GIVEAWAY! Rowan Selects Cosy Merino and an Intro to the A/W 2018 Season

40 years of Rowan, can you believe it? Yes! It's their so-called Ruby Anniversary and they've even created a temporary jewelled logo to celebrate. Where's that sparkle .GIF when you need it?!

You can't be around for 40 years in the yarn industry and not have your twists and turns. I hear that to celebrate, Rowan is asking knitters around the world to provide a sample of each of their many yarn lines over the years, for a tour. The ones we loved that are gone, the ones we weren't so sure about (Cotton Braid, might I suggest?), and the ones we adore that remain. (Phew, thank you for still being here Kid Classic!) I'd love to see that show but it will most likely be limited to the UK, sigh.

This season brings Magazine 64. The cover coat, Perinone, is by Zandra Rhodes and uses 20 balls of Kidsilk Haze. A rightful celebratory pattern if ever I did see one!

Being a relatively recent knitter and born in 1977, I haven't been around to witness the full lifespan of Rowan. Rowan Magazine 38 was my intro to the brand and the beginning of a true knitting passion. I STILL think it's one of their best issues.

I bought the yarn immediately for Brocade by Kaffe Fassett (even in the same colors, unheard of for me!). Later, the silver lining of a broken leg gave me the chance to dive full force into this intarsia wonder.

If you subscribe to receive the Rowan Magazine, the free gift this year is a 40th Anniversary hardcover book with pattern greats from over the years. Brocade, my friends, is one of the patterns! You can still subscribe here in time.

Let me tell you, if I had seen the cover of Magazine 64 back when I started knitting, I would have seriously considered splurging on that coat. Remember this crazy coat? I made it.

Faroe by Marie Wallin, Rowan Magazine 42

Since then, my realization of what I wear -- and what I don't wear -- has steadied my spontaneous obsessions. I frogged that coat eventually, but still, MUCH respect, Zandra.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED: Congrats to Stephanie A.!

The Rowan of today is a Rowan charting new paths. One of its new dedications is to experiment with limited edition offerings called Rowan Selects. I want to keep these babies -- but I've got to show the rest of world what these Selects are about! One winner will get two balls of Cosy Merino in colors Cloud and Mauve Mist, along with a pattern book by Quail Studio. It's a beautifully soft bulky bouclé made of 73% merino wool, 15% cashmere, 7% yak and 5% nylon, at a generous 98 yds (90 m) per 50g.

If you like the patterns, you can also get the single pattern downloads for free online!

These two GIVEAWAY skeins would be perfect to make the two-toned Stocking Stitch Beanie:

Other patterns I like from the book are:

Zig Zag Wrap

Striped Snood

Cabled Scarf

Subscribe to my blog by e-mail!

The Selects, of course, are only part of the Rowan season. There is also a non-limited edition yarn line being introduced called Alpaca Classic -- with 26 shades!

It's a DK weight 57% superfine alpaca and 43% cotton, with 131 yds/120 m per 25g skein. I really love this yarn. It's lofty, has a fabulous aura and...

I HAD A EUREKA MOMENT ABOUT IT!

You know all those patterns that ask for Kidsilk Haze held double? Yes, it's an amazing fabric -- but it's an expensive prospect, too. It turns out that the gauge of Alpaca Classic is virtually the same of the doubled Kidsilk Haze gauge in Rosso by Sarah Hatton -- and probably many other patterns, too!

Rosso from Rowan Magazine 64

So, I am trying to decide whether to make Rosso to see if the substitution really works or to succumb to the great collection of Alpaca Classic patterns that came in Magazine 64, all by Lisa Richardson. Here are my favorites:

Juliaca

Lightfoot

Marshwood

Pennybridge

There are a ton of Rowan publications this season! If you'd like to see them on Ravelry, I recommend grabbing a snack, and looking in this order:

NEW NORDIC by Arne and Carlos

ROWAN MAGAZINE 64

ROWAN AT HOME by Martin Storey

AROUND HOLME by Lisa Richardson

NEW VINTAGE DK by the Rowan Team

I hope you find some patterns you like! Thank you to all who entered the giveaway and followed my blog by e-mail! You can still follow, of course. 😋

Till next time!
Dayana