I myself have not knitted much from bamboo. But I will share my experience with pleasure.

We will only talk about 100% bamboo yarn.

First experience.

Vita Bamboo Print.

I knitted a top from it.

The thread knits easily and pleasantly, the yarn feels great to the touch - soft, smooth.

But: after 1 day of wear, the top became a tunic, and after the second - a dress. And this happens after every wash: at first the size returns, but then everything repeats.

I’ll explain why this happened below for all bamboo yarn; it turns out there are rules for how to knit it.

Experience two.

Alize Bamboo Batik.

I also knitted a top and a handbag from it.

And although the seller assured me that THIS bamboo behaves perfectly and does not require any tricks in knitting, my story repeated itself. Even though I used knitting needles and a crochet hook number smaller than what the manufacturer indicated.

Experience three.

Bouton d'Or New Bamboo.

Gorgeous bamboo yarn. It is quite expensive, and the salespeople in the stores where it is presented are usually very experienced. They gave specific instructions on how to knit with it.

And now, attention, the rules for bamboo yarn.

Please note that they may be less strict if your future product is not required to keep a given shape.

1. For knitting, take 1-1.5 number crochet needles less than indicated. Ideally, as minimal as you can knit.

2. You need to knit VERY tightly. Again, as tight as possible for you.

3. Despite points 1 and 2, pattern Products should be reduced by 1 size.

4. Wash, strictly following the instructions: hand wash or delicate machine wash without spinning, then spinning at 800 rpm. Dry only in a horizontal position, straightening the product.

Once a product is damaged by washing, it can no longer be corrected!

All these (incredible) efforts are worth the amazing ease with which things made of bamboo are worn, and how much joy they bring to their owner.

I heard that this yarn has a lot of stretch, but the other reviews are so wonderful that I’m just itching to knit something summery.

I’ll write for my girls and for you, dear readers of my blog, what kind of yarn is bamboo.

Bamboo yarn is a relatively new product in the world of knitting, but it is quickly becoming popular. This is a beautiful natural fiber made from fast-growing bamboo that has been processed into pulp.

Positive reviews about bamboo yarn:

• Bamboo grows very quickly, and to harvest it for industrial purposes the plant does not die, but continues to grow further and is ready for further harvesting in a few months. Its cultivation does not require the use of pesticides and fertilizers, and therefore does not harm the environment. Production is also environmentally friendly, as it is based on steaming and boiling.
• Bamboo yarn, unless mixed with man-made fibers, is biodegradable.
• Bamboo is easily dyed with natural dyes, which are safe to use and do not cause allergies when wearing clothes made from such yarn.
• Bamboo yarn has natural antibacterial properties.
• Bamboo has protective properties against ultraviolet radiation.
• Fabric knitted from bamboo absorbs moisture well, is breathable, cool in the heat, and drapes easily.
• Bamboo fabric is very soft, comparable to silk, has a beautiful shine, is very durable, and wear-resistant.

Negative feedback:

• Bamboo absorbs moisture very well, which makes it less durable when wet.
• This yarn is not suitable for frequent washing as bamboo products need to be washed by hand.
• Some types of bamboo yarn (especially viscose bamboo) can stretch a lot in the fabric, so you need to knit tightly or in two threads. You can add polyester sewing thread.

So, bamboo fabric is very durable, has a beautiful shine, silky to the touch, allows the skin to breathe, is hypoallergenic, and retains its properties after repeated washings.

You can knit almost anything from this yarn - hats, sweaters, tunics, tops, skirts...

Knitted socks made from bamboo are very good - durable, thin, and absorb moisture well.

So, be sure to buy bamboo yarn and tie it just for the summer!

Properties of bamboo fiber:

It feels very similar to silk, cool, soft;

The products are very comfortable to wear, fit perfectly and fit to the body, and never cause skin irritation;

Hypoallergenic, suitable for children's clothes;

The so-called “conditioned” fiber, due to its structure, is breathable (at t = 36 degrees and relative air humidity of 100%, ventilation is 45%, which is 3.5 times higher than that of cotton);

Good moisture absorption, according to various information, is 2-4 times higher than that of cotton;

Excellent moisture permeability and breathability;

Antibacterial properties: clothing made from this thread absorbs human sweat, since the fibers contain a biologically active substance that does not allow fungi and bacteria to multiply and, therefore, create an unpleasant odor;

Almost does not transmit ultraviolet radiation, which is very important in summer (only 0.6% of UV rays pass through, which is almost 450 times less than through cotton);

Dries quickly;

The products are quite wear-resistant, the fabric practically does not wrinkle;

It is easy to knit, the thread forms even and neat loops;

After washing, the item will look elegant, thanks to its light shine;

It has low thermal conductivity, so it is suitable for both winter and summer;

Softer than cotton;

It retains whiteness well, as well as the freshness of colors, and does not fade.

