You probably know this: you hardly hit something, it is actually already finished knitting in the head and you would like to start the next ten projects. I feel like that all the time. In recent weeks, I have become a little better organized and now write down my ideas, including yarn favorites and patterns, really systematically. For the different ideas in between, I like to knit single columns to different gauge loops, with different patterns or colors. Today I show you a few new yarns that I have just tried and with which I have something in the next few weeks.

Of course, I don't keep all the stitch samples, but I do keep many of them. They are labeled and then go either in a drawer with many samples or in a small project bag in which the upcoming projects are waiting.

I've been trying out three new yarns from Rowan over the past few weeks: Alpaca Merino DK, Hemp Tweed and Big Wool Silk. In the upcoming picture you can see Alpaca Merino DK and I'm still so excited about this yarn while looking at the pictures, that I can't wait to cast on the scarf that will be made in about this pattern. I've knitted the whole ball with several different pattern variations, but I like this one the best. The yarn is mostly alpaca with a small amount of wool and a little nylon. The nylon adds a bit of strength to the yarn, which is so super lightweight and knitted in a warp construction of sorts. It is a slightly heavier yarn (for needle size 4.5), but super light due to the construction.

The stitch definition will be totally interesting, don't you think? I'm really looking forward to showing you more soon. Hemp Tweed, tried here in the "plum" (purple) version, is made of wool and hemp and is available in various mottled colors. It's strong and sturdy, and is intended to become (albeit in blue) a men's scarf. The must be finished as soon as possible for an upcoming birthday. If not, just for Christmas.

The last thing I did was knit Big Wool Silk into several samples, because I've been looking for the right heavier yarn for a cardigan for what feels like forever. I knitted it with a 12 gauge needle, but somehow that's too tiring for me. The yarn is nice and light and cozy (70% wool and 30% silk), but I'm just not the chunky type. Knitting with the big needles is no fun for me in the long run, so I couldn't knit a whole cadigan that way.

Eventually, it will still be a cap. I could well imagine, I've recently seen somewhere on the street a super heavy cap with coarse braid, which I liked very much. For this, this yarn would certainly be suitable and above all, the cap would be finished in an evening Ruckzuck!