May 2016 - Knitrowan...Welcome Letter 4 Monthly Free Pattern 5 Wilder by Kim Hargreaves 6 Franklins Celebrating 60 years 8 Yarn in the Spotlight 11 Little Rowan Blossom by Linda Whaley

January 2012 - 1

May 2016

2 -May 2016

Iburiby Lisa Richardsonusing PanamaKnitting & Crochet Magazine 59

May 2016 - 3

CONTENTSWelcome Letter 4

Monthly Free Pattern 5

Wilder by Kim Hargreaves 6

Franklins Celebrating 60 years 8

Yarn in the Spotlight 11

Little Rowan Blossom by Linda Whaley 12

Martin Storey Knit Along 2016 14

Debbie Abrahams’ 2016 Mystery Cushion Club 16

4 -May 2016

Hello and welcome to the May eNewsletter!

This month, we bring you news of a brand new brochure as part of our Little Rowan collections, Blossom by Linda Whaley - coming soon. We also take a look at the new book from Kim Hargreaves and meet UK retailer Franklins, who are currently celebrating their 60th anniversary.

We also talk about the slip stitch technique and round up the latest news from the Martin Storey Knit Along 2016.

We hope you enjoy your new issue!

The Rowan team

Front Cover:Mieby Lisa RichardsonPure Linen & Kidsilk HazeKnitting & Crochet Magazine 59

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

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May 2016 - 5

Wivetonby Sarah HattonWool Cotton

For this and hundreds of FREE patterns exclusive to

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

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DOWNLOAD

6 -May 2016

R O W A N Loves…

WILDER21 Designs By Kim Hargreaves

Feel the calm of a spring breeze and the gentle warmth of soft sunlight. Mother Nature provides the perfect backdrop where chic understated pieces sit alongside frills and fringing, whilst fluid fabrics and cinched-in silhouettes create a strong, feminine style.

Lakeby Kim Hargreavesusing Cotton Lustre

Songby Kim Hargreavesusing Softyak DK

May 2016 - 7

Wilderby Kim Hargreavesusing Panama

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May 2016 - 9

To celebrate our exciting 60th anniversary this year, we have designed a new bag featuring two designs; a sewing machine on one side and a lady knitting on the other. This has caused much discussion amongst our customers. Some point to what the female standing behind the sewing machine must really be thinking, whilst the vintage feel to both designs is well loved.

We have also launched our very own Facebook page, with excellent results. We’ve had brilliant feedback through our posting of events, promotions, and ideas, with one such posting generating 111,000 hits. So take a look, by clicking on the Facebook link on our website.

We take great pleasure in our customers gleefully showing us their creations. These, too, are a great source of inspiration and so many are posted on our Facebook page. Likewise, we have classrooms that are located in 3 of our 5 shops – Colchester, Chelmsford and Salisbury – with a variety of subjects including knitting, dressmaking, patchwork and creative machine embroidery being taught, with results, also, posted on our Facebook page.

Why not take a look at what we have to offer by discovering what classes are available on our website – www.franklinsgroup.com.Enticing our customer online is important, but so too is what you see from the outside of our stores. We are dedicated to making our promotions quirky and different each time. We have an excellent window dresser who is fantastic at putting together some of our more crazy ideas into the most amazing displays.

This season, we are supporting Rowan Knitting and Crochet Magazine 59 and the new Softyak yarn. The magazine features beautiful photography and the stunning Norfolk coastline, not far from where we’re

60th AnniversaryWe hear from Franklins about their

10 -May 2016

situated! We also feel that the Kyoto story is one of the most feminine and splendid features we have seen for some time.

All of our branches carry wool, sewing machines, fabric, and threads. They can be found at:

FRANKLINSGROUP

13/15 St Botolphs Street, Colcheste, CO2 7DU. Tel: 01206 574758

201 Moulsham Street,Chelmsford,CM2 0LG. Tel: 01245 346300

222 High Street, Dovercourt,CO12 3PF.Tel: 01255 502533

1-3 St Matthews Street, Ipswich, IP1 3EL.Tel: 01473 254276

41 Fisherton Street, Salisbury, Wilts, SP2 7SU.Tel: 01722554466

We look forward to seeing you in one soon.

May 2016 - 11

Yarn in the Spotlight…Baby Merino Silk DKThis month, we take a look at our versatile blend of 66% wool & 34% silk, made from merino superwash wool and tussah silk. Twenty shades range from sugar sweet Candy to vivid Emerald and rich Aubergine. The yarn is perfect for baby, children and adult designs alike and boasts an aptly comprehensive colour palette.

