BAMBOO YARN
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Bamboo yarn is incredibly soft and has some great properties. It is quick-drying, which makes it particularly good for things like crocheted cloths. In addition, the bamboo plant is often a more environmentally friendly alternative to, for example, wool or cotton. If you need to use the yarn for cloths, socks, or clothing, I would recommend a cotton/bamboo blend, such as Hjertegarn Blend Bamboo* or the slightly thicker variant Hjertegarn Bommix Bamboo*.
If you are going to crochet a summer project for a baby or yourself, cotton/bamboo yarn is a great choice as it is breathable and not as warm as, for example, wool. If you use Hjertegarn Blend Bamboo* you also get a really nice shiny look that I am absolutely crazy about.
WORTH KNOWING ABOUT BAMBOO YARN
Since the discovery of how to make textiles from the bamboo plant, it has become a very popular yarn quality. The plants are converted into a pulp that is first washed and then spun into fibers, forming the foundation for the yarn. The bamboo plant is a sustainable material as it grows incredibly fast, is a renewable plant, and is most often grown without the use of pesticides.
Bamboo fibers in their pure form are very strong, but in order to turn them into strong yarn, they are blended with other yarn qualities when spun. Most often, bamboo yarn is blended with cotton or acrylic.
Bamboo yarn can be produced in a way that does not harm the environment unnecessarily, but this depends on the entire manufacturing process. During production, the bamboo undergoes a chemical treatment, and the amount of this varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. You cannot, therefore, assume that all yarn qualities are eco-friendly simply because they contain bamboo.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF BAMBOO YARN
There are clearly more advantages than disadvantages when you look at bamboo yarn. Firstly, it is a really soft and light yarn quality that is suitable for many different types of projects. In addition, it is very breathable for the skin (in the same way that wool is), and it is most often a more sustainable material choice than, for example, cotton and wool.
In its pure form, it is 100% natural fibers that are well-suited for people with allergies to either wool or synthetic fibers, such as acrylic. Furthermore, it can withstand machine washing at higher temperatures than, for example, wool, which makes it easier to minimize bacteria.
Because bamboo yarn is breathable and can regulate temperatures, it is also particularly suitable for things like socks, and as a bonus, it is antistatic, which is a good property for feet, as they are often the ones that can conduct electricity via acrylic or wool socks.
The yarn's antibacterial property also makes it particularly suitable for, for example, crocheted dishcloths, cotton rounds, or towels. And again, crocheted socks in bamboo should be mentioned, as it can reduce bacterial infections on the feet.
As you can read, the advantages are many, but there are also a few disadvantages. Bamboo yarn in its pure form is not as durable as when it is blended with another quality, so always look for bamboo/cotton, bamboo/acrylic, or bamboo/wool. And be aware of how the manufacturer produces the yarn if an eco-friendly and sustainable finished product is important to you. Here, it is not enough just to choose bamboo yarn without researching the chemical treatment.