Want to find best yarn for baby blankets? These are the best yarns to use for knitting and crochet projects for babies and kids! They’re soft, durable and don’t cost an arm and leg, you’ll love them!
What to consider when looking for the best yarn for baby blankets…
If you’re looking for the best yarn for baby blankets, you’re in the right place! I have quite a few knitting projects for kids and babies on my site, and after doing so many, I’m kind of picky about which yarns I use.
Every once in a while I’ll stray from this list because I can’t find a color I need and I always regret it. (and psst, these great yarns are great for all kinds of baby knitting and crochet projects, not just baby blankets!)
While I can definitely support going to your local yarn store and buying some gorgeous superwash wool yarn for baby blankets if that’s what you like, to be honest, I have a hard time doing that for baby projects for a number of reasons.
First, babies leak. Spit-up, drool, diaper disasters…you name it, it will get on baby items. So I want my items to be as truly washable as possible.
While you can wash superwash wool (hence the name) you still have to be kind of careful with it. But I have tossed acrylic and cotton yarns in the gentle cycle in the washing machine and they’re fine. So there’s that.
Plus, when you give a knitted gift to a non-knitter, they don’t know the right way to take care of wool, it’s easier if you just make it foolproof.
Secondly, there’s the cost. In a perfect world, I’m partial to alpaca or bamboo yarns that are super soft, they really are the best yarn for baby blankets. But they can also be super SUPER expensive. And while I do want the softest yarn for baby blankets possible, babies wear things and use things for such a short time.
I just really really hate to spend a ton of money on yarn for a baby sweater that will get worn 3 times if I’m lucky. I like to save it and spend that money on really really nice yarn for something for me or as a gift for an adult who isn’t going to grow out of it! (But listen, if you really love nice yarn, go for it, I promise I won’t show up at your door with the yarn police or anything.)
And finally, both of my kids have really really sensitive skin. I can relate, I actually can’t really wear wool either. No matter how nice it is, I still find it itchy. To me, wool just isn’t the softest yarn for baby blankets.
So that’s another reason I prefer acrylic, cotton, or other non-wool yarns for babies. It’s super super soft, breathable and won’t bother even the most sensitive skin.
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My recommendations for the best yarn for baby blankets and other baby knitting and crochet projects
If you want recommendations for the best yarn specifically for baby HATS, I’ve got that too!
- Lion Brand Babysoft, this is a sport weight or light worsted weight yarn, comes in pretty pastels and is nice and soft.
- Vanna’s Choice, this is my go-to when I want brighter trendier colors. This isn’t quite as soft as some of the other baby yarns but among 100% acrylic yarns it’s pretty good (I find it softer than Red Heart, for example). I use some of this in most of my baby hats.
- Paintbox Simply Aran, I have never seen a better and larger selection of beautiful colors, this is quickly becoming one of my favorite yarns!
- Paintbox Baby DK, same great selection of colors as the Simply Aran but in lighter weight DK!
- Patons Silk Bamboo, if you want softness, you can’t go wrong with this gorgeous silk/bamboo blend. It has a little bit of a pretty sheen and it’s sooo nice to work with (and only a little bit more expensive).
- 24/7 100% Cotton Yarn, this is what I go for when I want a natural fiber with no chance of itchiness. It’s less soft than acrylic, but still plenty soft and comfy. Just beware, cotton can shrink.
- Chenille Yarn, between worsted weight and bulky, chenille yarns are super soft and knit up quickly. Aa’s aunt made O a blanket and a little teddy bear out of a chenille yarn and they were not only beloved but they held up really well and were super soft and snuggly.
- Thick & Quick Yarn, I’ve been knitting for a long time. But I remember a few years ago, I was buying yarn in my local yarn store and when the owner asked what I was buying it for and I said, “a baby blanket” she got this worried look on her face and said, “do you know that baby blankets take a long time???” Well, yes I did, and for me that was fine. But using a soft bulky weight yarn like this will cut down on the time a lot and make for an extra cuddly blanket.
