Twilleys Freedom Purity is a wonderful new ‘Eco’ yarn. This soft yarn is available in natural, earthy colours which are formed by the careful blending of natural undyed wool with alpaca. The hypo-allergenic qualities of the Alpaca combine with the Virgin wool to create a beautiful high quality yarn that is just fabulous to knit with; creating one of the finest chunky yarns on the market.  At just £3.10 a ball, it’s excellent value too.

Twilleys Freedom Purity

There are some really nice patterns for the Purity yarn as well, some available as individual pattern sheets (£2.50) and others in a booklet which contains 12 designs (£6.50).  Look at the shop website for more pictures and details of the patterns.

Twilleys Freedom Purity pattern book 466

The latest issue of Interweave Knits arrived today and it features 27 knitting projects just right for the Autumn.

Explore eight different variations on knitted plaid; rediscover heritage techniques; dress up simple stitches with fun details; try out some twisted and traveling motifs; and deconstruct intriguingly architectural knits.

Pick up your copy over in our shop and start planning your Autumn projects.

Another of Rowan’s new knitting pattern books for this Autumn is Rowan Homestead Classics by Martin Storey.

Rowan Homestead Classics

Rowan Homestead Classics is a rustic collection of 15 designs inspired by the crafts and textiles of the American pioneer. Ethnic and geometric intarsia, folkloric textures and homespun cabling contrast with more simple, stocking stitch designs, all fashioned in an autumnal palette of damson, plum, electric blue and spruce green using Lima, Alpaca Cotton and Baby Alpaca DK.

You can see more from Rowan Homestead Classics on our website.

Winter Drift is one of Rowan’s new knitting pattern books for Autumn 2010.

Rowan Winter Drift

Winter Drift contains 15 designs for men and women showcasing the new Drift yarn alongside the longstanding favourite Big Wool. Big, chunky, easy to wear knits range from heavily textured men’s knits through to cute, simple cropped knits for women.  And it’s just £7.95.

These are just a few of the patterns in this book.  More pictures can be seen on the shop website.

We had lots of deliveries today and the first to tell you about is Rowan Magazine 48.  If you pre-ordered your copy from us, then it’s in the post already.  If you didn’t pre-order, do not fear – we still have some copies, but they are selling fast.

Rowan Knitting and Crochet Magazine 48

I think this is one of my favourite of the Rowan Magazines.  I absolutely love the Russian Doll story which were inspired by the romantic folkloric designs painted on historic matryoshka nesting dolls. Highly patterned colorwork in the form of florals, fairisle stripes and tartan checks make each design a masterpiece. I think I’m going to try one of the scarf patterns.

The other two stories are Nomad which focuses on the key fall fashion trends of chunky, exaggerated cables and textured stitches and Timeless which features one-color knits and classic styles that look equally good on young and mature women.

As part of the Rowan Studio pattern collection, Rowan release two extra free knitting patterns to download from their website.  These are the two which are part of Rowan Studio 19.

Firstly Mint, a delicate sweater made from Kidsilk Haze.

Mint from Rowan Studio 19

And this is Ice, knitted in Rowan Siena.

Download them free from Rowan’s website.

I’ve been knitting this ribbed cardigan over the past few weeks and finally was able to finish it over the bank holiday weekend.

Ribbed Cardigan by Rico Design

I’m really pleased with the fit and am sure it will become a firm favourite in my wardrobe. I especially like the detail on the back.

cabled pattern on the back of the cardi

The pattern is from Rico Knitting Ideas Book 6 and was very straight forward to follow. The yarn was brilliant too.  It was Rico’s Essential Merino DK and as well as having great stitch definition, it hasn’t pilled in the slightest as I was knitting with it.  So I hope that the cardi continues to look good for a long time to come.  Good value too at only £3.45 a ball.  This cardi took 11 balls.

Yippee!  The Manos del Uruguay lace weight yarn that we’ve been waiting for finally arrived this week. The colours are superb and it feels really soft.

Manos del Uruguay Lace Weight Yarns

Lacy, lightweight knits are perfect summertime projects, and Interweave Knits Summer 2010 is bursting with 24 brand new projects for summer’s warm days and nights.

Interweave Knits Summer 2010

In this issue they’re taking a look at filmy fabrics, working with simple stitches, reimagining classics, and exploring contrasts. Plus, the first-ever special section all about knitting for kids, perfecting buttonholes with TECHknitter, and getting to know knitting industry insider Cathy Payson.

From cover to cover, Interweave Knits magazine gives you great projects, from the beginner to the advanced. Every issue is packed full of captivating smart designs, step-by-step instructions, easy-to-understand illustrations, plus well-written, lively articles sure to inspire.

Rowan Studio 19 has just arrived!

Rowan Studio 19 is inspired by the fresh pastel shades seen up and down the Spring/Summer 2010 catwalks. Light-weight floaty layers in sherbert shades and lace are this issue’s key themes, created in kidsilk haze and siena.  Designs are by Grace Melville.