Rowan Yarn Guide: Felted Tweed, Kidsilk Haze and the Rowan Patterns
Where Rowan yarn comes from, the lines knitters ask about most like Felted Tweed and Kidsilk Haze, the designer patterns, and how to substitute it.
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Rowan yarn is a British yarn brand known as much for its patterns as for its yarn. Many knitters meet it through a design they fall for, then look up the exact yarn it calls for. Knowing the main lines and how Rowan patterns work makes that search much easier.
The short answer: Rowan is a Yorkshire yarn company founded in 1978, famous for designer-led patterns and yarns like Felted Tweed, a light DK blend of wool and alpaca with viscose, in more than 50 colors. If you are knitting a Rowan pattern, use the yarn it names or swatch carefully with a close substitute.
Where Rowan Comes From
Rowan started in 1978 above a grocery store in a village near Huddersfield, in West Yorkshire, England. Its founders, Stephen Sheard and Simon Cockin, first sold weaving supplies and knitting kits. They wanted yarn in natural fibers with a wide, paint-box range of colors.
The name comes from the rowan shrubs along the banks of the Holme river. In 1979 the company moved into Green Lane Mill in Holmfirth. The business has changed owners several times since, but it is still based in Yorkshire.
A meeting with the designer Kaffe Fassett in 1982 pushed Rowan toward designer-led projects. The company launched its own Rowan magazine in 1986. Fassett still designs for the brand today.
Rowan Yarn Lines Knitters Ask About
- Felted Tweed: the fan favorite. A light DK blend of 50% wool, 25% viscose and 25% alpaca, with a tweedy fleck. Each 50 gram ball has 191 yards. It comes in more than 50 colors, which makes it a popular pick for Fair Isle. The label suggests US 5-6 needles.
- Kidsilk Haze: a fine mohair and silk yarn with a soft halo. Knitters use it for airy shawls or hold it with another yarn for a fuzzy finish.
- Creative Linen: a DK blend of 50% linen and 50% cotton, 219 yards per 100 grams. It suits cool summer tops.
- Handknit Cotton: a smooth cotton DK for summer knits and home items.
- Pure Wool Superwash Worsted: a machine-washable worsted for everyday sweaters.
Most Rowan lines sit in the DK and worsted range. If an aran pattern calls for a Rowan line, check the label weight first. Our aran weight yarn guide explains how the weights compare.
Rowan Patterns and Designers
Rowan is a pattern house as much as a mill. The magazine and seasonal collections feature designers such as Kaffe Fassett, Lisa Richardson, Martin Storey and Erika Knight. The patterns are written for specific Rowan yarns, with gauge and yardage set to match.
That is why the yarn a Rowan pattern names matters. The pattern's gauge and drape assume that exact yarn, and so does the yardage. Many Rowan patterns are also listed on Ravelry, where you can see how other knitters' finished pieces turned out.
Swapping Rowan for Something Else
Rowan lines change over time, and some yarns in older patterns are no longer made. When that happens, you need a substitute.
- Look up the original yarn's weight and fiber, plus its yards per gram.
- Pick a yarn with the same weight and a similar fiber. Drape changes a lot between wool and plant fibers like cotton or linen.
- Work out total yardage, not ball count. Ball sizes differ between brands.
- Knit and wash a swatch before you start.
Our yarn substitutes guide walks through each step in detail.
Buying Rowan Yarn
A Rowan Felted Tweed ball set is a good first buy for colorwork hats and cardigans.
Buy all your balls from one dye lot, and check the pattern's total yardage before you order.
Rowan Yarn FAQ
Where is Rowan from?
Rowan is a British brand founded in 1978 in West Yorkshire, England. It is still based in Yorkshire.
What is Rowan Felted Tweed?
A light DK blend of wool and alpaca with viscose, with a tweed effect. It comes in more than 50 colors and is popular for Fair Isle.
Are Rowan patterns only for Rowan yarn?
They are written for specific Rowan yarns, but you can substitute a yarn of the same weight and fiber after you swatch.
Is Rowan machine washable?
Some lines are. Felted Tweed can go on a cold, gentle machine wash, while others need hand washing. Always check the ball band.
Verdict on Rowan Yarn
Rowan yarn pairs good fibers with some of the best-known designer patterns in knitting. Start with Felted Tweed for colorwork, or with the exact line a pattern you love calls for. If that yarn is gone, match its weight and fiber, check the yardage, and swatch before you commit.