We haven’t had a book review for a while, have we? Let’s rectify that:-
Knitting and crochet often get a bad rap. Both crafts are regarded by some as the fast route to frumpy, style-less, doom*. And yeah, there are some… interesting patterns out there. But hey, it’s not as though all the ready-made clothes that you can buy are super-stylish, either. Fortunately there are plenty of designers who do understand how to breathe elegance into their work, and a fair few of those people have designed for Rowan at some point.
I’m a big fan of Rowan. For example, I designed this skirt in their Felted Tweed:-
And I’m a fan of the Rowan Magazine, their twice-yearly showcase of patterns. (Calling it a ‘magazine’ is a bit like referring to champagne as ‘grape juice’. Each issue is more like a slim pattern book, and I highly doubt you’d toss it in the recycling bin once you’d had a look at it.) I may have splurged, occasionally:-
Anyway, Rowan is celebrating 40 years of producing yarn and patterns, and in honour of the occasion, they’ve brought out a book to showcase the best of the designs that have appeared in the magazine. Would you like to see? (They sent me a free copy.) Open the cover, and you’re greeted by the sight of a youthful Kate Moss, wearing a jumper. I’ve been living under a rock, so I hadn’t realized that she’d modelled for Rowan early in her career. It’s testament to the style vision of the company’s design team that they booked her.
Anyway, let’s turn the page and carry on. Oh! There’s Kate Moss again, this time in a cardigan. But this isn’t a book about Kate Moss. It’s a collection of 40 iconic women’s knitwear designs, spanning all but the earliest days of the magazine. Leafing through the book, the word that comes to mind is timeless. For example, there’s a cabled jumper from Issue 10 – Is that Kate Moss again?! – that wouldn’t look out of place in a knitter’s WIP-pile even now.
Near the beginning is a brief description of the year-long design process that leads to each issue of the magazine. I only wish there could be more detail about the process, and maybe an interview or two with key designers. There’s a photo-montage of every cover ever, and it’s impressive just how few of these look even slightly dated to modern eyes. Over time, crochet patterns were increasingly included in the magazine, but none of them are featured in this book.
There’s real variety in the knitting techniques featured, from iconic intarsia by Kaffe Fassett, detailed Fair Isle by Marie Wallin…
…simple monochrome shapes by Kim Hargreaves, lacework by Sharon Miller, cables by Louisa Harding, and this sample of extravagant wonder by Martin Storey:-
I have no idea whether I’ll make any of these patterns, but that doesn’t really feel like the point. The book is more of a pattern-based memoire of four decades at the forefront of British fashion knitwear. Personally, I’d have enjoyed more words… about company history, about the design process, and so on, but maybe that’s just me.
If you’re buying this because you want a whole heap of high-quality knitting patterns, then you’ll need quite a range of knitting skills, and you’ll need to be an intermediate to advanced knitter. It’s also worth noting that all the designs featured are for adult womenswear. But you’ll love this book if you fancy a visual feast of the work of knitting designers at the very top of their game. And if you like Kate Moss.
Rowan: 40 Years is available worldwide now, published by Sixth & Spring. Hardback, 225 pages. ISBN 9781640210288. Pricing example: UK RRP £25.00.
∗I’ve written before about the time I was lying on my back, chatting with the woman who was tattooing permanent eyeliner around my eyes. (Please don’t judge: it’s pretty much my only vanity ‘thing’.) “You’re into knitting?!” she exclaimed and, laughing, she asked “So does that mean you make hideous, ugly, jumpers for all your family?” Err, no. No I don’t, actually. But when you’re flat on your back whilst someone wields an electric needle one millimetre away from your eyeball, you’re pretty powerless, so I smiled sweetly and said none of the things that I would have liked to have said. And I resolved never, ever, to knit anything for this woman.
To right. Thank you for the eye liner tip. Just think no more smudging.
Yup. I can’t remember the last time I bothered with makeup. 🙂
I do hate it when people are scathing about knitting, I’m not sure what they think we produce. I started knitting because I wanted to replicate fashion items in better quality yarns. I also LOVE the Rowan book and think it demonstrates how stylish knitting can be. xx
A big “yup” to all of this. AND we get the satisfaction of knowing we created the (stylish) things we wear.
A really great review for a timeless tome. I thought that was Kate Moss now. I was going to ask if they included their Rowan elixir of youth tucked into the pages. Obviously there is no elixir and I am no intermediate to advanced knitter but there is an elegant beauty in ever page of this book. Kudos on the eyeliner. I am all for anything that saves time in the morning…
Ha ha, surgery not included! (If you can knit sock(s) – and you can – then you’re ready for this book.)
People who comment rudely about knitting or crochet really have no idea. They must have been exposed to itchy acrylic items at some point in their life. If they only could see what you do! I believe there is more of us than them. And I see all ages learning knitting and crochet in the yarn shops. I love it!
Yes, and I think that more and more people, especially young people, are realizing the possibilities of yarny creation.
A very interesting review, thank you! I have collected every single Rowan ‘magazine’ (I agree with you about the description, btw) so feel that I probably don’t need this book because I already have all the patterns it contains. But would you say there is another compelling reason to get it nonetheless?
Hmm… I’m not sure that you’d get much more from this than you’ve got already in your collection. What I didn’t say in my review is that half of the patterns are featured exactly as originally shot, whilst the other half have been re-worked in modern colours and the photos re-shot. But I don’t know whether that justifies the price if you own all the patterns already. If you want a smart coffee-table book, it might be worth it.
That’s really helpful, thanks! I think I need to take pity on my coffee table and not add to its already heavy load! 🙂
????
Of course Rowan subscribers get the two magazines sent prior to going on sale elsewhere and a knitting kit of choice as well! This year, we were also sent this special book as an extra gift. What’s to love more? Love your review and I share your experience of finding Ms Moss!
Given that the subscription costs the same as the book alone (I think?) that’s a pretty impressive deal. Now I’m tempted…
I’ve always put Rowan on my list of companies providing a good quantity of both classic and currently stylish Men’s patterns, rather than just tossing in two or three vanilla entries every year, as an afterthought. Sorry to see they give us no thought at all in this commemoration volume.
Yes it was rather surprising, and hard to understand because they do produce genuinely stylish menswear designs. I’ve no idea why they did this. It does seem odd. And alienating to a growing chunk of their market.
Hi, am I the only one who doesn’t see your photos? I used to and I still see them on other blogs.
I have sadly not seen your cardigan or this book or…
Any thoughts gratefully received, the interweb has been somewhat unhelpful.
Tara
Hi Tara, First of all, apologies for the slow response. As to the photo problem, eek, that’s so very weird. (And I promise that it’s nothing deliberate from this end!!) Um, I’m a bit of a technological dunce, so I’m not going to be able to shed much wisdom here. May I first just check, have you tried accessing the blog from different devices? (Phone vs laptop, etc.) And have you tried in a different internet browser? If you’re able to answer these questions, I’ll then beg for some advice from my techie friend…