The plant-based yarn I won’t recommend again

Have you ever had that quiet feeling that something might go wrong… but you kept knitting anyway, hoping it would turn out fine?

That’s exactly what happened to me with one of my Vivien top samples.

I’d been curious about bamboo yarn for a while, so I finally ordered Lion Brand Truboo - one of the most popular yarns on Ravelry. I knew it could be tricky: slippery to work with, and prone to stretching (kind of like superwash wool). But I wanted to test it myself before recommending it to beginner knitters.

My swatch didn’t change after blocking, which gave me enough hope to go ahead with the full top. While knitting, though, I could already feel how slippery the yarn was. The stitches kept sliding off the needles, and I realized even then that this yarn isn’t something I’d suggest to beginner.

It really requires experience with yarn handling and tension control.

And then came the washing.

The finished top completely lost its shape. The v-neck and armholes (the key details) stretched so much it looked more like a gym tank than an elegant summer top.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

• Bamboo yarn does stretch.

• Even if your swatch looks perfect, the final garment might still change.

• The bigger the piece, the more unpredictable the result. During the test knits, several knitters had the same issue. 

From previous test knits, we already knew that plant-based yarns often grow, especially in sizes XL and up. But I wasn’t expecting this much stretching in a size S. And honestly, it was frustrating to watch a beautifully knit piece lose its shape.

 

So… why are Truboo and other bamboo yarns still so popular?

Because it feels incredible. It drapes like heavy silk. The finished fabric looks elegant: more like something from a boutique than a handmade top.

I also noticed something positive: the fabric turned out beautifully even.

Usually, when you knit flat and then switch to working in the round, the flat section can look a little uneven because of the purl rows. I used to go down a needle size for the purl rows to even it out. But over time, my tension balanced out, and now I use the same needles for the whole piece.

 

How do others make it work?

• Carol, my tech editor, suggested knitting with a smaller needle size.
• Another option might be to shorten the armhole and body lengths right from the start, but that only works if the pattern construction allows for it.

And to be honest, for beginners, that’s not the easiest thing to adjust. It’s hard to know where and how much to shorten, especially if increases are worked into the yoke.

• If you’ve had success with bamboo yarn, I’d love to hear about it. I’d be happy to add your tip to this Esenote on my website so others can learn from it, too.

And next summer, I’ll be testing a new yarn for us. Until then, I’ll stay with the yarns I know and trust like Drops Belle or Sandnes Garn Line. They support your work, and that’s exactly what a beginner needs.

 

♥️ I hope this Esenote was useful and inspiring.

Warm regards,

Julia Piro

Knitwear Designer & Esenotes Curator

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