This is what’s currently on my spinning wheel–it’s carbonized bamboo!
After reading a bit on how to spin it, I tried a couple of techniques. What I finally settled on was to spin it long-draw. The fiber is a bit slippery, kind of like silk, but is not too difficult to work with once you get the hang of it. I spun from the end of the top rather than from the fold, but those of you that like spinning silk from the fold might find that technique a bit easier.
One thing I noticed about the carbonized bamboo is that the end you spin from makes a huge difference. Spinning from one end was a bit of a struggle; the fibers drafted out much easier once I reversed ends!
According to Louet, one of the suppliers of this fiber:
Bamboo carbon fiber, called Black Gold or Black Diamond by those in the industry, is resistant to ultra violet rays and possesses anti-odor properties. It also adjusts well to both humidity and dryness.
A rich grey, with a matte finish but a deep luster, this extremely fine fiber produces a stunning, unique and instantly recognizable yarn.
My plan for this is to spin some singles from some black merino I have in my stash, then ply those with the bamboo. I think the silkiness of the bamboo and the softness and bounce of the merino will make for some lovely yarn!
If you’d like to try out some carbonized bamboo (also know as ‘Black Diamond’), and you can’t find it locally, Paradise Fibers carries it.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
{ 5 comments }