a PDF version here.

December 2013
January 2012 - 1
CONTENTS
Welcome Letter
4
Monthly Free Pattern
5
Woollen Woods of Sizergh
6
Nicky Barfoot
8
Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting Book
10
Explore The World With Exclusive
Knitting Holidays
11
Christmas Knits
12
Romni Wools
14
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Yarn in the Spotlight…Lima Colour
17
2 - December 2013
December 2013 - 3
Hello and welcome to the December issue of the
eNewsletter.
As we look to take our minds off the dark nights and cold weather here in the UK,
knitting could not be more at the forefront of our minds. There really is a comfort like
no other in snuggling into a cosy Cocoon number!
This issue, we hear from Canadian stockist Romni Wools, give you details of an
exciting new Woollen Woods project next year, and look at the talented work of
member Nicky Barfoot. A must not miss, we also introduce you
to our perfectly cute and festive Winter Animal Family designed by Jem Weston.
Irresistible!
We hope you enjoy your new issue and have a fabulous New Year – why not visit our
Facebook page and tell us where you will be spending it to win a spot prize?
Happy knitting as always,
The Rowan team
Front Cover:
Joplin
by Lisa Richardson
Kidsilk Haze & Kidsilk Haze Eclipse
Rowan Studio 33
Keep in touch with us on
social media…
4 - December 2013
Click on the
symbol
where it appears for a link to
further information
EXCLUSIVE
Rose Petal
by Martin Storey
Kidsilk Haze Glamour
Rose Petal
For this and hundreds of
FREE patterns exclusive to
members
click the button below:
December 2013 - 5
The Woollen Woods
of Sizergh
As part of the ongoing Campaign for Wool, Cumbrian arts organisation Eden Arts
has launched another inspirational initiative set to take 2014 by storm. Following on
from the success of The Woollen Woods last year, the team are now planning on an
even bigger and better installation at the National Trust estate Sizergh.
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enthusiastic volunteers from around the world. Eden Arts are encouraging more
people to get involved this year and add to the wonderfully woolly collection of
donations. The deadline for submissions is the 4th April 2014, so there is plenty of
time to start thinking creatively!
For further information on the project visit www.canopyart.co.uk.
6 - December 2013
December 2013 - 7
Meet
member Nicky Barfoot
We talk to
member
Nicky Barfoot about her continued
success at the UK Knitted Textile
Awards.
was then added after the knitting phase
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“Sitting Pretty” was originally also a quick
warm up sketch, done in a different style
Inspiration: Knitting is seen by many XVLQJ RQO\ WKH ÀQH HQG RI D SLHFH RI
as an amateur and female craft due to FKDUFRDO 7KH VKDSH RI WKH SRVH ÀWWHG
its familiarity and the memories that it perfectly into a Felted Tweed cardigan
often provokes, frequently reinforced by front (one of the many UFOs in my work
PDUNHWLQJ FDPSDLJQV DQG ÀOPV VXFK DV room) and was translated into textiles
the Shreddies Knitting Nanas and the using embroidery thread to represent the
Bridget Jones Christmas jumper. In my more delicate lines of this drawing. The
artwork I use this widely held perception use of a garment piece as the background
to take a playful look at identity and was a play on the fact that people often
stereotypes, in particular the boundaries ÀQGLWGLIÀFXOWWRVHHDNQLWWHGWH[WLOHSLHFH
between art and craft where attempts at as anything other than functional. A very
categorisation often get quite heated and common question I receive from well
provoke much debate. With this in mind, meaning viewers is, “What is it going to
my knitted life “paintings” aim to combine be?”
the artistic respectability of the life room
with the craft image of knitting. I also like In contrast, Elise (sitting) represents a
to raise a smile with the irony of a “knitted longer pose and an attempt at creating
form using just two tones, light and
nude”.
