Bamboo yarn and needles

Bamboo yarn is a soft fiber similar in qualities to cotton. In fact, it is often blended with cotton. It has no crimp or elasticity on its own. However, it is also milled with nylon (Crystal Palace Bamboozle) which gives it the same memory as wool. Use it for chemo hats and scarves, baby clothing and blankets, purses, socks, etc. It is machine washable and dryable.

 

Bamboo needles are also made from bamboo. There are several advantages to bamboo needles. They don’t slip out of the stitches like aluminum. They also do not pull the warmth out of your hands like metal needles so are easier on your hands for those marathon knit-ins or for arthritic hands. They come in size 0 – 17. The smaller sizes tend to warp and bend with use. 

Blends are two or more fibers combined into one yarn. Blends of yarn are infinitely numerous in combinations and qualities. Some blends are milled by combing the fibers together and then spinning. Some blends are achieved by plying one strand of one fiber with one strand of another (Crystal Palace’s Musique). Blends like Brown Sheep’s Lamb’s Pride of wool and mohair make excellent felting yarn. Sock yarns often have nylon blended into them so they will have memory which eliminates sagging and make them more durable. The skein sleeves on yarns sold in the USA must give the fiber content along with their percentages. Check them to see if the combinations will work in your project.