- Bernat Softee, I’ve been a fan of the Softee line forever, it has a little more sheen than some other yarns and it definitely lives up to it’s name. It’s super soft and snuggly. I especially like this chunky version for quicker projects!
- Alpaca yarn, if you want to spend a touch more and get a natural animal fiber, I almost always choose alpaca over wool. As I mentioned, it doesn’t matter how fancy the wool yarn, it always feels itchy to me especially on my neck, head or wrists. But alpaca has all the beauty of wool with none of the itch! I like this alpaca blend from Patons which is luxurious but a little more affordable.
So, there you have it, the best yarn for baby blankets and my favorite yarns for all knit and crochet projects for babies. Do you have any other favorites that I didn’t mention?
Tips for choosing the best yarn for baby blankets and other baby knitting or crochet projects
- Babies have sensitive skin and can find wool itchy, stick to soft fibers like acrylic, cotton or bamboo
- Choose a washable yarn, babies make messes!
- Don’t spend a million dollars, the baby phase is short and baby items get used hard. Pick a mid-range yarn that will hold up and look nice but is a reasonable price.
- Make sure you check the dye lots on your yarn to make sure it all matches!
- Follow the directions for washing (and pass those directions on to the new parents if the item is a gift). Even if you’re not using wool, cotton yarns, for example, can shrink or colors can bleed!
Best yarn for baby blankets & knitting and crochet projects for babies!
Find out which yarns are the best to use for knitting and crochet projects for babies!
Instructions
- Babies have sensitive skin and can find wool itchy, stick to soft fibers like acrylic, cotton or bamboo
- Choose a washable yarn, babies make messes!
- Don’t spend a million dollars, the baby phase is short and baby items get used hard. Pick a mid-range yarn that will hold up and look nice but is a reasonable price.
- Make sure you check the dye lots on your yarn to make sure it all matches!
- Follow the directions for washing (and pass those directions on to the new parents if the item is a gift). Even if you’re not using wool, cotton yarns, for example, can shrink or colors can bleed!
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Lion Brand Babysoft Yarn (200) White Pompadour, White
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Lion Brand Yarn 860-108A Vanna's Choice Yarn, Dusty Blue
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Lion Brand Yarn 761-101 24-7 Cotton Yarn, Pink
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Patons Silk Bamboo Yarn - Sea
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Bernat Baby Blanket Yarn - (6) Super Bulky Gauge - 10.5 oz - White - Single Ball Machine Wash & Dry
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Lion 640-307 Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn , 97 Meters, Mystical
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Bernat Softee Baby Yarn, Ombre, 4.2 Ounce, Pink Flannel, Single Ball
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Fingering Alpaca Yarn Blend (Weight #2) FINE, Sport, Baby Skeins - Set of 3 SKEINS - 654 Yards Total - 150 Grams - 5.28 Ounces Total
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Joanne Garzia says
My favorite yarn for baby hats, blankets etc. was Plymouth Baby Boutique. They no longer make it, I would like to find something comparable to that yarn.
can you please suggest something similar.
Cassie May says
Hi Joanne! I am not super familiar with that yarn, but my favorite website for this kind of question lets you look up yarn substitutions and here’s what they suggest:
https://yarnsub.com/yarns/plymouth_yarn/baby_boutique Hope that helps! 🙂
Wafa says
Thank you for your recommendations. I’m fairly new at crochet. I need to make a soft baby blanket and I just bought Red Heart Soft but haven’t started using it yet. I’m worried about how it will put up with washes. I don’t want it to fuzz a lot. What do you recommend? Is it a good quality yarn or should I exchange for something else? TIA
Cassie May says
Hi there,
This is not a yarn I have used very much myself. Acrylic can pill with washing but I would suggest looking that specific yarn up on Ravelry and reading some reviews from real life users.
Hope that helps!
Tara says
I can no longer get the lovely soft 100% cotton I used to use for baby blankets. The 24/7 that you’ve recommended … does it feel nice, or is it weigh like crafter cotton? Considering this or the bamboo, but had heard others concerns around care for such a high use item. Thanks anyone who has touched the 24/7 for your feedback!
