For the first time, I have just used a 100% bamboo yarn of 10/2 ne count, as a warp thread.  On first feeling of the yarn it felt good and strong, but after sleying and threading (warping front to back), the threads began to fray and many of them then pulled apart very easily.  Is this a characterisitic of the yarn or my warping?!!

Comments

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 17:41

laurafry

How tightly is it spun?  I've had no problems with the 8/2 bamboo yarn from Halcyon, but it's very tightly twisted.  The Bambu 12 from Silk City is much more loosely twisted and does break at times....

cheers,

Laura

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 18:37

Dawn McCarthy

I have used the bambu 7? from Silk City, very loose, biggest problem was splitting thru the yarn when threading heddles.  Otherwise minimal breakage.  

Dawn

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 18:39

mneligh

I have used UKI Bamboodle as warp.  I would call it medium spun and it did not fray for me.  It is significantly heavier than what you mention, which means fewer passes of the reed, which may be a factor.  I also did not use it under extreme tension, only medium tension.  Linen (dry spun, I'm guessing), handled by me in the same way, frays badly.

I have used my handspun bamboo for both weaving and knitting, and I don't think I could use it as warp, unlike many of my animal fibers.  I'm typically a low-twist "softness" spinner.  With wear, that yarn "pills" much like merino.

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 19:56

Dawn McCarthy

Bear in mind that warping front to back means the yarn travels twice through the reed/heddles.  So with a loose yarn you might want to consider warping back to front - it is gentle to loose yarns as the path is only traveled once!

Dawn

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 21:54

Mike (not verified)

I'm based in the UK so cannot compare with the yarns mentioned in previous posts. But I think the answer to my problem is in Laura's response and is related to the looseness of the spin. The yarn doesn't so much snap as gently separate, rather like pulling cotton-wool apart. I'll switch back to Tencel for the warp and use the bamboo for the weft. Thank you all for your advice.
Wed, 04/04/2012 - 21:58

laurafry

Yes, loosely spun yarns just don't stand up to the tension of weaving as warp.  I generally save those for weft.  :)

cheers,

Laura