I'm starting the Bonsai Tunic using Berocco's Bonsai bamboo yarn. Does anyone have any special tips or advice on bamboo yarn before I begin? I heard that you should only wind bamboo by hand and not on a swift and winder because of stretching. Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!

I haven't worked with Bamboo yarn, but I asked the same question a few months ago. Never got around to starting the project. I'm pasting below the answer I got from someone. Hope it helps. Main issue people seemed to have with it was splitting easily. As for winding on a swift, it is easy to wind any yarn too tightly on a swift. The main problem is that people allow the ball winder to tension it straight from the swift. You are better off tensioning it through your hands. In other words the yarn should run from the swift to your hands (where you control the tension so it winds loosely) to the ball winder.


Here's what someone posted to my question:
My experience with both 100% bamboo and 100% soy yarn was positive overall. The bamboo I used was a multi-ply yarn and the soy a “tape-type” yarn. Both projects were scarves in open stitch “lace” patterns knit back and forth on #8 bamboo circular needles (not knit in the round). The fibers are very smooth to the touch. At the beginning I had a tendency to stab the yarn causing it to split but that resolved with a little extra attention. Both bamboo and soy yarn are nearly completely inelastic, reminiscent of 100% cotton, so very good tension control is critical to produce even stitches. The knitted fabric drapes beautifully and has a noticeable sheen. Both fibers generally hold shape well but, like cotton, stretch with wearing and recover with washing. The scarves were washed by hand in cold water, and held color well with a minimal amount of dye loss evident in the rinse water. Both fibers seem to hold an excessive amount of water making drying time (even in my very low humidity climate of Central California) longer than for cotton. Both scarves held up well with wearing and maintained good stitch definition that was only slightly diminished over time by fibers working loose over the surface. The knitted fabric from bamboo and soy seem to be heavier than expected. This may be an illusion or perhaps it is due to the fact that the knitted fabric drapes so exquisitely that it’s nearly limp. These fibers seem best suited for designs that can show off their exquisite draping characteristics. Soy and bamboo are cool to wear which makes them good fibers for warm weather. I’d choose to knit with bamboo and soy again.

Thanks so much for the info, Tweedy!

This has nothing to do with knitting, but I have 2 65% bamboo bath towels (with cotton) and they wash and dry just fine. no shrinkage that I could see. VERY VERY soft!!!

Hi Merry Christmas to all. I knitted a sweater with Bamboo. I love it it is soooooooooooooooo soft. The only thing is that it does stretch when it drapes, hangs. I used 100% Bamboo. Good Luck!

Mary Anne