I thought you might like to see a photo of a jumper that a customer recently completed. I think it looks great and really suits her.

The pattern is called Maeve from the Rowan Lima Collection and uses Rowan’s Lima yarn. If you’d like to know yarn quantities, then just ask and I’ll look it up for you.  I reckon a sleeveless version would look rather nice too.

I love to see what my customers are making, so do feel free to send me a photo!

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.

We’ve had a delivery from Rowan and we’ve now got the new Spring 2010 shades of Fine Milk Cotton and Milk Cotton DK.  Cotton Glace has been delayed.

Little Luxury Knits by Alison Crowther-Smith has been out of print for a while, but we’re delighted to have received brand new copies today. If you enjoy knitting with Rowan Kidsilk Haze or Kidsilk Aura then you’ll LOVE this book.

Little Luxury Knits

With some great lace projects, delicate little edgings for existing jumpers, marvellously soft and feminine scarves and shawls and even cushions and home decorations, this book of little knits would make a wonderful Christmas present. View the 20 patterns featured in this book on our website.

We’ve finally received the remaining new shade of Rowan Lima yarn in Peru.  It’s probably my favourite shade actually, so I’m glad that it’s arrived.

Don’t forget – all Rowan Lima yarn is 15% off until the end of November 2009.

Until the 30th November 2009 you can get 15% off all Rowan Lima yarn at Hulu.

The beautifully soft Lima yarn is new for Autumn/Winter 2009 and is made up of 84% Baby Alpaca, 8% Merino Wool and 8% Nylon. It has a very unusual construction and looks like it has been plaited.  You might think it would be a bit odd to knit with, but I’m assured by a lady at our Knit ‘n’ Natter group that it’s really nice to handle.  When it’s knitted up, it does look great and you don’t notice the unusual nature of it. It’s available in 12 rustic shades varying from greys, greens, blues, browns and gold.

Lima from Rowan

The Lima Collection is the book to accompany the yarn and features a collection of 10 women’s designs and 4 men’s designs by Marie Wallin & Sarah Hatton.

The Lima Collection from Rowan

The Lima garments are mainly textured with cabling, ribs giving admirable stitch definition, such as Brendalynn a moss stitch overcoat photographed in a stunning lime green colour and Nathan, a stylish men’s jumper with cable and rib detail in Royal Blue. The styling reflects the traditional trend of the season including tweeds, checks and plaids.  Visit our site to see pictures from the book.

Coats Crafts have got a new website and are making available a number of free knitting patterns to download.

This one, for a knitted tea cosy, uses Rowan Cashsoft DK yarn

Free tea cosy knitting pattern from Coats

Rowan sent me a preview of the next Studio knitting pattern book –  Rowan Studio 17 – so I thought I’d share it with you.

Rowan Studio 17

It’s due to be published on 1st October and I’ll be getting copies as soon as it is.

Precious is the latest book from Kim Hargreaves.  It includes 21 knitwear designs ranging from sweaters and cardigans for women, a couple of sweaters for men, as well as berets and a pretty shawl.

Kim Hargreaves' Precious

The yarns used are all Rowan yarns: Pure Cashmere DK, Kidsilk Haze, Kidsilk Aura, Pima Cotton DK, Cashsoft 4Ply, Cashsoft Aran, Wool Cotton, Kid Classic, Felted Tweed, and Big Wool.

We’re expecting to have copies in stock very soon but in the meantime you can view pictures of all the patterns here.

Thought I’d just show you a cushion that Mum has just finished making.  It’s like the St Ives Cushion from Little Luxury Knits that I did recently, just in different colours.

It’s made with just three balls of Rowan kidsilk haze: pink, yellow and green.  You knit with two strands at a time and by doing so you can use one strand in one colour, and the second strand in a different colour to achieve a blend or colour wash effect.  In this case Mum blended the yellow and green.

The back is a 50cm piece of Amy Butler fabric – this one’s called Happy Dots.

These cushions are so easy to make and are a lovely addition to any room.  Why not have a go yourself?