Rowan Autumn/Winter 2019 Launches: Part 1 Patterns

Although it is still early August Rowan has been quick off the mark in launching its yarns and patterns for the Autumn/Winter 2019 season. In Part 1 of this post we look at the pick of patterns -  British Made, with patterns designed by Lisa Richardson. Look out for part 2 where we'll be reviewing Rowan's new British yarn Island Blend.

What's exciting about British Made is that all the patterns use Rowan's British wool and not yarns sourced from abroad. The two featured yarns Rowan's British yarns Valley Tweed, pure wool which is spun and dyed in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, and Moordale, a blend of British wool and alpaca.

The full collection of 13 patterns costs £12, or each pattern can be bought individually for £4. A Woolly Yarn received a review copy on request but all opinions are our own.

British Made image courtesy of Rowan

British Made is a beautifully-photographed paperback book. The photos were takin in a North Yorkshire village called Malham and for those who like to cosy up in the countryside (think stone walls, hedges and thick, woolly knits) the book contains great patterns across the knitting ability range.

There are a couple of slight drawbacks with British Made. The first is that the charts are in black and white and are rather small. You may want to buy a digital download version so you can scale up the chart to print out. The second is that Rowan is now owned by the German company MEZ Crafts and half the book is in English whilst the other half, including the same patterns, is in German. It fools you into thinking you're getting a lot more for your money - perhaps Rowan would have been better printing separate copies for each language.

The patterns

Yet it's a big thumbs up to the patterns.. My favourite? It's a toss up between the Glamarama scarf, knitted in six shades of Moordale (you couldn't fail to feel happy wearing all these colours):

Glamarama image courtesy of Rowan

Or the Helvellyn cardigan, again using Valley Tweed, with just enough stranded colourwork to make it interesting but not too much to put off knitters new to the skill:

Helvellyn image courtesy of Rowan

The patterns are all fashion-proof, being interesting in a timeless way. Here are the rest of the bunch:

Fleetwith

Fleetwith image courtesy of Rowan

An oversized sweater good for lots of layering.

Scafell

Scafell image courtesy of Rowan

This hat aimed at beginner knitters uses up two balls of Valley Tweed.

Grisedale

Fleetwith image courtesy of Rowan

There are four shades of Moordale used in this long, v-neck cardigan, which is a more challenging knit.

Wetherlam

Wetherlam image courtesy of Rowan

Who wouldn't want to wear this  knitted hoodie on brazing country walk?

Grasmoor

Grasmoor image courtesy of Rowan

The cable pattern on this long scarf is much easier to knit than it looks - there are no charts to follow.

Lingmoor

Lingmoor image courtesy of Rowan

The intarsia technique is used to create the pattern on this cowl.


Bowfell

Bowfell image courtesy of Rowan

An oversized sweater with a unisex look.

Whinlatter

Whinlatter image courtesy of Rowan

Knitted with Moordale, this fitted sweater is aimed at beginners.

Skiddaw

Skiddaw image courtesy of Rowan

Even on a grey day you'll be full of colour wearing these boot toppers.

Lingmell

Lingmell image courtesy of Rowan

A long jumper with a Fair Isle pattern down the centre.

Catstye 

Bowfell image courtesy of Rowan

This cowl is knitted in muted shades of Moordale.

Which pattern is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below or on A Woolly Yarn's Facebook page.

To see all of Rowan's new season launches, including new patterns from Kaffe Fassett, go to Knitrowan.