BB's News / Offer

Bamboo yarn

Bambu 7 spools

BB' s News

Dear Weavers

This month I would like to discuss the bamboo yarn. A lot of weavers seem to be rather skeptical about this yarn. I am actually not quite sure why, is it because the yarn is "man-made" or is it because it is hard to believe that it could actually be a real bamboo plant?

BB Yarn Supply sells a 100% bamboo fibre yarn called Bambu7 TM. It is truly made out of bamboo! Really. The Bambu trademark from Silk City, USA insists on cultivation from sustainable and environmentally-sound vegetation. Bambu yarn is 100% cellulose and similarly produced like a rayon or viscose yarn. It is called "man-made" because the yarn is not spun from fibre. The bamboo is cut into a pulp and then pressed through a very fine jet to produce the yarn. The Bambu yarn is also free of pesticide and chemical fertilizing.

Bamboo is known for its skin friendly abilities. In the shops you can now buy socks, baby ware, T-shirts and underwear made out of bamboo. It is because bamboo has the ability to be suitable for any skin problems. And this is not all, bamboo is also really easy to look after. It can be washed in the warm washing machine with no problems. It might be stiff when it comes out of the machine, but after drying in the shade, all it needs is a good shake and hot iron. The fabric will be back to its normal softness and shine.

Bambu 7 scarves

A fabric woven out of bamboo has a beautiful drape and extraordinary softness. I haven't met anybody who didn't go "uhh" and "ahh" when touching the fabric. It is simply stunning. I always tend to explain to customers that bamboo feels to me like something between silk and tencel.

Can you feel me, yes I love bamboo and I have worked with this yarn many, many times and still not enough. It is one of my absolute favourites.

When I started BB Yarn Supply I always said that I only ever going to have natural yarns for sale. No rayon or polyester. Well I think I still do, because the Bambu yarn is still 100% cellulose or bamboo. There is nothing not natural about it. Let's face it, because it is "man-made" it doesn't mean it's artificial. It is just another way of producing a yarn. Yes, there might have been chemicals involved to produce the yarn. But this doesn't mean the chemicals are still in the yarn. How can it be so good for your skin otherwise?

Baby blanket wrapping

The only thing to be careful with bamboo is the sett for weaving. If you have a too high sett for your project, it can get heavy and you end up with something nice and shiny, but rather heavy. Bamboo yarn has the same feel in weaving like tencel, it is as slippery and flat. There is not much elasticity in the yarn and advise you to loosen your warp, if you not weaving. If you leave a bamboo yarn warp under tension for too long, it will get loose and you end up with tension problems.

My favourite sett for Bambu 7 is 16epi and ppi, a balanced fabric. The yarn comes in 36 stunning colours to choose from. It runs 4247m/kg and a 100g spool goes for $16.90. The yarn is suitable for weaving, knitting and crocheting.

If there is someone out there who is by any chance reading this blog and is not a weaver, maybe a knitter, I would be very interested to hear how the Bambu 7 behaves in other crafts. Let me know at sales@bbyarn.com I would be very happy to have you included into my monthly blog with some productive comments.

Ruthli crackle scarf

Maybe for some weavers this Bambu 7 yarn might be too modern or out of the ordinary. I like to go with the time and try out new things. What is that saying.... if you never, never try, you will never, never know! Have a try and give Bamboo a chance. Click on any Bambu 7 or picture and it will take you straight to the shop.

Happy weaving

Ursula

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Cottolin 20% off colours

Cottolin 20% off

BB's news

Dear Weavers
The old Cottolin range from BB Yarns shop is coming to an end. It is sad in a way, as this kind of Cottolin has been with me for a long time. But it is more exciting to know, that there is the absolutely beautiful and environmentally friendly yarn taking the place of the old Cottolin, the Organic Cottoline range. 
Before we start drooling for the new yarn, the old Cottolin has to go and make place for the new. Out with the old and in with the new. I have now set a deadline. After the 9. 2. 2020 the old Cottolin will be gone and never to be seen again on BB Yarns website.But until then you can get a bobbin of 250g for just $22.50. A bargain!
There are still a lot of beautiful colours left. We still have 
Caramel col.#136
Forget me not col.#167
Purple col.#130
Couch col.#251
Watermelon col.#170
Orange col.#287
Grape col.#168
Teal col.#295
Shamrock col.#327
Looking at these colours, it makes me think of what would I do with them? I would probably go for guest towels or any other hand towels. Towels in Cottolin are very easy to make and they have the right absorbing quality with the cotton and linen fibre in them. Towels in any shape or form are always a great present to bring along for any occasion. Everybody uses towels in their homes. 
My guest towels normally have a size of 40 x 80cm, hem included and I weave it with 20epi (8epcm) warp and weft in plain weave. You could use the different colours and make various stripes through warp and weft. With 4 bobbins (250g) of Cottolin 20% off colours you could make nearly 8 towels, depending of size of course. This would include warp and weft. The colours from the warp will then also be used in the weft. 
Thinking of towels I took the Cottolin 20% off bobbins which are left, out of the cupboard and played with them a bit. I was immediately amazed what options there are. I couldn't stop finding more colour combinations and it made me feel like getting to the board and start warping them up.... But hang on... They are not meant for me, they are for you!  So please feel inspired by the combinations and I would love to see weavers take the opportunity and weave something beautiful.
1.option Cottolin
1. Option: Shamrock, Teal, Grape and Forget me not
2. Option: Orange, Shamrock, Teal, Grape and Forget me not
Sometimes a little bit from the complimentary colour can cheer the colours right up
3.option Cottolin
3. Option: Orange, Watermelon, Couch, Purple and Forget me not
4.option Cottolin
4. Option: Orange, Couch, Purple and Forget me not
This colour combination is option 3 just made a little simpler
5.option Cottolin
5. Option: Caramel, Shamrock, Teal and Grape
My favorite would be option 1, but hang on... option 5 looks really nice too. I also like option 3. Ahh the choice of colours!
The colours don't have to be in this order, they can be in any way you like. 
If you are interested in weaving with those colour combinations, please order as soon as possible. There are not too many of each colour left. Go to Cottolin 20% off or click on one of the pictures above.
I would also like to offer to any weaver who is taking on this challenge to send me some pictures of their work made with the Cottolin 20% off. The pictures will then be posted on this blog with your name on it and promoted on the website and Facebook. The weaver who sends in the pictures will also be rewarded with a surprise gift from BB Yarn Supply. 
Ready to go? Send the pictures to sales@bbyarn.com
Looking forward to hear from you soon.
Happy weaving everyone
Love Ursula
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