I haven't picked up my spindle in quite a while, mostly because I didn't have much fiber in my stash and money in my wallet. However, last week I found myself picking up my spindle again. My fiber of choice? A ball of purple bamboo I purchased at Wicked Stitch back in July. 
Bamboo is one of those fibers that seemed really scary, for I am used to animal fibers and the one time I tried this fiber before it ended in miserable failure. But after reading a few posts by Sara (A Year at the Wheel), I knew I wanted to give it a second try. Making sure I had minimal distractions I set to work.
As I spun I noticed a few things that are probably unique to bamboo fiber. One, you have to have much more control over our spindle, because if you don't the fibers will pull apart much easier, or they will become overspun and kinky. Two, the fibers pull apart easily anyways. This is the kinda of fiber that comes off in strands instead of chunks, which means that if you draft too much you will end up with very thin strands that may even pull apart later. Finally, when spinning bamboo, you have to spin your spindle a lot faster or once again, the fibers will come apart.
So far I have spun about half of my ball. I plan on going back to Wicked Stitch in the next couple of weeks and buying more, maybe in a second color, so that I may ply the 2 together to maximize my yardage. I am a little nervous (as usual) about how to ply and set the twist, but I know I will overcome it and by summer time I will have a beautiful handspun bamboo scarf!~Lisa
Oh Lisa! This is going to be such a beautiful handspun yarn! I have to finish it ASAP because I cannot wait to see how it looks when you are done. Although I have to tease you because you chose K-State purple. : )
ReplyDeleteI am actually not very fond of kstate purple, BUT I love purple and it was a cool color with the sheen. I am hoping they have a different color at wicked stitch so I can ply the purple with something else!
DeleteBamboo is like that. I like spinning bamboo blends. A little mixed in with some Alpaca is a dream.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a dream! I'll have to find some of that sometime.
DeleteI LOVE how it's turning out! And I'm quite fond of the purple, too! Looking forward to seeing the finished yarn. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I love hearing from fellow spinners :)
DeleteThat color is GORGEOUS! The fiber looks so radiant. I can't wait to see which color you choose to ply it with!
ReplyDeleteYea, I have a feeling they may only have purple at the store I got it at. I kinda want to ply it with some other fiber, but I'm not sure what and since it's so thicky spun if it would even work out.
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