Now the properties that must be taken into account when knitting products made from bamboo fiber: when washed, it stretches 4-5 cm in length, especially if it is not knitted tightly enough, so the sample must be washed.

The upper part of the item stretches out a little, unlike the lower part, so it is better to dry it horizontally.

The motifs must be knitted very tightly, otherwise they will unravel when washed.

When wet, it loses strength, so it requires some caution. Wash by hand only. As Oksana Trukhan Ursula shared in the comments below, bamboo with cashmere can be machine washed on a delicate cycle.

The conclusion is this: bamboo fiber is a very wonderful thing, but it requires care and accurate calculation.

Bamboo thread is a type of viscose , regenerated cellulose fiber. The herbaceous plant bamboo produces not cellulose, but bamboo fiber. The technological process is simple and, if the rules are followed, is not harmful to the environment. Interestingly, dyeing requires 15-20% less dye than cotton, since bamboo absorbs dye better.

The materials found on the Internet indicate two ways to obtain

bamboo fiber - chemical and mechanical. During the chemical method

leaves and pulp are separated from the hard bamboo stem by evaporation, and then

mechanically crushed. Crushed bamboo is soaked in sodium hydroxide

(NaOH) to obtain cellulose. If sodium hydroxide is used judiciously,

then this substance does not harm the environment and handlers. Hydroxide

sodium is often used to obtain environmentally friendly cotton fiber -

this is confirmed by the International Biologic Textile Standard (GOTS) and

The Soil Association. Sodium hydroxide leaves no chemicals

traces in the bamboo fiber, since when washed it is neutralized and becomes

harmless sodium sulfate salt. During the mechanical method separated

bamboo is treated with biological enzymes (enzymes), which

convert bamboo cellulose into fiber. This method is expensive, but environmentally friendly

it's cleaner. After the bamboo pulp is obtained, it is passed through a device

similar to a sieve, and solid particles, fiber, turn into thread. Received

the thread is twisted repeatedly to obtain bamboo yarn. Bamboo yarn

white, shiny and as durable as viscose. Hence,

It is not difficult to obtain thread from bamboo, it can be done without harm to the environment

environment and the end result is high quality yarn.

The following text is for general information.

In connection with the emerging topic of Naturalness and Chemicalness, I consider it necessary to add the following paragraph.

The raw material for bamboo fiber is the herbaceous plant bamboo, which grows without pesticides and other chemicals, due to its hardiness, and is cut off during harvesting so that the top layer of soil remains intact.

On cotton plantations, 330-500 thousand people are poisoned by pesticides every year, 20 thousand of them die. Also, a huge number of workers get sick from cotton dust at work, after 10-15 years.

When producing flax, the soil is treated with herbicides, since weed infestation leads to poor quality flax. Flax will greatly impoverish the soil; proper crop rotation must be observed. And herbicides and pesticides poison the soil and water.

Of course, there are also environmentally friendly growing methods, but this does not meet the market needs and the price of such raw materials is corresponding.

When writing this article, I used (and processed by me) materials from the Internet and personal feelings.

I by no means urge anyone to give up anything, I was interested, and not only me, judging by the comments, but everyone draws their own conclusions.

For example, there are also a lot of fruits and berries, everyone is free to choose according to their taste. Some people will prefer orange to blackcurrant, although it contains more vitamin C. But the taste is different. And some people like a little bit of everything. Again, it's a matter of taste.The article is informational, but my opinion is not the ultimate truth

