January 2012 - 1

December 2014

2 - December 2014

CONTENTSWelcome Letter 4

Monthly Free Pattern 5

Knitting & La Bella Vita in

Unspoilt Tuscany 6

Trend Alert 8

We Catch up with… Jem Weston 10

Winter Shades 11

Knitting & Stitching Show 12

Stash Fine Yarns 13

Design Intarsia with Dee Hardwicke 14

umGarnt 15

Kidsilk Haze Designer Competition

The Winner IS… 16

Free Pattern - Staffa 17

Rowan Subscription 18

Keara Snoodby Marie Wallinusing Fazed TweedFazed Tweed

December 2014 - 3

4 - December 2014

Hello and welcome to December’s newsletter!As the frost begins to spread here in Yorkshire and the nights are becoming darker day by day, we are excitedly finishing our Christmas present knits and looking forward to the holiday season – what better way to spend your time than curling up in front of the fire with your needles?

With this in mind, this issue brings you our pick of the most festive red yarn shades for you to choose from! We also hear from designer Jem Weston about her new Rowan workshop programme (gift idea!), catch up with German retailer umGarnt and take a look at our new on-trend poncho collection.

Finally, this month’s exclusive free pattern is a cosy crochet patchwork blanket by Marie Wallin, perfect for hiding away from those icy winter months which lie ahead!

We hope you enjoy your new issue.

The Rowan team

Front Cover:Banditby Lisa RichardsonThick ‘n’ Thin & FurBig Accessories

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

Keep in touch with us on social media…

December 2014 - 5

E X C L U S I V E

Crochet Patchwork Blanketby Marie WallinCocoon

CROCHET PATCHWORK BLANKET

For this and hundreds of FREE patterns exclusive to

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

6 - December 2014

La Bella Vita means ‘The Good Life’ in Italian and that’s just what you’ll be savouring when you take one of the wonderfully relaxing and inspiring week-long knitting holidays at The Watermill, located in Posara in the beautiful Tuscan countryside. You’ll work on new projects at The Watermill itself, under the vines and in the walled garden, and you’ll also be knitting in a monastery and in the grounds of a fabulous hill-top restaurant. You’ll be treated to an all-day excursion to the beautiful fishing villages of the Cinque Terre and enjoy a morning’s ramblings through the market at the nearby walled medieval town of Fivizzano.There will be the perfect opportunity to make new friends in the company of like-minded people, learning new knitting techniques and tips from our tutors, enjoying unspoilt Italy and, of course, fantastic local food and wines. There’s a special £100 discount for Rowan members!

The 2014 courses at The Watermill were a sell-out success. There are three courses in 2015, with Rowan Designer Marie Wallin (Saturday 23rd May to Saturday 30th May and Saturday 12th September to Saturday 19th September), and with the ‘queen of the brioche stitch’ Nancy Marchant (Saturday 19th September to Saturday 26th September).

Marie has a global reputation for her beautiful patterns, colourwork and stitch designs. She is also an enthusiastic, sympathetic and inspirational tutor. Her course at The Watermill last year won universal praise from the participants. For her week-long courses at the mill, she will devise two specially designed projects for you to knit.

Nancy, an American now living in Amsterdam, has written two books on brioche knitting, a technique involving tucked stitches forming two layers of knitting in a warm and beautiful texture. She will share the secrets of both one- and two-colour brioche knitting. You will be free to choose from several of Nancy’s patterns and begin work on a scarf, shawl or cowl and to experiment with your own designs.

You can find out all about this wonderful knitting week by clicking below.

If you would like to enquire about availability, please use The Watermill’s Secure Contact Form by clicking below.

Knitting and La Bella Vita in unspoilt Tuscany

7

KNITTING WEEK

CONTACT FORM

December 2014 - 7

8 - December 2014

Trend Alert – Ponchos Are Back! Ponchos are a must have addition to the winter wardrobe this season and we are delighted to bring you a collection of seven online patterns. These designs include a simple stocking stitch design with garter stitch edgings, a short sleeved cable design and a super-cosy cable cover up.

Geometric WeavePonchoby Sarah Hazellusing Brushed Fleece

FREE PONCHO COLLECTION

December 2014 - 9

Alpesby Martin Storeyusing Kid Classic

Comfortby Grace Melvilleusing Big Wool & Big Wool Colour

Filoby Martin Storeyusing Alpaca Chunky

Madisonby Martin Storeyusing Creative Focus™Worsted

Pierneefby Lisa Richardsonusing Fine Art

Skyeby Marie Wallinusing Kid Classic

10 - December 2014

I recently launched a new Rowan workshop programme and would love to meet you on one of my workshops! Rowan workshops are a lovely day out and a great way to enhance your knitting. My subjects are aimed at different skill levels, so there should be something for everybody.

