Yesterday between massive heart-stopping doses of federal courts reading, I had time for a little swatching, with interesting results:
On the bottom you'll see our South West Trading Company Bamboo done up on the 3.25mm needles the pattern calls for. Amazingly, I just about got gauge... actually a hair under stitch gauge and pretty far under row gauge. On top, you see a test swatch done with Baby Ull, the closest thing I could find to a sport weight yarn laying around my stash, done on 3.00mm for some reason. (NOTE that I'm not actually considering knitting Orangina with Baby Ull!! This is only a gauge test!) Anyway, I find the dramatic difference between them sort of stunning:
Granted, the Baby Ull swatch has one fewer pattern repeat, but that's it!
The Baby Ull is teeny and retained much of its texture. Of course, it's wool, an unrealistic candidate for Orangina... but it's superwash at least! On the other hand, I cannot believe how flat the Bamboo became on blocking! See...
The pattern actually looks different with the Bamboo because it flattened out so much, I presume. I can't decide whether it's a good thing or a bad thing. It does make for a nice, thin piece, though.
More general fabric observations: The resulting fabric is soft as a fine lady's cheek, not at all stiff or crisp like the old formulation of Bamboo was reputed to be. It's also incredibly drapey - more drapey than anything I've used before. I wonder if Orangina can be too drapey? All that drape may cause it to seem a bit fancy, and as Lisa points out, may make the neckline droopy.
UPDATE: For the record, here's a little more what my first reaction says: I adore the Bamboo and will definitely keep and use it either way. But maybe I should consider another less drapey, possibly a cotton, yarn for Orangina. It might be better to have a finer-but-stiffer fabric for this top to keep the neck looking perky and keep the whole thing more casual looking. Some good candidates may include 4 ply cotton (recommended yarn), Rowan Cotton Glace, Jaeger Siena, Ornaghi Filati Gong (seems perfect, and in a wide color range, but could only find by the bag), or Karabella Vintage Cotton.
Hmm. I'll be mulling this over, bien sur!
Posted by jess at February 17, 2006 7:54 AMGo for the red! I love the redness of it and I think it will look good on you! =)
Posted by: Jade at February 17, 2006 8:26 AMDrapey seems dreamy. :)
Posted by: Chris at February 17, 2006 8:48 AMwow, that bamboo sure looks pretty huh?
Posted by: uglyagnes at February 17, 2006 8:54 AMThat Bamboo DOES look awfully soft. I used Knit Picks Shine cotton and was very pleased with the result. The only problem that draping can cause on Orangina is a bit of droopy neckline. Since you only seam and inch or two at each shoulder, the wide open neck can sag. Mine did just a bit, but I like the way it looks.
Posted by: lisa at February 17, 2006 9:13 AMOoh, I love bamboo, no matter what (old formulation, soft ones like edil or classic elite or habu), though I'm dying to try this new stuff! But alas, I am not buying yarn right now. It is VERY much on my list, and I think your orangina is going to come out wonderfully -- such a gorgeous color!
Posted by: Michelle at February 17, 2006 9:33 AMI really think for a summer knit like orangina you need to knit it with something drapey - you dont want it to stick to you...that bamboo is a gorgeous color too - and it's just what you wanted! If you make it in wool, it can take on some of the qualities of a pretty and airy baby blanket.
Posted by: Julsey at February 17, 2006 9:50 AMI like the bamboo yarn. I think a good drape should always win out. From what I've seen from most Oranginas, it's the stitch pattern that makes the neckline droop. A stiffer yarn may help but it will probably still droop. I started it with Siena and it still curled.
Posted by: Saun at February 17, 2006 10:00 AMI love the way the bamboo knit up and Im so happy it worked out! I think some people took care of the neckline with the seaming. It drooped a little even with the cotton 4-ply
Posted by: yahaira at February 17, 2006 10:02 AMI love the bamboo - even if you don't use it for orangina it would be great for some lacy project! (And I just checked out your last post - that federal jurisdiction book made my innards lurch. In a bad way.)
Posted by: MeBeth at February 17, 2006 10:06 AMThe bamboo looks beautiful in that stitch pattern. As Yahaira said, even the 4-ply drooped. I seamed mine a bit more than what was in the pattern to counteract it.
Posted by: amy at February 17, 2006 10:10 AMHmm, I used Cotton Glace and my Orangina didn't droop at all!
I agree that bamboo would be a perfect fiber for a summer top but that the neckline might droop. Could you sew in a ribbon inside the neckline to prevent droopiness?
I'm going to have to give bamboo a whirl. Looks great!
Posted by: Gina at February 17, 2006 3:43 PMyou are cruising on birch! i'm not quite as far along as you are, but i'm getting there. 14 repeats to go...
i made my orangina from the rowan 4 ply cotton, and love the way it turned out. you definitely need a yarn that can stand up at the neck- too drapey and you end up with a lumpy cowl looking thing. my lys has had the 4ply cotton on sale for a while now, so you might even be able to get some on the cheap (which doesn't help with stash reduction, but oh well.)
Posted by: jenny at February 17, 2006 5:17 PMI like how the bamboo looks, it looks like it will make a great spring/smmer sweater, very cool, temp wise. I'll have to look more closely at this droopy neckline everyone is talking about...
Posted by: Aimee at February 18, 2006 7:49 AM