| Elsebeth Lavold Bamboucle |
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| Written by Barbara Rottman | |||
 Yarn Name: Bambouclé Review Date: 9/19/2009 Date Introduced to Market: Spring 2008
The Look Bambouclé is a richly textured yarn with a burnished sheen. The subtle bouclé loops give Bambouclé a refined, elegant look. It looks like a yarn destined for “something special.”
The Feel Bambouclé is spongy and responsive; you can feel that it will stand up to cables and maintain its shape. Handling the ball, you’ll find the yarn is somewhat nubby but smooth at the same time. The yarn itself feels a lot like standard cotton yarn. It unplies somewhat readily, but feels firmly spun. Don’t expect pillowy softness from a blend of cotton, bamboo, linen and nylon. This yarn ranks #6 on the softness scale.
The Patterns Elsebeth Lavold features this yarn to show in her “Dreamweaver” collection, a book of patterns that includes 8 patterns using Bambouclé. The cardigans, wraps, sweater dress and vests are distinguished by interesting textures and shapes. For those who live in warmer climates, Bambouclé is an excellent choice for cardigans, pullovers and vests .
Color Range Bambouclé is produced in 23 colors, including subtle naturals and deep autumn tones. The fully saturated dyes take on the sheen of raw silk.
Working It Bambouclé works up to a relaxed gauge of about 18 stitches over 4 inches, similar to worsted weight wool. It handles very much like cotton yarn. The boucle loops are very subdued, and there is no danger of catching the loops in your knitting. The knitting moves a long smoothly and nicely with this quality yarn; there is no splitting or unwinding of the plies. My only gripe is that I couldn’t find a center pull spot for the ball, so I had to put up with a bouncing ball as it knit. Bambouclé has excellent stitch definition. A simple stockinette swatch with garter stitch border looks crisp and sharp. At the recommended gauge, you’ll get a fabric with good drape. What I’d Like to Make with It This yarn is an excellent choice for cables, textured knits, or even plain knitting. It has a subdued texture all its own that is understated and sophisticated. Why not use it for a Chanel-style jacket or cardigan?
Knitting Outside the Box Try a facecloth or bath mitt for a refreshing spa gift. The slightly rough texture of Bambouclé stimulates the skin and leaves it feeling revitalized. Knit up one or several for the teachers, mail carriers, or office workers on your gift list. Give it along with a packet of bath salts or a hand made soap for a complete spa ensemble.
Blocking It Lay flat to dry and avoid stretching. Do not use heat. Even if you do not choose to machine wash Bambouclé (see below), you may want to gently spin on your washer’s delicate cycle to remove as much water as possible before blocking.
Washing It Bambouclé can be machine washed at a cool temperature. If you’re concerned about stretching your garment, remember that careful hand washing won’t harm your knits.
Wearability This cotton blend yarn did not shed surface fibers and should not pill. The swatch did not shrink or bleed. Bamboucle is a quality yarn that promises to look fresh even for a long time to come. Overall Recommendation I rate Bambouclé #8.
Where to buy Elebeth Lavold Bamboucle yarn: Yarnmarket.com
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