I was just listening Episode 60 of the Lime and Violet Podcast, and near the end they were looking at an etsy site (Gaslight Dyeworks, the username is yarnzombie). That person doesn’t have any 100% vegan fibers, but they mentioned how one of her rovings contained something called Black Diamond, which is carbonized bamboo.
I found another etsy seller that sells 100% Black Diamond, mataharispinnery, and the link takes you to a beautiful picture of what it is with an explanation below. In her words:
“Black Diamond is a Bamboo carbon fiber. Bamboo fiber is carbonized through baking at high temperatures producing an all-carbon fiber with the exact same shape. Black Diamond is resistant to ultra violet rays and possesses anti-odor properties. It also adjusts well to humidity and dryness. Black Diamond is a dream to spin. The top glides from your hand and the natural gun metal grey color is mesmerizing.”
I tried to find more information, but there wasn’t much else there. I’m not sure what this does to the bamboo itself aside from what she mentioned, and what it does environmentally (does it breakdown faster, does the baking process release chemicals, etc). It’s something that I want to keep an eye on, though.
I also found some yarn from etsy seller YarnWyrkz, though it’s way too expensive for me. She seems to be the only one on etsy (that I can find so far) that sells it in handspun yarn form, but there are more entries if you look under roving. I don’t spin and don’t plan on it in the near future, so I’m not interested in roving, though it would be great for thrummed mittens. They grey colour is beautiful, and it looks like it would be wonderfully soft.
Hi,
I have an automated daily google search for my shop name and today it sent me your lovely blog entry. I just wanted to let you know that if you are wanting some of the carbonized bamboo spun up, You could buy some of the fiber and mail it to me and I will spin it up for $25/4 oz. for 100% bamboo and $20/4 oz. if it is blended with wool. (The straight bamboo is more difficult to work with). Plus the cost of shipping of course. I am thinking that it would be cheaper for you that way. The only condition would be that you have to send me a picture of the finished product =)
Anyway, I thought I would just throw that out there for you.
Thanks for mentioning me in your blog!
SIncerely,
Vanessa
Yarnwyrkz.etsy.com
That’s really sweet of you to offer, but unfortunately it would work out to about the same. I’d have to buy the fiber for about 10$, maybe another 3 for shipping, about 5 to send to you, then it’d be 25 for it to come back to me, making 43$. But if I end up employed again sometime soon, I’ll buy from you.