Ask any dedicated Rowan knitter to name their favourite yarn from the range and there is a very good chance the answer will be Felted Tweed. First introduced in 2002, it has become one of the best-selling yarns in the entire Rowan collection — and for good reason. This is a yarn that rewards knitters at every level, from its beautiful colour palette through to its exceptional behaviour on the needles and the finished fabric it produces.
The fibre composition is the key to what makes Felted Tweed so distinctive. A blend of 50% merino wool, 25% alpaca, and 25% viscose, each component brings something essential. The merino provides softness and structure. The alpaca adds a subtle halo, warmth, and gentle drape. The viscose contributes lustre and — crucially — makes the yarn supremely responsive to blocking. The yarn is lightly pre-felted during production, which gives it a characteristically soft-focus, slightly rustic texture that knits into a fabric with real depth and character.
We stock Rowan Felted Tweed in a handpicked selection of colourways chosen by world-renowned colour and textile designer Kaffe Fassett. The palette is characteristically bold and considered — spanning warm earthy neutrals including Clay and Alabaster, vibrant brights including Zinnia, Pink, Iris, Turquoise, Lime, Ultramarine, and Sulfur, softer romantic shades including Barbara, Lotus Leaf, Peach, Ciel, and Heliotrope, and rich, distinctive tones including French Mustard, Fjord, and Black. Whether you are working colourwork, stripes, or a single-colour garment, there is a shade in this selection to suit.
At a light DK weight, Felted Tweed knits to a fabric that is cosy and warm without being heavy — which makes it as practical as it is beautiful to wear. It excels in Fair Isle and stranded colourwork, where the muted complexity of tweeded yarn produces results that flat, single-tone yarn simply cannot match. It works equally well for cables, lace, garter stitch, and simple stocking stitch garments.
Fibre content: 50% Merino Wool, 25% Alpaca, 25% Viscose Ball weight: 50g Meterage: 175m per ball Weight: Light DK Recommended needle size: 3.75mm to 4mm (UK 9–8 / US 5–6) Tension: 22–24 stitches and 30–32 rows to 10cm
What projects is Rowan Felted Tweed best suited to? It is an exceptionally versatile yarn. It is particularly loved for Fair Isle and stranded colourwork, where the tweeded palette creates rich, complex results. It also works beautifully for garments knitted in garter stitch, lace, cables, and simple stocking stitch. The drape and lightness of the finished fabric make it well suited to wearable garments including jumpers, cardigans, hats, scarves, and wraps.
Is Felted Tweed suitable for lace knitting? Yes. The high viscose content makes it very responsive to blocking, which opens up lace patterns beautifully. It is an excellent choice for lace shawls and wraps where good blocking is important to the final result.
What needle size does Rowan Felted Tweed use? The recommended needle size is 3.75mm to 4mm (UK 9–8, US 5–6). It knits to a tension of 22–24 stitches and 30–32 rows to 10cm on these needles.
How should Rowan Felted Tweed be washed? With care. This is a lightly pre-felted yarn and can felt further if washed incorrectly. Machine washing on a wool cycle at 40°C with minimum agitation is generally acceptable, though many knitters prefer to hand wash gently and lay flat to dry to be safe. Always check the ball band care instructions and test on a swatch first.
Who is Kaffe Fassett? Kaffe Fassett is an American-born designer based in London who is widely regarded as one of the world's leading authorities on colour and textile design. He has collaborated with Rowan for decades and his colourways for Felted Tweed are among the most sought-after in the range, reflecting his lifelong passion for rich, painterly, and unexpected colour combinations.
