YARN REVIEW: Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo
What kind of yarn is it?
- Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo consists of 80% bamboo viscose and 20% wool. It's a Double-Knitting (DK) yarn but sits on the fluffy end of the scale, and so best used on 4mm needles/hook (US size 6 needles or a f/5 hook).
- The colour range includes 35 shades, with 4 new colours having been added recently.
Who makes it?
The manufacturer is Sirdar Spinning Ltd., a British yarn company established in 1880.
Plus points?
- Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo is one of the softest, smoothest yarns I've ever worked with. It has a slight gloss to it and doesn't split easily as you knit or crochet.
- Despite its softness it gives great stitch definition, making it suitable for a wide range of items.
- The colour range is impressive and includes vibrant brights, neutrals, and pastels.
Negatives?
This is a 80% bamboo viscose yarn which, put very briefly, means that it is a synthetic product. Although bamboo fibre is used as the base material, to become yarn it has to undergo a lengthy and chemically-intensive process that results in large amounts of hazardous waste. Unless this process took place at an Oeko-Tex certified facility with proper waste processing systems, the bamboo viscose is not ecologically sound, nor any "safer" for babies than standard non-organic cotton.
[Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/bamboo-textiles-no-more-natural-than-rayon-1.938759]
I've emailed Sirdar to ask where they source their bamboo from, but unfortunately I haven't yet received a reply. Untill then, despite its name I personally wouldn't use this yarn for baby and children's knits.
What should I use it for?
- Home accessories such as wall-hangings, cushions, or baskets
- Adult accessories such as hats and scarves
Patterns I have used this yarn in:
Please note this is a completely independent review for which I was not compensated in any way, and any links contained in the post are not affiliated with any company.