"Pros" of bamboo yarn Yarn made from bamboo fiber is an ideal option for those who cannot tolerate heat. You will feel much better in clothes knitted from such threads than in classic cotton ones. After all, bamboo fabric has increased hygroscopicity and unique antibacterial properties (in other words, you will sweat less, and if you sweat, those around you will not smell an unpleasant odor). In addition, bamboo yarn is highly breathable and has the ability to keep you cool in hot weather. Believe me, in the summer heat the silky touch of a bamboo thread will give you real pleasure! Another valuable property of bamboo yarn is its impermeability to ultraviolet rays. In the open sun, bamboo clothing will protect you several times better than a cotton outfit! The undoubted advantages of bamboo include its softness. It does not irritate the skin at all and does not cause allergies, so it is suitable even for newborns. Bamboo yarn is very beautiful. Its unobtrusive shine resembles silk, and the properties of bamboo fiber allow it to be dyed in the brightest (and lasting!) shades - by the way, using several times less dye than when dyeing wool or cotton. And finally, bamboo yarn can safely be called an environmentally friendly material. "Disadvantages" of bamboo yarn Bamboo threads also have disadvantages - more precisely, features that make working with them not as easy as with cotton. Thus, smooth, silky bamboo yarn is prone to severe tangling during knitting. For the same reason, loops can stretch greatly. Because of this, bamboo is not suitable for those just learning to knit - especially crochet. An elastic band knitted from 100% bamboo will never be tight and reliable. And the entire product can stretch a lot during wear and especially washing. Bamboo thread does not have sufficient strength and wear resistance. Therefore, if care is not taken carefully, the finished product can very quickly lose its “sales appearance” and become covered with pellets and puffs. How to knit with bamboo yarn correctly? But, despite all the “cons”, you can knit the most beautiful, incredibly comfortable things from bamboo yarn - you just need to do it correctly. First, choose the right model. Bamboo yarn is best used to make so-called “oversized” items - wide, loose sweaters and tunics, long draping scarves. It’s great if the model provides for a certain “carelessness”, deliberate stretching - for example, a dropped shoulder or elongated sleeves. Another point is the choice of pattern. Bamboo does not hold its shape well - so you should not knit fabric from it with “braids” or complex openwork. It is best to choose a simple satin stitch with knitting needles or a “mesh” stitch (knitting or crocheting). Secondly, choose good tools. Bamboo strands are usually very loosely twisted. Therefore, if regular yarn gets slightly caught on your knitting needles or hook, then bamboo yarn will cling and flake VERY strongly. Conclusion: the tool must be of high quality, with a good coating. As for the number, it is best to take both the hook and the knitting needles less than those indicated on the skein packaging. Do not be afraid that the knitting will turn out too tight - in the case of bamboo, such a danger is eliminated. The fabric will stretch anyway, so you need to knit it as tightly as possible. And thirdly, organize the work process itself correctly. Ideally, it should look like this: tie the sample, measure, moisten, hang vertically (for example, pin it to a carpet or a blackout curtain), dry, measure; calculate the loops; start knitting the product (remember - as tightly as possible), often letting it “hang” while wet; I pinned the unknitted tunic to the carpet every evening with safety pins, sprayed it with a humidifier and left it until the morning - in the morning the product dried and “added” 3-4 cm, and I saw how much I had actually knitted; Wash the finished product by hand, dry it horizontally... and don’t be upset if it stretches a little when you wear it - after all, you chose the “right” model!

Last year I decided to try knitting a top from bamboo yarn. I read reviews about her - how she behaves in her work, in the product, and decided - her eyes are afraid, her hands are doing the work. Since the top was supposed to be worn in the summer, the yarn chosen was plain white and quite thin: in one 100 gram skein there are 440 meters of bamboo thread. Armed with the thinnest knitting needles, patience, I took a sample (I never make a pattern) - a suitable knitted top - and began work.

1. Impressions of working with yarn.

The first thought after the first rows (about the same as after the first birth): I wish I... just one more time... but never in my life! I spent a long time getting used to it, choosing a pattern, because my favorite universal elastic band on bamboo didn’t look good at all, and the openwork also looked rather primitive. I'm not good with crochet, but out of desperation, I decided to try that too - but the result didn't inspire me.

It was decided to knit the product using stockinette stitch, with darts, decreases, and increases (oh, but with an elastic band - how simple it would have been!), knitting a raised border along the bottom of the top, and at the end of the work, finish it with black yarn (with a secret).

Bamboo thread consists of many thin fibers, which did not add pleasure to the work and did not contribute to the speed of knitting. The yarn is quite slippery - you need to make extra effort when knitting. I didn't like knitting with bamboo.

2. Do you need a sample?

Experienced knitters may throw balls at me, but I rarely knit a swatch. However, in the case of this capricious yarn, I still had to. One thing I can say with 100% confidence: the number of loops should be less than what you usually cast on for a similar model.

3. Appearance of the product.

Of course, when the finished top was treated with a tricky thread (finishing yarn with a slight metallic sheen, very stiff) that tamed its stretchy essence, and returned to its pristine white color after washing, I loved it. The disadvantages of the yarn turned into the advantage of the product: soft, silky, elastic, pleasant to the skin.