dark. The piece was created using
A regular attendee at local life drawing intarsia, mainly in Rowan Felted Tweed,
classes, all of my work started out as Kidsilk Haze and Cashsoft DK, with
charcoal sketches on paper. Probably the some duplicate stitch on the lighter areas
most popular piece of this series at both to create more depth. I left this piece
of the Knitting and Stitching Shows was hanging on knitting needles in a scroll like
DZRUNHQWLWOHG´E\7KUHHµDWUDQVODWLRQ fashion in homage to its construction.
of three, three minute warm up poses. I
used Rowan Felted Tweed to create the More information on this series and my
intarsia background, as it has a wonderful work in general can be found at:
bloom which replicates the initial broad
charcoal sweeps of the original sketch
NICKY’S
perfectly. A mixture of embroidery thread,
WEBSITE
sewing cotton and Rowan Kidsilk Haze
8 - December 2013
December 2013 - 9
Knitting Yarns:
WRITERS ON KNITTING
30%
DIS
Edited by Ann Hood,
Published by W.W. Norton & Company
CO
UN
T
Here at Rowan we just love the new book from Ann Hood,
and are extremely excited to be able to offer a limited amount
of copies as our Rowan Subscription gift! Here are all the
details…don’t wait too long or you might miss out!
A collection of poignant, funny and moving essays about the transformative
power of knitting by twenty-seven well-known writers.
This unusual and engaging collection of stories about how knitting healed, challenged or helped
writers grow is a wonderfully moreish portrayal of knitting triumphs, disasters and life’s challenges.
Heartbreaking yet hilarious, the tales will have you on the edge of your seat…work on the new
collections has all but ground to a halt here at the mill!
Three purchase options:
NORTON &
COMPANY
Rowan Subscription offer - Limited availability
Norton has just published Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting, an unusual and engaging collection of
stories about how knitting healed, challenged or helped a selection of well-known writers grow. Rowan
is offering this beautiful hardback edition as a free gift for our subscribers only.
ROWAN
SUBSCRIPTION
Customers in the UK, Europe, Africa, India and the Middle East
Knitting Yarns (ISBN 9780393239492) is priced at £14.99 but if you click on the link from 1 December
2013 to 31 October 2014, add to basket and enter the discount code WN262 at the checkout, you will
receive an exclusive 30% discount (web orders only).
CLICK
TO ORDER
Customers in the US
Knitting Yarns (ISBN 9780393239492) is priced at $24.95 but if you click on the link From 25 November
2013 to 25 February 2014, add to cart and enter the discount code Rowan at the checkout, you will
receive an exclusive 30% discount (web orders only).
CLICK
TO ORDER
Customers outside these areas should order through their local bookseller.
10 - December 2013
Explore The World
With Exclusive
Knitting Holidays
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FUHDWHDUDQJHRITXDOLW\8.DQGRYHUVHDVNQLWWLQJKROLGD\VZLWKVRPHRI
WKHWRSQDPHVLQNQLWWLQJ
Stitchtopia Festival
17th-20th February 2014
Due to popular demand, the Stitchtopia festival is back at Wyboston Lakes, Beds,
delivering more from the worlds of crochet, knitting, cross stitch and patchwork and
quilting with top masterclasses from leading names in the business.
1HZWRWKLV\HDU·VIHVWLYDOLVWHOHYLVLRQVWDU6WXDUW+LOODUG6WXDUWLVDQDYLGTXLOWHUDQG
will be running his own patchwork and appliqué sessions. Festival goers will also have
a chance to chat with Stuart after his evening talk on his time on the show.
The event is also bursting with experts from all areas of the crafting spectrum, including
well known Rowan names such as knitting and bead work expert Debbie Abrahams;
knitting and crochet specialist Jane Crowfoot and knitting & crochet designer Carol
Meldrum. The festival will offer something for everyone with guests getting the chance
to make something new, learn new skills and meet like-minded people who share their
passion for craft. All of the nine experts are offering workshops where craft lovers can
make anything from a Fair Isle mobile phone case to lace trimmed cuffs.
