I just took a remarkable weekend workshop on eTextiles at SparkFun , home of the LilyPad Pro programed with Arduino (same workshop Inga Marie mentioned). Now I’m full of fiber and electronics questions.

One of the suggestions was to make your soon-to-be-adapted textile out of fibers that wick moisture away from sensitive electronics. Examples given were bamboo and linen.

Apparently fibers like cotton and wool are no-nos, since they tend to hold water and mess with electronics. Unfortunate, since I can find a lot of bamboo/wool or bamboo/cotton combinations.

Now I’m hunting 100% bamboo yarn and bamboo roving, and old-style bamboo (produced like linen) rather than rayon versions. Silk City Fibers has Bambu 7 and Bambu 11 (rayon) for weaving, and SWTC has one line just called “Bamboo” which is 100% bamboo rayon and seems to be still produced.

I think Plymouth has discontinued their 100% bamboo “Royal Bamboo” line, Rowan seemed to have discontinued “Bamboo Soft”. I found some Bamboo Soft for sale online at http://hamptonknittingyarn.com/bamboo_soft.aspx

I’m wondering if this FTC decision is partly responsible for the disappearing 100% bamboo fiber.
“Bamboo” Textiles. Issues, Cases, and Education from the Federal Trade Commission
http://www.ftc.gov/bamboo

Comments

Wed, 01/19/2011 - 03:36

ingamarie

I didn't get the feeling that wool and cotton were really off limits--I've seen several projects that are felted for instance-- just that bamboo might be even better especially in a situation were there is a lot of moisture.  Good luck sourcing non-extruded bamboo, I'd be interested to see it!  I've always been a little leery of the 'green' label that bamboo has gotten. The nice thing about wooly fibers is that they tend to hold the electronics in place.

Wed, 01/19/2011 - 18:06

WitAndWonder (not verified)

Thanks, Inga Marie.  I was worried that it seemed imperative, but you're right, I doubt I'll be trying to make an item that can withstand the damper elements. 

Random: I went to Tuesday Morning today to get baking cups. Found 5 skeins of black, 100% bamboo tape from Panda in the yarn bin so snagged those. 

Wed, 01/19/2011 - 18:53

lkautio (not verified)

Try Habu for non-rayon bamboo and other bast fibers (pricey, but lovely):

http://www.habutextiles.com/webfile/a-45.html

Laurie Autio

Wed, 01/19/2011 - 20:27

ingamarie

I was just going to post that-- check it out!

Habu also has a few other bamboos including tape and one with copper and bamboo (hmmm wonder if it's conductive?) 

http://www.habutextiles.com/webfile/store6.html

and

http://www.habutextiles.com/webfile/store11.html

http://www.habutextiles.com/webfile/store12.html

marie

Sat, 01/29/2011 - 23:10

WitAndWonder (not verified)

Thanks for the suggestions for Habu for non-rayon bamboo. I'm crazy about some of their other things, so will have to look into this. I did find some bamboo tape yarn that might be hollow. Thought I might see if I could conceal wires inside that.

Tue, 02/08/2011 - 19:05

dteaj (not verified)

Unfortunately, the current Habu bamboo yarns are all viscose. I suspected this, but didn't want to say anything without checking. I just received an email back from the owner. They used to have a non-extruded bamboo, but all bamboos they currently have for sale are viscose.

Debbie

 

 

Tue, 02/08/2011 - 19:06

dteaj (not verified)

Unfortunately, the current Habu bamboo yarns are all viscose. I suspected this, but didn't want to say anything without checking. I just received an email back from the owner. They used to have a non-extruded bamboo, but all bamboos they currently have for sale are viscose.

Debbie

 

 

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