The Pros And Cons Of Rowan Yarns

I have been knitting and designing for more years than I would admit. Rowan Yarns have been a big part of my knitting life and I have designed with many of their yarns but mostly Pure Wool, Big Wool and Wool Cotton. Being a designer and a knitter has therefore given me great insights into the qualities of these particular yarns and this article presents the “pros and cons” of these three Rowan Yarns in particular.

The Rowan company was founded in the late 70′s and was largely responsible for the knitting renaissance in the mid-80′s. This renaissance came because Rowan started concession stores in major city department stores in the UK which allowed regular knitters to engage with in-store experts. Rowan now offers over 70 different, high quality yarns ranging from the classic to the fashionable.

Despite the variety of Rowan Yarns, the intent of this article is to focus on the three yarns where I have most experience. Given the similarities of soft yarns generally it is likely that the other Rowan Yarns will exhibit the same characteristics as the three we’re focusing on here.

Rowan Wool – Pros

Rowan Wools such as Pure Wool DK and Aran feel really good to knit with as they are so smooth.  They can be used for any textural stitch pattern such as cables, are very easy to knit with as the yarn is tightly twisted which prevents splitting, and readily show mistakes which I view as a positive – I would rather see a mistake quickly and rip it back before too much additional work is wasted.

The finished garment will be lovely and soft but coupled with a degree of strength that allows machine washing and offers a degree of durability.

These yarns are available in a wide selection of colors which make them suitable for lots of garment designs including fair isle.

Rowan Wool – Cons

The main downside of Rowan Pure Wool yarns is the likelihood of stretching after washing. Great care needs to be taken during the washing process. Some of the stronger/darker colors can also run during the washing process so testing colors prior to a project is extremely important.

Rowan Pure Wools can pill slightly. Like any wool that is soft, pilling can be a problem, particularly in areas of a garment that rub such as the underarm of a sweater.

The final problem with these yarns (and to be fair the pros far outweigh the cons) is that there can be a lot of knots in a ball of wool and it is always advisable to overbuy before a given project to account for wastage.

Rowan Big Wool – Pros

Apart from being wonderfully soft to knit with and wear, Rowan Big Wool knits up very quickly. It is easily possible for the experienced knitter to finish a hat from a single ball in just a few hours.

As with Rowan Pure Wool, Big Wool is very good for textural stitches such as cables and is available in several great colors.

Rowan Big Wool – Cons

The issues with Rowan Pure Wools are amplified with Rowan Big Wool. Its super softness and weight will result in a garment that can be very floppy making this yarn unsuitable for things like long cardigans. Washing only exacerbates the problem.

Rowan Big Wool is also liable to shed fibers making it messy to knit with, particularly for allergy sufferers.

Being a soft yarn, Big Wool has a tendency to fuzziness caused by handling during the knitting process. As with any soft yarn it can also pill. Indeed pilling can be worse with Big Wool than other soft yarns as Big Wool is 100% merino wool.

The final downside of Big Wool is that it is very expensive although end of season sales or color discontinuations can yield some discounts.

Rowan Wool Cotton – Pros

Rowan Wool Cottons are great to knit with and wear as they are nice and soft. They knit up to an even color, have a nice drape and good stitch definition (great for cables, bobble etc). Their combination of merino wool and cotton affords additional warmth and elasticity compared to other Rowan Yarns.

The Rowan Wool Cotton DK is great for all round designs whereas the 4 ply is an excellent choice for lacy designs such as shawls.

Rowan Wool Cotton – Cons

The biggest downside of using Rowan Wool Cottons is their propensity to stretch after washing. This is the case even after a cold, gentle wash so it is imperative to test before starting a complex project and potentially knit a size or two down from the desired size.

The merino wool can cause some pilling but the cotton mix ensures that any pilling of the Rowan Wool Cotton yarns will be less than pure soft yarns.

Yarn splitting is another possible problem but this is limited to inexperienced knitters whose technique is not yet fully developed.

Rowan Wool Cotton yarns are also expensive but, unlike the Big Wool, they are less likely to be discounted as they are not seasonal yarns.