Saturday, December 12, 2009

Bamboo Textiles

Did you know that bamboo is being used to make textiles for clothing and towels?

"Once you look at it, bamboo is a very logical choice of fibre for many items of clothing. As well as having excellent strength, shape stability, washability, colorfastness, shrink fastness and being exceptionally comfortable against the skin, bamboo fibre also boasts the following:
* Naturally bacteria inhibiting

*Particularly absorbent and breathable
* Produced without the use of harsh insecticides, serious pollutants"
--from www.bambootextiles.com.au/

The fabric is made in China. The company selling the socks and towels is in Australia. I'd like to try some of these.

7 comments:

suesueb said...

Love those socks! I love to knit with bamboo yarn-it's so soft!! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
p.s. Did you do a red and green theme?

Unknown said...

Yes, I have used the bamboo batting in my quilting and it really is wonderful. I highly recommend giving it a try.

Anonymous said...

Bamboo fiber does have a lovely feel. While the bamboo can be grown without insecticdes, etc. to make the fiber involves a process that is not earth friendly.

Anne said...

Like Marianna said, bamboo is not as good or green as it seems. It is like rayon as it is a regenerated cellulose fibre, not used direct from the plant fibres like cotton and linen. There are many chemicals and a lot of water involved in that process!

Edith Bieri-Hanselmann said...

Hi Karen
I have knitted 2 pair of socks with bamboo yarn and I really love to wear them.
Edith from Switzerland

karen @ badlandsquilts said...

I use the bamboo batting for runners & baby blankets... it is a bit thinner and nice drapability for quilts for little ones... it reminds me a bit of the feel of tencil fabric or a tyvek envelope, very strong.

Banaghaisge said...

I have got bamboo socks and also undies and singlet tops. They feel gorgeous! I have also used the bamboo batting - beautiful and drapey. Like working with silk. And as for knitting - fabulous to work with!
Marianna is right about all the chemicals (despite what they say) to get it from plant to fibre there is the bigger advanatage of no pesticides, and being able to grow 3+ crops/year with far less water than cotton needs (and so important here in Australia where we are heading into another drought year (is this the 8th or the 9th? Losing track. Dam is empty still...
Congratulations on another beautiful quilt published!
Hugs,
Jasmine