Berroco's "Bonsai" a review

I had an idea to make a pattern for a new handknit top. I went to Knitterly in Petaluma and chose a couple of yarns to make swatches so I could see if either were suitable. I quickly determined that neither of the yarns were going to be perfect for my idea, but as I knit the swatch with the Berroco "Bonsai" I was inspired to design another top; a simple tank with little shaping, garter stitch edges and a fancy cable going up the front all the way to the V-neck, where it splits up and forms both sides of the front neck border. Sweet! The pattern is being written as I knit along, and I will make it available soon. 

What pleases me about "Bonsai" is its lovely luster, silkiness and fabulous drape. It's not such a thin yarn that I have to use little needles, in fact it knits up quickly on size 7 needles, with very even looking stitches. I think its fiber content; mostly bamboo with a little nylon, is going to be a cool fabric without requiring a lot of fuss. It is handwashable in cool water and dry it flat. Berroco says "Inspired by the rhythmic markings on a bamboo tree, our ribbon yarn is made from cellulistic fiber derived from bamboo. It is woven into a narrow ribbon that is wrapped with a delicate nylon for a touch of high sheen. It's dyed in 9 exquisite shades." Well rhythmic, cellulistic, exquisite it is!

"Bonsai" is a silky yarn and so it comes with requirements; Use wooden needles, or at least plastic needles with a little drag to them, because this yarn slips and slides off of metal needles. You don't want to be losing those precious stitches! Take care of your hands and nails while working with this yarn too, because rough skin or the littlest rough edge on a nail can catch on this yarn, creating a potential for a snag. SNAG is a four-letter word!

Anna Hallquist