My Cute Little Knits Colour Workshop covers the Fair Isle and intarsia techniques needed to complete some of the projects in my first book ‘Cute Little Knits’. I also have a Lazy Lace workshop where I teach simple lace knitting, but in thicker yarns, such as Kid Classic... for those who like the look of lace, but don’t like working with lace-weight yarns! This workshop will teach you the skills needed to make the LazyLace Throw from Cute Little Knits.

Professional Finishing techniques is an essential workshop for all knitters who want to give their knits that professional look. We will make a mini-cardigan on the day and you will receive a free Ted Bear pattern to take home. If you want to knit a mini-jumper for Ted and learn some additional techniques including a tubular cast-on, come along to my Professional Finishing - Part Two workshop!If you’ve just mastered basic knitting and want to take the next step, you can come along to my Mood Scarf workshop, learn the techniques needed to knit a simple garment and plan a mood scarf to practice your new skills!

Thanks!Jem x

We Catch Up With…Jem Weston

JEMWESTON.CO.UK

JEM’SWORKSHOPS

December 2014 - 11

Be inspired by the season and celebrate with these festive holly berry shades!

Finest 065 Love

Pure Wool DK 036 Kiss

Pure Wool Worsted 124 Rich Red

Kid Classic 847 Cherry Red

Creative Focus™ Worsted

02055 Carmine

Thick ‘n’ Thin 975 Tarn

12 - December 2014

Knitting & Stitching Show - HarrogateLast month, we again exhibited our hand knitting and crochet ranges at the wonderful Knitting and Stitching Show, which took place in Harrogate from the 19th to the 23rd November.

We are always shocked, surprised and very pleased at how many faces bustle through the doors and visit our colourful displays!For a full list of future events click here

EVENTS

December 2014 - 13

Stash Fine Yarns Yarnbombs For Charity.Recently, Rowan stockist Stash Fine Yarns of Chester created some colourful headlines in the local press when they brought knitting to the city centre in support of Macmillan Cancer Research.

In February, Helen Probart, owner of Stash, sadly passed away after a long battle with the disease. Colleague and friend Donna Clerkin decided to raise funds for a charity in memory of Helen by enlisting the help of her knitting group to yarnbomb the famous Janya elephant statue, which is located outside the town hall. Donna and the group raised over £100 for Macmillan. Well done ladies!

STASH FINE YARNS

14 - December 2014

Last month, we held an inspirational and creative weekend workshop at the Rowan mill, where talented tutor Dee Hardwicke taught eager participants how to create colour charts using inspiration from things around them.

During the workshop, participants were guided through the working of intarsia bunting featuring Christmas motifs. Once a basic understanding of the intarsia technique was established, Dee showed participants how to develop an understanding of colour and how to develop an intarsia chart of their own design. This helped them make a start incorporating that design into a small project.

Participants left with a working knowledge of the intarsia technique, and with the inspiration, skills and confidence to create their own colour charts.

Dee Hardwicke is a ceramic artist who takes inspiration from the natural world. Using her designs, and in collaboration with Rowan Yarns, she has created “Little Colour Knits”, an inspiring book full of colourful projects to knit.

Click for further information about Dee and her work.

Rowan WorkshopsDesign Intarsia with Dee Hardwicke

DEEHARDWICKE.CO.UK WORKSHOPS

December 2014 - 15

German retailer umGarnt presents an exclusive workshop weekend with Rowan designers Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably.

On the 7th and 8th March 2015, Brandon Mably from the Kaffe Fassett Studio will hold his well-known Persian Poppy / Magic Ball Colour Workshop in two creative one day courses.

On Saturday evening, 7th March 2015, Kaffe Fassett will hold his Glorious Colour lecture, where he will talk about his inspirations and creative process. Interested in taking part in workshops at umGarnt? For further information visit

UMGARNT.DE

16 - December 2014

Kidsilk Haze Designer CompetitionThe Winner Is…

The winning design with the most votes is Earth Stripe Wrap by Kaffe Fassett

The winner selected at random to receive the pattern and yarn prize is Edith Sanders from The Netherlands. Many congratulations!

EARTH STRIPE WRAP

December 2014 - 17

Staffaby Marie WallinFur

STAFFA

18 - December 2014

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December 2014 - 19

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STORE LOCATOR

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WORKSHOPS

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

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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 2014 by Coats Crafts UK LTD Green Lane Mill, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, England, HD9 2DX

E-mail: mail@knitrowan.com Web: www.knitrowan.com © Copyright Rowan 2014

Vilmaby Sarah Hattonusing Rowan FinestRowan Finest