4. Product behavior.

I cannot join the numerous complaints that during wear/after washing the product stretches and loses its shape. Maybe a tricky thread helped, or maybe the sample was knitted for a reason, let’s take into account the density of the knitting and the small size of the top, but it holds its shape.

5. Wear resistance of yarn.

Unfortunately, she didn't show herself very well. Since I picked it up and unraveled it several times, the thread quickly became frayed - and this is noticeable on the lower rows. Therefore, we knit “once and for all.” Washing only gentle.

6. Conclusions.

A dress made of bamboo yarn for the summer heat is a good thing. And you need to start knitting it right from the summer. To be on time for the next one. I can’t say that my acquaintance with bamboo yarn was unsuccessful, but I have no desire to continue it.

This top took me less than 2 skeins (100g), in monetary terms - less than 200 rubles.

Bamboo fiber has recently found increasing use in a variety of fields. It is successfully used for the manufacture of fabrics, fillers, and bedding. Relatively recently, fans of hand knitting have had the opportunity to buy bamboo yarn, which has truly unique properties. How does this amazing fiber differ from other materials?

Environmentally friendly raw materials

Bamboo grows in environmentally safe areas: in the tropics and subtropics of Asia, North and South America. Some species are also found in other, less warm countries and regions. Bamboo is considered a very valuable industrial crop. It is used for food and for making dishes. This is an excellent building material and ornamental plant for garden decoration.

This is one of the fastest growing crops, which forms a powerful root system and quickly grows, occupying vast areas. Some of its species give good monthly growth (up to 22 meters); adult plants can reach 38 meters in height.

When harvesting, bamboo is cut down without damaging the roots and top layer of soil. Therefore, the plants quickly recover, and after four years they reach technical maturity. Bamboo is not affected by pests, is resistant to diseases, and does not rot. When growing it, there is no need to use fertilizers and pesticides, which allows you to obtain high-quality and environmentally friendly raw materials.

Modern production methods

High-quality bamboo yarn consists of a large number of fibers. They are obtained in two ways: mechanical and chemical.

In the first case, not chemical reagents are used, but special enzymes - enzymes. With their help, crushed bamboo is converted into raw material, with further processing of which natural fiber is obtained. This method is quite expensive.

The chemical method for producing fibers is used on an industrial scale. Three to four year old bamboo stalks are evaporated and crushed. After this, they are soaked in a strong alkali solution. The finished mass is passed through special filters made of steel or precious metals.

Under pressure, the mass is squeezed out through very small, perfectly smooth holes. Once in the acid solution, the streams quickly harden, turning into thin, even fibers. At this stage, the acid neutralizes the alkali, and the remaining salts are removed by washing. The resulting fibers are twisted into threads.

Unique properties of bamboo yarn

Due to the fact that the hardening process occurs very quickly, the fibers are porous. This structure allows the yarn to absorb water very quickly and evaporate it just as quickly. Bamboo fiber absorbs 3 times more moisture than 100% cotton.

In summer, clothes made from this yarn are cool because a special, pleasant microclimate is created around the body. Thanks to its porous structure, bamboo fabric does not stick to the skin even in very hot weather, and in winter it warms perfectly.

High-quality bamboo yarn has a unique matte shine, which gives knitted items a special chic. It is softer than cotton and much lighter than linen, its quality is similar to silk - just as soft and pleasant to the touch. Bamboo fibers are easy to dye, using less dye than cotton yarn, and the color is rich and long-lasting.

Bamboo is known for its antibacterial properties, which are preserved not only during the production process. Even after 50 washes, 70% of the bacteria that get on the fabric die. Thanks to a natural antibacterial agent, bamboo fiber reduces inflammation on the skin, deodorizes, and prevents the appearance of odors.

At the same time, bamboo yarn is a biodegradable material: if the composition does not include other components, it is decomposed by soil microorganisms without harming the environment. The yarn does not cause allergies and is suitable for knitting children's clothing and clothing for people suffering from asthma.

During knitting, the thread easily slides along the knitting needles, the loops are even. The finished fabric looks neat, drapes beautifully, dries quickly and is practically wrinkle-free. In addition, it has the ability to block ultraviolet radiation, protecting the skin several times better than cotton.

