STEPHEN SHEARD AND SIMON COCKIN launched rowan in 1978, selling weaving kits at craft markets around the UK. Now, over 20 years later, the company's knitting yarns, patterns and magazines are available around the world.
Rowan's strength has been to develop itself and adhere to constantly changing trends. Listening to its customers and working closely with leading designers has been rowan's principal aim since the company's beginning.
Rowan, known as the designers' yarn company, produces not only traditionally spun worsted wool yarns which are dyed to over 300 colours, but specially designed tweeds, cotton chenilles, and other classic cottons.
Situated in the heart of the textile industry in the Pennine Hills of Yorkshire in the UK, Rowan have endeavored to use local spinners and dyers, the result being an ability to react to continually changing colour trends and the upgrading of yarns as customer needs become more specific, such as machine washable yarns. |
...If you are going to spend your precious leisure time knitting, make something of beauty and quality that can be an heirloom...
Rowan has developed the art of hand knitting beyond its homely image, producing two new magazines a year with over thirty designer knitting patterns to suit all levels of ability.
With the use of innovative photography and fashion styling Rowan has stretched the constraints of the yarn and hand knitting industry and its pastel baby shades.
As Kaffe Fassett says 'If you are going to spend your precious leisure time knitting, make something of beauty and quality that can be an heirloom'.
Other great designers that contribute to the Rowan patterns are:
Kim Hargreaves, Di Gilpin, Martin Storey, Zoe Mellor, and Sarah Dallas. |
