Best yarn for baby blanket knitting

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!

Active Time 20 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Estimated Cost $20

Instructions

1. Babies have sensitive skin and can find wool itchy, stick to soft fibers like acrylic, cotton or bamboo
2. Choose a washable yarn, babies make messes!
3. 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.
4. Make sure you check the dye lots on your yarn to make sure it all matches!
5. 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.

• 

  Lion Brand Babysoft Yarn (200) White Pompadour, White

• 

  Lion Brand Yarn 860-108A Vanna's Choice Yarn, Dusty Blue

• 

  Lion Brand Yarn 761-101 24-7 Cotton Yarn, Pink

• 

  Patons Silk Bamboo Yarn - Sea

• 

  Bernat Baby Blanket Yarn - (6) Super Bulky Gauge - 10.5 oz - White - Single Ball Machine Wash & Dry

• 

  Lion 640-307 Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn , 97 Meters, Mystical

• 

  Bernat Softee Baby Yarn, Ombre, 4.2 Ounce, Pink Flannel, Single Ball

• 

  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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Welcome to Little Red Window! I’m Cassie and I’m a former architect with degrees in architecture, preservation, art and art history who’s never met a craft or knitting project I didn’t like!

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