Bamboo fiber is often used in conjunction with cotton, wool, and silk. Bamboo added to wool gives it new properties, making it warmer, lighter, more voluminous and breathable. Cotton, in turn, increases the strength of bamboo fiber and makes it more resistant to stretching. And silk mixed with fiber becomes even more comfortable, soft and delicate.

What is knitted from bamboo yarn?

100% bamboo yarn has properties close to viscose, so it is not very suitable for loose knitting (especially crochet). A beautiful, soft and flowing fabric can be obtained if you take knitting needles No. 3-3.5 for work. You need to knit very tightly.

Some types of yarn stretch when washed, so before starting work, the sample must not only be knitted, but also washed and dried, and only after that all calculations must be made. This will help you get the results you want.

Bamboo yarn is universal, depending on the thickness of the thread and the components included in the yarn, it can be used for knitting winter and summer clothes. It is perfect for any product: thin, tight-fitting turtlenecks and loose sweaters, hats and socks, scarves and jumpers. Any items will be beautiful, practical and comfortable to wear.

In order for clothes to remain attractive, you need to follow important rules for caring for clothes made from bamboo yarn. Bamboo fiber is not strong enough when wet, so it must be washed with extreme care.

Machine wash is allowed only for some types of yarn (information about this must be indicated on the label). But it is better to wash things only by hand and dry them on a horizontal surface, otherwise the product will stretch under its own weight.

The process of producing bamboo fiber is constantly being improved, becoming more environmentally friendly and less expensive. Therefore, today it is enough to simply buy bamboo yarn and evaluate its unique properties.

I have been knitting since childhood and love it. Firstly, you get things that exist absolutely in a single copy. And secondly, while knitting you get so many positive emotions that it’s worth it.

Quite quickly, already in my teens, I began to understand yarn - by touch and by experience, you can better understand how a particular yarn will behave in practice and what exactly should be knitted from it.

Recently a new yarn called "bamboo" has become available.

I found out about it this way: for the hot summer I wanted to knit a top. I found a beautiful pattern and I had a summer skirt to go with it. I went to the section for needlewomen in the House of Public Service. I explained to the seller the requirements that were needed from the yarn: I wanted something natural and light. At the same time, the product should not be rigid either. And they offered me bamboo yarn with the Alize logo.

The selection of such threads is huge. There are a lot of melange colors, those where one color transitions into another very smoothly. Even when you touch this yarn you feel a pleasant sensation.

A strand of bamboo yarn is not single, it consists of many small threads, so knitting with it is not easy, you need to pay attention so as not to leave loops. Skeins usually weigh 100 grams, and approximately 440 meters of thread fit in one skein - this is for those who are used to counting by length rather than by weight. The thread is pleasant, silky, a little cool. I want to warn you right away: it is better to crochet with bamboo wool.

Knitting is not very convenient: the yarn slips, it is difficult to hold, and in a dense pattern, pushing through the loops requires additional effort. In addition, often favorite patterns and openwork weaving, which looks great knitted from wool, for some reason do not look good here. The elastic does not hold its shape well and is inelastic. Patterns like “tangle” or garter stitch work well. Solid stockinette stitch also looks good.

But crocheting is not easy either: the yarn is almost not twisted, the hook clings to the threads and loops.

Products made from bamboo thread tend to stretch and lose shape. Therefore, it is better to immediately knit things a little smaller than needed. Or choose models that fit comfortably and are not tight. have freely hanging elements.

To reduce this ability to stretch, you can add some wool. Or immediately purchase yarn in which bamboo is not pure, but, for example, 80%, and 20% wool.

One more thing that is typical for such a thread: it is undesirable to tie the item. That is, it is better to knit straight away, without making mistakes or making mistakes in calculations. Because after repeated bandaging, the bamboo thread begins to fray and become shaggy.

Must be washed by hand, very carefully. If there is a delicate mode on the washing machine, then you can do it in it, spin - 800 rpm. Dry only in an extended horizontal position. And you need to remember that if an item is damaged during washing, it will be impossible to restore it.

Knitting items from such yarn is very difficult. It is better to take knitting needles or a hook of the minimum size. In any case, 1-2 numbers less than those that you have and were going to knit with.

Knit as tightly as possible. If possible, steam all the parts and only then sew them together.

Wearing things made from bamboo yarn is wonderful! They are soft, pleasant to the body, weightless and cool. It is impossible to sweat in them even in the heat. The item does not become covered with pellets during use, does not become fuzzy, or fluffs. You can’t feel anything on your body (even a dress or a long sundress), this yarn is so comfortable.

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