Considering Bamboo

 

Bamboo knitting yarn is a relatively new entry in the knitting world, but it has become quite popular very quickly, and with good reason. Bamboo is a beautiful natural fiber that wears well and is often considered naturally antibacterial.

Bamboo is a grass that is harvested and distilled into cellulose that is then spun into the yarn.

Positive Things About Bamboo Yarn

• Bamboo is a renewable resource. Bamboo can be harvested without killing the plant, and it only takes a few months before the plant is ready to be harvested again. That makes it an environmentally friendly choice.
• Bamboo yarn, when not mixed with unnatural fibers, is biodegradable.
• Bamboo yarn is often dyed with more natural dyes that are safer for the environment.
• Bamboo fabric is naturally antibacterial.
• Bamboo also has ultra-violet protective properties.
• Fabric knitted with bamboo is quite breathable and cool and has great drape.
• Bamboo has a good luster, similar to mercerized cotton.
• Bamboo is strong, flexible, and can be softer than silk when spun into yarn.

Potential Bamboo Negatives

• Bamboo yarn loses strength when it is wet and swells considerably in water.
• The yarn may not be very cohesive. Some brands split much more than others.
• Bamboo needs to be hand-washed, so it isn't a great choice for things that need to be washed frequently.

Tips for Working with Bamboo Yarn

• If the antibacterial property is something you are looking for, stick with a 100 percent bamboo yarn or choose one that has at least 70 percent bamboo for best results.
• Use blunt-ended needles to cut down on the splitting (perhaps bamboo needles?).
•  Knit slowly at first to avoid splitting.
• If you're looking for strength in the fabric but are using a fine bamboo yarn, try knitting with two strands held together.

This jacket with long scarf showcases Bamboo's glorious sheen and strength.

 

This outfit is modern and consists of a wonderful sweater with separate cowl. Bamboo adds the shine and gives a perfect weight for the fabric.

In Praise of Cotton

Some people just don’t like to knit with cotton. It’s understandable; there are certainly some things about cotton that are less than appealing.

But there’s no reason to toss out a complete fiber family, unless you’re allergic or sensitive, which is really unlikely when it comes to cotton.

Cotton Pros

• Cotton is a relatively light-weight fiber that is good for summer clothing and accessories.
• It is quite breathable and comfortable to wear next to the skin.
• Cotton can easily be dyed in a dizzying array of colors, so no matter what you’re favorite color is, you’re bound to find a shade of cotton to match your every desire.
• Cotton is strong, durable and machine-washable. It starts out soft and actually gets softer the more you wash it.
• It is usually inexpensive, though you are often rewarded with better quality when you pay a little more.
• Cotton usually holds together well and doesn’t pill.
• Cotton shows every stitch, which can be positive or negative, depending on how you’re knitting that day!

Negatives for Cotton

• Some colors, especially the darker reds, blues and blacks, tend to bleed, which can be a problem when laundering or when used in a project with lighter colors.
•  Cotton holds water really well and gets heavy when wet, so it can stretch and sag when soggy.
• Cotton yarns can be slippery.

• Cotton is inelastic, which can make it difficult for some knitters to keep an even tension and it can cause hand strain .
• Conventionally grown cotton is very pesticide-heavy.

Tips for Working with Cotton

• It’s a good idea to work to a firm gauge with cotton, because the weight of the fiber can cause the work to sag, especially when its wet. You may want to work with a smaller needle than the ball band suggests so that you can get a firmer, more solid knitted fabric.
• Try wooden or bamboo needles if your yarn is splitting or you find it too slippery.
• Always swatch and wash your swatch. This will tell you a lot about how the particular cotton yarn you are working with will act, and whether it is going to bleed. If you’re planning a project with stripes, knit your swatch with all the colors you are planning to use so you’ll know if one bleeds on the others.
• Because cotton can be somewhat bulky, try to start a new ball at the edge of the work rather than the middle.

        Take frequent breaks if you find that knitting with cotton is hard on your hands.

• Adding a tablespoon or so of vinegar to the water when you wash your project the first time can help keep the colors from running.
• Never hang a cotton item to dry, as it will sag. Machine washing and drying are fine, though you might want to take items out of the dryer before they are completely dry. Reshape as needed, and allow to finish drying flat.
• If you’re worried about the amount of pesticide used on your cotton yarn, try organic cotton.
•  If you like yarn with a shine, go for mercerized cotton. 

  

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  This summer sweater is a perfect example of the impact cotton can make. Brilliant color, easy care, and perfect for hot weather!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  A wonderful little summer cardigan in mercerized cotton in a sumptuous orange frappe.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Cyclamen color and a longer
  length make this a wonderful combination with
  your favorite jeans.
  
  

Sometimes loud, sometimes intrusive, but always a funny and unexpected feathered friend. 

 

Meet Kiko. 

I remember my trip to Dallas, Texas as not something I looked forward to. I was sent by my then employer to combine a recruiting trip with a business survey to be conducted in a pet store.

The pet store itself was a miserable place, owned by a couple who had bought it on a whim from a previous owner and really had no idea what they got themselves into. As a result they filled their store with many exotic animals but they were located in a very deprived area, so their offerings did not meet with the real demands of the location.

In the middle of the store they displayed their collection of big parrots. What a cacophony of sound and brilliant colors! And one of them was Kiko. 
I do not know why I simply fell in love with this bird, but I did. And so 18 months old Kiko and I became a pair.

After buying him from the owner on the spot, I then had to get him home to Chicago. 
First we still had to spend the day and night in a hotel, and that is the time I found out the fact no one really thinks about, but birds are true pooping machines! I still laugh, when I think of our time in the Marriott Court Yard Hotel, trying to outsmart the security cameras and housekeeping staff in order to not get caught.

And I think of the irony of having to buy a ticket on an airplane for my big bird to bring him home to Chicago with me, as well as the ride from the airport to my home, which Kiko managed on top of the passenger seat back rest, taking in all the surroundings with great aplomb. I remember the many passing car travelers, who gave us double take looks as they drove by my car spotting a big, colorful bird on the passenger side.

And I definitely remember the day Kiko uttered his first words: High, Kikoboy!
Since then he has become a true chatterbox, telling me "I love you" whenever I need to hear it.