Other Stitchtopia holidays to look out for include:
Northern Lights Knitting Cruise with Carol Meldrum Tues 25th March - Wed 2nd April 2014
$/RQJ:HHNHQGLQ+ROPÀUWK - The Home of Rowan with Marie Wallin (Head Rowan
Designer) Thu 6th – Sun 9th March 2014
For further information and to book visit:
ARENA
TRAVEL
December 2013 - 11
12 - December 2013
Christmas Knits
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with the Rowan animal winter family! Knitted
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ANIMAL WINTER
FAMILY
December 2013 - 13
Romni Wools
Located on Queen Street West
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Romni Wools.
Vink, who lived in Vancouver, there were
two stores – Romni Wool in Toronto and
Romni Fibers in Vancouver. Ann had a
connection to a New Zealand wool mill
which provided the original inventory of
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local resource for yarns from all over the
VLQFH WKH VWRUH ÀUVW RSHQHG LQ world. Imported European brands had
Romni Wools has stood the test of time,
become popular and their product mix
nurturing knitters, crocheters, weavers
grew to cover novelty and designer yarns
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almost forty years.
Originally a partnership between founder
Marilyn Leonard and her friend Anne
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early work, Marilyn, an artist herself, was
impressed by the artistic color palette
and the originality of the designs and
wanted to share this resource with her
creative consumers. Since then, Romni
Wools has been one of the best Rowan
resources in Canada.
Marilyn now shares her business with her
son, Jonathon, who started managing
the store in 2001. Jonathon attributes the
stores continued success to understanding
their customer. “Romni Wools feeds off
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share their projects and ideas, and how
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and yarns to make them successful. We
try to offer a lot of yarns in colors and at
price points that give lots of choices to
14 - December 2013
stimulate creativity and enjoyment. Our
downtown Toronto customer is not afraid
of color and we take pride in extending
our selections to cover all the hot colors
– from hot pink-fuchsias, to acid neon
greens and bright pumpkin oranges.”
Romni Wools – 658 Queen Street West,
Toronto, ON M6J 1E5
7HO
ROMNI
WOOLS
To make shopping easier for customers,
Romni has recently expanded their
merchandising space so that customers
can easily see their total selection. New
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lighting and refreshed displays which
now cross-reference yarns to appropriate
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continue to have prominence at the front
of the shop, which now has a sharper and
clearer overall feel throughout.
December 2013 - 15
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Highlights
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:KDWKDVEHHQ\RXUKLJKOLJKWRI"
My highlight would have to be starting my new business and website, Marie Wallin
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beautiful places in the world I think….Glencoe in Scotland for a Rowan Magazine 56
photography shoot. Oh and not forgetting having my new puppy Nelly!
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The whole black and white graphic trend has been really big for spring/summer with
tartan and checks being a big hit for this winter.
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It would have to be both my mother and father even though they both have sadly
passed away, my mother in Nov 2011 and my father in May 2012. They are the reason
I wanted to start my own business and have given me the drive to succeed and to
believe in myself.
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Starting my own website and blog has been a steep learning curve for me and getting
to grips with social media has and continues to be a challenge!
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Not to work too hard and make more time for my husband and dogs!
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EURFKXUH HDUO\ QH[W \HDU WKURXJK 5RZDQ VWRFNLVWV ,·P DOVR \HDUV ROG LQ aaahhhh!!
MARIE’S
LATEST DESIGNS
16 - December 2013
Yarn in the spotlight…
Lima Colour
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SRSXODU/LPD\DUQ/LPD&RORXU$YDLODEOHLQÀYHEHDXWLIXOO\FRORXUVKDGHGKXHV
the yarn features a signature soft chainette structure of 84% alpaca, 8% wool and
8% nylon.
Find some beautiful designs for this new yarn as part of the Autumn Knits design
collection!
Valencia
711
Rosario
712
Santiago
714
Bogato
713
Quito
715
December 2013 - 17
Wishing all our members a
very merry festive season!
The Rowan team
18 - December 2013
Stockists
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store locator at www.knitrowan.com by
clicking the button below
STORE
LOCATOR
Workshops
To view a full list of workshop dates
visit www.knitrowan.com by clicking the
button below
WORKSHOPS
All right 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 2013 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 2013
December 2013 - 19
Featuring the
New Fine Art Aran