knitting with bamboo yarn

[BlueCowBackToWondering]

can someone let me know how bamboo knits up? My mum usually used cotton for my dc (at my request, itchy from pure wool), but there's a load of bamboo being sold off locally, and I'd like to get her some. Label says no. 9 needles. Is there anything else I need to tell her?

Thanks

Hi BlueCow.

It is a bit scary here isn't it. They all produce such lovely things all the time, I feel like I am a bit of a fraud.

However, I have knitted with bamboo before and it is lovely. It is a lot like cotton to knit with (not a lot of stretch or 'give') but it is very soft in comparison, I think.

What brand are you looking at? I have a Patons one which is 50% bamboo and 50% cotton which takes a size 8/4mm needle. Not that it makes that much difference.

Hello BlueCow, I have used Sirdar Baby Bamboo twice and it's really nice. Quite silky looking and really soft to touch. That knits on a 4mm needle too.

so what sort of patterns can I look for for my mum??? Didn't see any specifically for bamboo, I suppose she needs to do a tension square etc.

What sort of wool are you looking at? It is easier if you know the brand of wool and then you can search the manufacturers pattern collection and see if there is anything appropriate.

Alternatively, look at patterns that use the same size needles and have the same no. of stitches in a tension square. It doesn't have to be a pattern for bamboo. It could be for anything so long as it knits up the same size. If she does this your mother doesn't need to do a tension square. (I am probably terminally lazy but I have to admit I have never done a tension square in my life and not had any disasters, thankfully.)

The only time I might do a tension square is if I was using different needles to those advised in the pattern and I wanted to work out whether to knit a different size to the one I would normally do for my DC to compensate.

If you have a wool shop locally you can ask them what they could recommend. Or have a look at ebay. I just did a search of 'knitting pattern bamboo' and came up with something like this. I don't know if you have boys or girls or how old they are but would something like that be appropriate?

thanks niecie, will go and look at label asap (and hope it's not all sold out!)

and thanks for the link, it looks very useful.

There was a whole book of baby knitting in Bamboo a while back, Patons, iirc but on the whole I think you can just knit it as any other yarn, 4.ply or double knitting, it will say on the label what it is. And will give an average tension. I find it a little bit splitty, but it is lovely and soft.

Sirdar seem to have a lot too, Dutchoma.

My only thought is that both the Sirdar and Patons require size 8/4mm needles and BlueCow says the yarn she has seen requires size 9 needles so I am wondering what brand it is.

Sorry to hyjak but soes bamboo crochet well?

I am a crocheter and are wondering as it does seem very soft and lovely for newborns...

I don't see why you can't crochet with it although I am only just learning so I am not expert on it.

As Dutchoma says it does split a little bit but then some of the cottons do and they are usually good for crochet, aren't they? (Sorry a bit clueless)

Bamboo is lovely and drapey when knitted up, nicer than cotton to knit with imo. It is a bit splitty but i've never found it a problem. Where is this cheap bamboo i'm interested

here in Bodenland but hands off SS, I'm going to buy the whole lot for my mum . Going tomorrow morning as soon as they open...

Hello all - new to A&C - I'm more usually found moaning in the parenting section LOL. I reckon you could crochet with it no probs - I knitted a baby blanket with it recently and it came out beautifully. Really soft and drapey. It did split tho - I ended up with double the stitches at one point!

we might now need to set up a 'new to A&C' group for the 2009 first timers, MM and me!

I have crocheted a scarf with it. As others have said, found it splitty but not so much as to be a problem, also not very stretchy like wool is, but looks a lot neater than wool as the stitched look quite defined iyswim!

Am halfway through a tank top with it - and it drapes beautifully and has a lovely shimmer so second everything everyone's said: soft, a bit splitty but pretty. Also though I think depending on the bamboo content is meant to be naturally antibacterial. For how long this trait lasts on a baby I'm not sure!

Did you get your bamboo yarn BlueCow?

Still dithering, not like me at all! The shop still has a lovely mix of colours, and I'd love my dd in those pale stripes.

Am waiting with bated breath for further advice - i bought a job lot of bamboo a few weeks ago as our local dept store is shutting its knitting department and I fell in love with how soft the bamboo was. Sounds like children and baby knits are the best??