"A Visit to Rowan" + Free Patterns

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Kathleen Cubley is the editor of Knitting Daily. Dear Knitting Daily Subscriber, What could be better on a cold winter afternoon than curling up with a mug of hot chocolate and a bunch of Rowan Yarn? Not much, but maybe a trip to the Rowan mill in Holmfirth, U.K.!   Here’s one of our favorite yarn distributors, Linda Pratt of Westminster Fibers, to tell you about her trip to visit the fine folks at Rowan.   And she’ll point you in the direction of some free patterns, too! Cheers,

November 22, 2010

Revisiting the Moors The Green Lane Mill To get into the real ethos of Rowan Yarns, there is nothing like a few days on the moors of West Yorkshire—where by the first of November, they have already had their first snow squalls. Two years ago this month, I was fortunate enough to spend a few days there—wet, rainy, damp, blustery, no, not just blustery, it was painfully windy at night, but I was among friends and colleagues who helped remind me of my inner Rowan passion, and why I am continually driven to knit with Rowan Yarns.   Holmfirth, the small village where Rowan has prospered since its inception, is a tiny town just over the Appenines Mountains in West Yorkshire. Their offices, up a windy hill from the town center, have been in the Green Lane Mill, off the curvy Washpit New Road, for over thirty years. The Rowan mill is surrounded by mossy rock walls, hundreds of years old, and the inspiration for designs such as Wild Saffron and Winter Aconite. Wild Saffron Winter Aconite Both of these great sweaters are knit in Rowan Purelife™ Renew, recycled wool featured in the Rowan Purelife Autumn pattern brochure. Rowan Purelife™ Renew 687 686 682 685 684 683 681 680 The mill is surrounded on three sides by sheep meadows. Sheep thrive, even on cold rainy days, warm in their insulated wool coats, and provide the perfect pastoral effect for Rowan, a yarn brand committed to the wool ethic, as shown in these designs like Rambler and Drifter.   Rambler Drifter Both of these sweaters are from Rowan’s best-selling Magazine 48. Both of these pullovers are knit up rapidly in Rowan’s mohair and wool blended Cocoon. Rowan Cocoon 801 806 815 808 809 811 812 818 823 825 816 814 813 827 805 804 803 802 But the wool ethic is not only about warm woolly outdoors garments, but soft, comfortable indoor sweaters and shawls that keep the damp away, and everyone feeling arm and cozy. Blanket, shown below, is a wonderful oversized cardigan and this cute Rose Hip pocketed Scarf with Harvest Beanie is a lovely accessory set to make for yourself or for the holidays.   Blanket Rose Hip pocketed Scart with Harvest Beanie Rowan’s Silk Twist has so many beautiful jewel tones to choose from. Rowan Silk Twist 664 630 665 671 667 668 669 663 662 660   In 2008, Rowan introduced their Purelife™ British Sheep Breeds Collection of breed-specific wools. With names like Jacob, Bluefaced Leicester, Shetland Mooritt, Grey Suffolk and Black Welsh, you know that you are knitting, literally, right off the sheep from these pure-bred flocks. Available in DK and Chunky weights, these wools are minimally treated in spinning to clean off the debris, but to leave the knitter with the true wool effect, long lasting and lanolin rich. Rowan Purelife™ British Sheep Breeds Collection 950 954 952 955 951   This is Winter Cherry, a hooded honey-comb textured jacket is knit in color #952—Mid-Brown Jacob. Amaryllis, a cabled guernsey style cardigan, is knit in #955—Shetland Moorit. And this wrap cardigan, Gorse, is knit in the #202—Natural Bluefaced Leicester shade of the British Sheep Breeds Boucle. All of these garments are from the Purelife Autumnal Collection pattern brochure. Recently, the biggest inspiration was Rowan’s commitment to The Campaign for Wool, an initiative of HRH, the Prince of Wales. Partnering with the Prince’s Trust, Rowan has dedicated an entire collection from the Purelife ™ British Sheep Breeds Collection. Here is a link to free patterns from Rowan for several British wool home and clothing designs in the Purelife™ British Sheeps Breeds Chunky and DK weights of the collection.   Click here for FREE PATTERNS! I hope that you have enjoyed this short trip to the moors—happy knitting!

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