Tara says
*Rough*, not weigh
Cassie May says
Hi!
Ok, so I think it definitely IS softer than the crafting cotton that people use for washcloths and things (and comes in way better colors). It’s definitely not super soft and squishy like wool though and it’s a bit stiffer than a wool or acrylic, with not as soft of a drape. I liked it for a hat, and it has the advantage of being safe for babies’ sensitive skin or anyone with a sensitivity to wool and easy to wash and care for. But if I was choosing for a blanket (and price wasn’t an issue), I’d go with bamboo. It’s softer and will make a cuddlier blanket. Hope that helps! – Cassie
Linda Williams says
This is my first visit to your site, and I look forward to checking it out. Is there a reason you don’t recommend Caron Simply Soft in all of its varieties? I’ve made many baby blankets out of Simply Soft and have found it to be completely washable and quite durable.
Cassie May says
Hi Linda! Welcome! No, no particular reason other than that I haven’t used it very much and I want to be sure I’m recommending things I’ve had experience with! But if you love it then go ahead and use it! 🙂 Happy knitting! -Cassie
Summer says
I totally agree! Any reason NOT to choose this!
Cassie May says
No reason, I just haven’t used it much. If you like it, go for it!! 🙂
mimi says
thank you for tips of chose material yarn 🙂 .
Heidi says
Hi, I was so happy to see you recommended Patons Silk Bamboo because I love working with that yarn. I’m making my second baby blanket with it. Beautiful but expensive. I haven’t heard from the first mother yet how the blanket washed. Since you say in your blog post that for a baby the yarn must be washable, I’m wondering how you found this yarn to wash? Thanks!
PS. I’m wanting to try an intarsia crochet pattern with Silk Bamboo because of the beatiful definition of this yarn- it looks incredibly beautiful in row after row of single crochet- but I’m hesitant to try a big project like this if it doesn’t wash well.
Cassie May says
I haven’t personally washed it (used for gifts) but I’ve heard it can get a bit fuzzy after washing, but nothing too terrible! These reviews might be helpful in deciding about your project!
https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/patons-north-america-silk-bamboo/comments 🙂
sylvia habulan says
Thank you. Very helpful indeed. My daughter is giving birth in October so I am starting up some projects for the little one coming soon. I’m excited to make a baby blanket, booties and hats. I think I’ll go for bamboo yarn.
Laura says
Has anyone used the Patons silk/bamboo and washed it in a machine? On Amazon it says to hand wash. Thanks 🙂
Pamela Shattuck says
What yarn would you recommend for a baby blanket that will not get knobby ‘pills’ after a few washes. It is sad after doing all the work then to have it soon look scruffy.
Thank you
Lorena Ortiz says
What size crochet hook would you use for the thick and quick yarn?
Cassie May says
I don’t crochet very often, but Lion Brand recommends an N 13 crochet hook for the Thick & Quick yarn. Hope that helps!
Emilie says
Have you used the 24/7 cotton for a blanket before? I like that it’s wash AND dryable!
Cassie May says
Not for a blanket, but I love it for a hat. I think it would hold up really well for a blanket!
Noreen M'Creadie says
I couldn’t find 34/7 yarn on the site
Cassie @ Little Red Window says
Sorry, I meant 24/7!
Noreen M'Creadie says
I am looking for cotton yarn to make cloche style hats for children, the lady used yarnart begonia but I want to use cotton for summer
Cassie May says
I recommend Lion Brand 34/7 cotton, it comes in some great colors!
Leslie says
It makes me so sad that I can’t knit. I’ve tried but everything just gets tied together and not very gracefully I might add, haha.
Cassie May says
Have you ever tried crochet? For some people it’s a lot easier!
Kay says
I tried knitting & couldn’t get it right, moved onto crochet a number of years later & have never looked back!
SarahK says
I used to be a knitter and couldn’t get the tension right for crochet. But after a bit of practice I am now a full-fledged crocheter! It is so much faster than knitting!
James says
Have you tried using a loom … maybe easier …
Francina Thomas says
never stop trying…. it is very relaxing