Newsletter 897
The Maroon Boon!
While the good folks at Pantone have designated something called "Mocha Mousse" as the Color of the Year for 2025, the good folks at Haus of Yarn (that would be, uh, Meg) have other ideas. After a solid spring and early summer of Butter Yellow being all over the place and going into every bag, the world has moved on to....burgundy, maroon, claret, mulberry, bordeaux, cranberry...whatever you call it, y'all've got your hands all over it right now!
It's a color that happens to cross several different lines, weights and fibers from Rowan Mode, so we've paired some of their 2025 patterns with yarns in the Color of the Moment..but as usual, we encourage you to go your own way!
Heydon in Alpaca Cotton
The nice lady in the photo above is modeling Mode at Rowan's Heydon hat, a good looking classic ribbed number that can be worked flat (with a seam to finish) or in the round. Worked up in just one ball of Alpaca Cotton, it's a great beginner hat. We like it in Dahlia, of course!
Alpaca Cotton is a featherlight yarn that showcases Rowan subtle color palette. Its airy feel and romantic halo are achieved by filling delicate cotton mesh with luxurious alpaca fibers. The result is a lightweight yarn with incredible yardage and luscious texture. You can find Alpaca Cotton RIGHT HERE.
Tottington in Softest Alpaca
It's apparently quite chilly where she is, because the nice lady in the photo above is also modeling a Tottington neck, uh, thingie! We love the generous cushy loop-de-looping that the 40" circumference of Tottington makes around the neck; worked up in Rowan Mode's Softest Alpaca, it's almost unimaginably luxurious. Featuring repeated rows of textured eyelets, it's knit flat and then seamed. Easy peasy!
Mode at Rowan's Softest Alpaca is a splendid blend of alpaca and Merino, selectively sourced with care from the Andean Highlands. As light as a feather with a fluffy brushed texture, it's great for both simple and complex stitches. You only need two lil' ol' balls for your Tottington! The nice lady in the photo above is modeling it in Cloud, but since we have a COLOR THEME this week, we're gonna have you take a look at...Cranberry!
You can find Softest Alpaca in Cranberry (and, oh sure, other colors) RIGHT HERE.
There's a little printed pamphlet available that includes both of these patterns RIGHT HERE. If you prefer them digitally, you can grab them via Ravelry RIGHT HERE.
Fakenham in Alpaca Haze
Fakenham is a worked-from-the-bottom-up oversized pullover with an extremely flattering ballet neck. It's made up in Mode at Rowan's Alpaca Haze; holding two strands of this laceweight wool/alpaca/nylon blend results in a sturdy aran weight that'll keep you warm through even the darkest winter.
You can find Alpaca Haze RIGHT HERE and YES, we have it in Merlot! Just refer to the little chart above for yardage guidance; keep in mind the measurements are for the finished garment and include a good amount of positive ease.
Printed copies of the Fakenham pattern are available in our online shop RIGHT HERE... but if you prefer a boring old digital copy, you can grab one at Ravelry RIGHT HERE.
The Sallie Snood and Highoak Hat, both in Chunky Wool
If fast-working-up chunky is your speed, you might want to take a look at both the Salle and Highoak patterns. Salle is an over-the-head double-faced cowl worked up in three balls of Mode Chunky Wool (we like - wait for it - Burgundy!) and it couldn't be easier: knit a bunch, purl a row, knit a bunch, fold on itself and finish! The Highoak hat is similarly simple and just uses one ball of Chunky Wool - it's knit flat and seamed to finish. Add a scarlet pompom! Both of these are great for holiday gifts, by the way.
You can find Chunky Wool RIGHT HERE. Poms are HERE.
Printed pattern combo is RIGHT HERE; Digital Ravelry versions are HERE.
The Heacham Sweater Two Ways
The Heacham Sweater is a classic cozy little top-down v-neck pullover that works up equally well in two different yarns: Rowan Mode's Alpaca Wool or their Alpaca Cotton. So take a look at the long-range winter forecast in your neck of the woods and figure out which fiber works best for you!
We talked about Alpaca Cotton above (remember?), so just scrolly scrolly backwards a bit to revisit that. As its name suggests, Alpaca Wool is a 50/50 blend of alpaca and wool that achieves a perfect harmony between luxurious softness (alpaca) and resilient fiber (wool). This unique combination is incredibly soft and comfortable and really does make an excellent choice for your winter get-ups.
Alpaca Cotton is HERE - look for Dahlia!; Alpaca Wool is RIGHT HERE...we suggest Currant! Refer to the chart above for yardage guidance. Don't forget those final garment measurements include a healthy bit of ease.
You can find the printed version of the Heacham Sweater RIGHT HERE; Ravelry version is HERE.
Non-Burgundy Related Reminder about October's Monthly Make
Don't forget that the Monthly Make cult meets up next Monday, October 6 at 11! For October, y'all are working on the Holly Berry Headband. You can find the links for everything (including November and December's installments) on the Monthly Make page.