Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Amazing Yarn

To be nothing more than grass, bamboo is a truly amazing resource. Bamboo cane can be used for making just about anything that requires a strong material. It can also be used to make things that are very soft - such as bamboo yarn. Bamboo yarn is perfect for knit or crochet garments. For those who are very sensitive to some materials, clothing made from bamboo may be an excellent choice. It has several major advantages over cotton and other fibers. This includes its breathability and its naturally antibacterial state. Bamboo yarn feels great against the skin. It has been compared to silk in terms of its softness, yet it is more wrinkle resistant than cotton. When purchasing bamboo yarn, if you are buying it for its antibacterial property, you should look for 100% bamboo, rather than a blend.Bamboo fiber has excellent moisture absorption because of the many micro-gaps and holes in the material. This makes it an excellent choice of fiber for anyone who has problems with excessive sweating. It feels as light and soft as silk, yet has the durability of cotton.There are disadvantages to purchasing or making clothes from bamboo yarn, however. Bamboo yarn can swell in water, and it must be hand-washed. Sorry, but if you insist on washing all of your clothes in a washing machine, your bamboo threads may not last.Bamboo fiber is rapidly gaining a foothold in the world of fashion. Clothes made from bamboo have an almost translucent look to them. Bamboo is also becoming a popular source of material for clothing for environmental reasons. In an age when being "green" is the hottest marketing trend going, people love bamboo for its renewability. Bamboo can be harvested over and over, requiring little in the way of fertilizer or chemicals.When knitting bamboo, it is important to start slowly. Bamboo yarn may split if it is not handled gently. When working with bamboo yarn, you need to use bamboo knitting needles. These needles are made from bamboo and have been described as having a warm, organic feel. They are also excellent needles for beginners because they are comfortable and not as slick as metal or plastic needles, yet are also very strong. Bamboo needles are also more cost effective than wooden needles.Bamboo yarn may not be that easy to find in your local market, although most craft stores should have at least one color. However, if you search for it online, you will find more options and possibly better prices.Here are a few places online to purchase bamboo yarn:Classic Elite Yarns Inc. www[dot]classiceliteyarns[dot]comSouthWest Trading Company. www[dot]soysilk[dot]comRowan Yarns. www[dot]knitrowan[dot]comPlymouth Yarn Company, Inc. www[dot]plymouthyarn[dot]comYou may also find some really good prices on bamboo yarn on eBay. It is not hard to find online retailers of bamboo yarn if you search for them.Bamboo yarn represents a major part of the future of textiles. The sustainability of the source, combined with the very desirable characteristics of the material, make it a fiber that is likely to only increase in popularity in the years to come.