Rowan supports Wool Week with an exclusive online collection – British Sheep Breeds Homeware, using their 100% British Wool. This collection celebrates Wool Week, which starts on the 11th October 2010. The collection comprises of 10 designs of cushions, throws, mats and hot water bottle covers.

To view the online collection, browse the free patterns section on Rowan’s website in accessories from pages 1-4.

Rowan have published a free knitting pattern on their website as part of the Rowan Studio 20 collection.  The pattern is Flare by Grace Melville, and it’s really quite nice.

We’ve just started stocking Rowan Shimmer yarn.  This glittery yarn is perfect for giving garments a touch of sparkle and I’m currently knitting a bolero from Rowan Studio 17 which is knitted by holding together a strand of Shimmer and a strand of Kidsilk Aura.  It gives a lovely effect.

However you can use Shimmer just by itself and Rowan have just published two free crochet patterns on their website: one for a festive napkin ring, and one for a placemat and coaster set.

Free crochet pattern from Rowan

These patterns use Shimmer in shade 93 Titanium, which I have to say isn’t very accurately represented in their photo.  In the photo above it looks bronze, but in real life it looks more like a dark silver shade.