015

– What a difference 18 months makes!It’s 18 months since Marie Wallin, former Rowan Head Designer had a heart attack. This dramatic life changing event saw Marie reduce her design work and involvement with Rowan to gradually grow her design company into a successful business.

Marie actually started ‘Marie Wallin Designs’ in May 2012 whilst still being Rowan’s Head Designer, but it wasn’t until she was recovering from her illness that she had the time to concentrate on developing her own self published books and workshops. This year saw the addition of kits and the Fairisle Club to her repertoire.The last two years have seen the launch of five successful books, all using Rowan yarn: Windswept – Collection One, sold out quickly. Lakeland was next, followed by Filigree and Once Upon a Time. October saw the launch of Autumn, a stunning collection of Fairisles and cables mainly using Felted Tweed and Cocoon. For two years now, Marie has been hosting very popular workshops in her home village in Leicestershire. With a growing reputation for a fun day in lovely surroundings with fabulous handknit and crochet projects and great food, her workshops sell out very quickly when announced.

Sageby Marie Wallinusing Felted TweedLakeland

Blanketby Marie Wallinusing Felted TweedFairisle Club

December 2015 - 9

FAIRISLE CLUB NEWSLETTER

November 1st saw the start of the first Fairisle Club knit along. Members are making a beautiful Fairisle blanket (large enough to cover a double bed) by knitting a different Fairisle square each month. Even though the knit along has started you can join at any time. For more details and to book, click on the Fairisle Club button.

What’s planned for 2016? Well a lot actually!Two new books are planned for next year, both in Rowan yarn – Springtime will be out on the 1st May and Winter Crochet on the 15th July. Marie is also hoping to add weekend luxury workshops to the workshop diary. These will be held in different parts of the country, the first one is likely to be in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. Printed patterns will shortly be available from the online shop and Marie is currently working on a small collection of beautiful handknit and crochet related gifts which are planned to be released in spring 2016. And of course Fairisle Club 2 will happen in autumn next year!Why not subscribe to Marie’s newsletter to get the latest information on all future events.Marie continues to have a close relationship with Rowan. You can see her exclusive designs for Rowan in the forthcoming Rowan Magazine 59 and in a new yarn brochure collection. Cherry

by Marie Wallinusing Felted TweedAutumn

10 - December 2015

Caroline Austin, Two Turtle Doves Design

Caroline Austin designs her range by taking inspiration from her two young children Finlay and Harris, friend’s children and everyday sketches. Caroline creates her imaginative and quirky art by sketching out her composition then discovering the fabrics in her appliqué stage of the design to bring it to life.

We love these three knitting themed designs, visit www.twoturtledovesdesign.com to find out more about Caroline’s work.

December 2015 - 11

12 - December 2015

The Sock Collection by Sarah Hatton

Why not knit your gifts this Christmas? What better present than a hand crafted pair of snuggly socks!

Sarah Hatton has used our Fine Art sock yarn in beautiful new colours to create a collection of six designs inspired by the English Kitchen Garden. It features toe up as well as cuff down designs using a range of techniques.

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Calendulaby Sarah Hattonusing Fine Art

December 2015 - 13

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Espalierby Sarah Hattonusing Fine Art

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Fallowby Sarah Hattonusing Fine Art

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Potagerby Sarah Hattonusing Fine Art

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Stolonby Sarah Hattonusing Fine Art

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Verbenaby Sarah Hattonusing Fine Art

14 - December 2015

SHOPPING LIST

Coming Soon…Our Second Martin Storey Knit AlongThe end of January will bring a brand new, fabulous Pure Wool Superwash Worsted blanket knit along, with squares being released each fortnight to culminate in a stunning design made up of 48 squares in total. Why not get prepared ahead and download your shopping list – available on knitrowan now.

We chatted to Martin about the details of the new KAL.

Design InspirationFor my KAL 2 in the Pure Wool Superwash Worsted, I looked to the motifs, textures and colours of our North Europe knitting traditions. The knitted textures and fairisle patterns of the Shetland Isles; the Faeroe Isles; Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Iceland. A look which is currently very popular in interior fabric, wallpaper and fashion design. Unlike my first KAL, the knitter can now choose from four, classic tonal palettes, chosen to fit in with most popular, interior colour schemes. A very soft and natural palette: a calming, blue palette; a fresh green and a zingy, spice palette. Whichever colour suits your mood and interior.

TechniquesOnce again this KAL has been designed with the beginner knitter in mind. In the first KAL we explored simple texture created by knit & purl stitches, together with simple lace and cable techniques. Having gained those skills, I’ve developed them a stage further and in this blanket we start to create more recognisable motifs in both one colour and two colour squares. Delicate motifs in simple texture, lace and with a further option that introduces the beginner knitter to a simple bead technique, patterns and different stitches. Linking all these motif squares together and introducing a brand new ‘colourwork’ skill for this KAL, I have designed three squares in two colours and without the ‘fairisle-headache’ of stranding or weaving the yarns at the wrong side of work. All will be revealed in time…!

December 2015 - 15

16 - December 2015

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. And 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 Glace Cotton, Kidsilk Haze, True Silk and Tetra Cotton. And 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 with brilliant white. If you are interested in joining my 2016 Mystery Blanket Club then you can sign up straight away by visiting the online shop on my website. “

Click below to view a fabulous interview video from Debbie, containing details on inspiration and techniques.Click below to find out how to join in!

DEBBIE ABRAHAMS.COM

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December 2015 - 17

StockistsTo find your local stockist view our store locator at www.knitrowan.com by clicking the button below

WorkshopsTo view a full list of workshop dates visit www.knitrowan.com by clicking the button below

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

WORKSHOPS

STOCKISTS

Cortinaby Lisa Richardsonusing Thick ‘n’ ThinSimple Shapes Thick ‘n’ Thin