Pebble690

Straw671

Snowdrop670

Dawn672

Zinc681

Shell Pink674

Candy695

Rose678

Frosty694

Aubergine701

Cloud693

Teal677

Deep682

Iceberg699

Emerald685

Leaf692

Goldilocks691

Cantaluope686

Strawberry687

Bluebird684

12 -May 2016

by Linda Whaley

Playful and full of imagination, Blossom is a sweet collection of fifteen designs for girls aged three to seven years by Linda Whaley. Designs are pretty and versatile and range from eye-catching cardigans to a fun bag design and an heirloom blanket.

Blossom

May 2016 - 13

Coming Soon

Bluebellby Linda Whaleyusing Wool Cotton 4ply

Floraby Linda Whaleyusing Wool Cotton DK

14 -May 2016

Martin Storey Knit Along 2016We are now nearing the end of our fabulous 2016 Knit Along with Martin Storey. We have massively enjoyed seeing updates on all of our participants’ progress over the weeks since its launch in January and we are very much looking forward to seeing finished results!

Don’t miss out on our very special competition – coming soon – and of course our exclusive closing interview video with Martin Storey.

Slip Stitch TechniqueSlip Stitch is a technique we have celebrated in three of our eight Knit Along 2016 squares and, if it is new to you, you may want to find out a little bit more about it.

Slip Stitch refers to several different knitting techniques which use the slip stitch to achieve their chosen effect; extra long stitches, carrying over colours and multiple fabric effects.

Slip stitches can be used as an easier method of colourwork, where only one colour needs to be handled at one time. We have created a useful tutorial featuring the wonderful Martin Storey, who explains in detail how you can achieve wonderful effects using this technique.

Link to tutorialVIEW TUTORIAL

May 2016 - 15

16 -May 2016

Debbie Abrahams’2016 Mystery Cushion ClubIf you fancy joining Debbie Abrahams on a mystery knitting adventure, then you might want to consider joining her brand new 2016 Mystery Cushion Club. This will be Debbie’s sixth Cushion Club, and she hopes you will be as excited as she is about her new project:

“I love the challenge of a new design, and the Mystery Cushion is a lovely small project into which I can pour all my passion for colour, stitch texture and embellishment. This year’s project uses two of Rowan’s most beautiful wool yarns, Superfine Merino DK and Wool Cotton DK. I have chosen a vibrant colour palette which combines shades of bright pink, red, teal, lime and orange with deep charcoal grey and soft cream. The theme is of course a Mystery, but I always take inspiration for the Mystery Cushion from a current Spring/Summer trend. The design mixes bright intarsia motifs with a variety of stitch textures, and there are plenty of Debbie Abrahams beads in it too, just to add that essential sparkle! If you have never joined my Mystery Blanket Club before, but are curious about my Mystery Clubs, then the Mystery Cushion is a great way to try out my designs in a small project that is achievable and enjoyable to do. It gives you the opportunity as well to try out various knitting techniques, some of which you may have never tried before. I write a monthly blog and there are plenty of handy tips and advice in my patterns to help you if you get stuck. And you can email me too if you have a question at any point during the project – I always love to hear from my Mystery Cushion members!”

You can purchase a membership for Debbie’s Mystery Cushion Club in the online shop on her website: www.debbieabrahams.com. There are a selection of different packages to choose from, and you can join the Club wherever you live – there are packages for UK, Europe and the World. However, there are limited places in the Club and once all of the memberships have sold, Debbie will close the Club and nobody else will be able to join. So if you fancy taking part in Debbie’s new knitting adventure, it is advisable to secure your membership as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

2016 Mystery Blanket Club members are entitled to a 10% discount on the price of their Mystery Cushion membership. If you are a current Mystery Blanket Club member you need to input the code MC160301 in the coupon box at checkout and your discount will be processed. (Please be aware that the discount only gets applied at the point of payment and not when you tap in the code and press update).

May 2016 - 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 and designs, in this publication/

pattern is strictly forbidden and is sold on the condition that it is used for non commercial purposes.

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. Yarn quantities are approximate and are based on average requirements. Images and shades are for guidance only as colours

may not display accurately on screen or in printed format. Contact your local stockist to view a fringed (not digital reproduction) yarn shade card.

© Copyright MEZ Crafts UK Ltd., 2016.

MEZ Crafts UK Ltd., 17F, Brooke’s Mill, Armitage Bridge, Huddersfield, HD4 7NR, Web: www.knitrowan.com

WORKSHOPS

STOCKISTS

Berniby Linda Whaleyusing Summerlite DKLittle Rowan Cherish