It can be very frustrating when you find a pattern you want to knit only to discover the yarn used has now been discontinued.  Well I was browsing the Rowan website and came across this list of discontinued Rowan yarns and suggested alternative yarns.

• California Cotton – Cotton Glace
• Cabled Mercerised Cotton – Organic Cotton 4 Ply
• Soft Cotton – Pure Wool 4Ply, Organic 4Ply.Cashsoft 4Ply
• Sea Breeze – Pure Wool 4 Ply, Organic 4 Ply, Cashsoft 4 Ply
• Donegal – Lambswool Tweed Rowan Scottish Tweed 4 Ply
• Lightweight D K – Pure Wool 4 Ply, Organic 4 Ply, Cashsoft 4 Ply
• Nice Cotton – Cotton Glace
• Designer DK – Wool Cotton
• Recycled Chunky – Rowan Felted Tweed Chunky
• Chunky Tweed – Rowan Felted Tweed Chunky
• DK Soft – Cotton Glace, Felted Tweed or Wool Cotton
• True 4 Ply Botany – Pure Wool 4 Ply, Organic 4 Ply, and Cashsoft 4 Ply
• Super Chunky – Rowan Felted Tweed Chunky
• DK Tweed – Scottish Tweed DK
• Grainy Silk & Silkstones – Wool Cotton, Felted Tweed, Cotton Glace
• Edina Ronay Silk & Wool – Pure Wool 4 Ply Organic 4Ply, Cashsoft 4 Ply
• Chunky Soft – Rowan Felted Tweed Chunky
• Linen Drape – Cotton Glace
• Magpie Aran – Scottish Tweed Aran (not exact substitute – 1st out on a 10cm square) or Pure Wool
• Polar – Rowan Felted Tweed Chunky
• Chunky Chenille – All Seasons Cotton (row tension might be slightly out – work to length if given on pattern)
• Rowanspun 4 Ply – Scottish Tweed 4 Ply
• Rowanspun DK – Scottish Tweed DK
• Rowanspun Aran – Pure Wool Aran
• Rowanspun Chunky – Felted Tweed Chunky
• YorkshireTweed 4 Ply – Scottish Tweed 4 Ply
• Yorkshire Tweed DK – Scottish Tweed DK
• Yorkshire Tweed Aran – Felted Tweed Aran
• Yorkshire Tweed Chunky – Felted Tweed Chunky
• Big Wool Tuft – Biggy Print
• Plaid – Felted Tweed Chunky
• Chunky Print – no substitute currently available
• Glimmer Print – Felted Tweed Chunky
• Lurex Shimmer – Rowan Shimmer
• Ribbon Twist – Big Wool
• Big Wool Fusion – Big Wool
• Soft Baby – no substitute currently available
• Rowan Spray – Big Wool
• RYC Soft Tweed – Felted Tweed Chunky
• Luxury Cotton DK – Cashsoft DK, Pima Cotton DK
• Cashcotton DK – Cashsoft DK, Pima Cotton DK, Pure Wool DK
• Kid Silk Spray – Kid Silk Haze
• Kid Silk Night – Kid Silk Haze
• 4 Ply Cotton – Organic Cotton 4 Ply
• Cotton Rope – no substitute currently available
• Country – no substitute currently available
• Romance – no substitute currently available
• Bamboo Tape – no substitute currently available

Yarns are only compatible if correct tension is achieved. Needle sizes may need to be changed in certain cases. Length of yarns must be checked to calculate amounts required.