Are you thinking of crocheting a baby blanket? That’s a thoughtful gift for a baby. You must already be imagining how super cute the little one will look swaddled in it.
But before going for that irresistibly sweet pastel-colored yarn you spotted at the store, there are more critical qualities you want to look for in a yarn other than a trendy color.
What should you consider when choosing yarn for crochet baby blanket? A good baby blanket yarn should be soft and warm, but durable enough to withstand a lot of wear and washing. Traditional baby blanket yarns are often DK, sport, light worsted weight, but with the right pattern, there’s a lot of room for flexibility.
You’ll want to think about the texture, functionality, washability and durability of the finished project.
If it’s your first time crocheting baby items, you probably have meager knowledge and experience with yarn suited explicitly for babies. That is why we have dedicated this article to help yarn crafters like you find the best product effortlessly.
You can skip the laborious process of sifting the vast collection of yarn and go straight to our round-up of 7 best yarn crochet baby blankets. If you’d like some insights for picking the most baby and mommy friendly yarn out there, then read on.
Crochet Baby Blanket Yarn: What To Look For
All right. So you want to crochet a baby blanket. What yarn is right for the job?
When it comes to baby blankets, several materials will work, but you still want to take some considerations into account to ensure baby is warm and comfortable.
Texture
For starters, a functional baby blanket emulates a mother’s embrace. It is cozy, cuddly, and warm.
Therefore, your choice of yarn must feel feather-soft on the baby’s delicate skin, which is a plus for you. A silky smooth texture is nice on the hands when crocheting, and in many cases is actually easier to work with.
Allergens
When you think of a warm fiber, what comes into your mind? Probably wool. However, wool isn’t the best choice for a baby’s blanket.
A baby’s skin is fragile, delicate, and sensitive. While there’s still controversy on whether a wool allergy is real, it’s best to keep it off babies till that is cleared, especially if you find it itchy yourself even as an adult.
Weight
Your yarn weight, rather than the fiber, determines how dense the blanket you intend to crochet will be.
What type of blanket are you aiming for? Is it a medium weight everyday blanket, a winter blanket, or a lightweight summer blanket? Yarn weight ranges from 0 to 7, seven being the chunkiest. Not sure what hook to use? We have a guide.
Either way, you want to be sure your blanket does not have too many large gaps as part of the pattern. This isn’t time to show off your lace skills.
If you’re worried your pattern may be too roomy, use a thinner yarn or even a smaller hook and adjust the gauge with the pattern’s guide.
Care
Babies may be small, sweet, and completely harmless, but you won’t believe the kind of mess they are capable of creating. Unfortunately, that cute blanket will be on the receiving end of milk spit-ups, leaking diapers, and drooling.
Whether you are crocheting a baby blanket for your first child or making a gift for someone else, any new mom will appreciate something they can just throw into the washing machine and tumble dry when such unpleasant surprises strike.
Handwashing will only add to the many demands and chores of motherhood, so choose a yarn that’s easy to launder and care for.
Durability
Lastly, the best yarn for crochet baby blankets is durable. It’s such a shame to spend a lot of time and effort on something special only for it to tear, pill, fuzz, shrink or lose shape after a few washes.
With these few tips in mind, here’s a list of top seven yarn recommendations you can conveniently order online to get you started.
The 7 Best Yarns For A Crochet Baby Blanket
Now that you know what to look for in a baby blanket yarn, we have a few suggestions to help you narrow down the wide array of yarns available to you in this day and age:
| Rank | Product | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Lion Brand Baby Soft Yarn | Acrylic nylon blend DK weight |
| 2. | Bernat Softee Baby Yarn | Acrylic light worsted weight |
| 3. | Red Heart Soft Baby Steps Yarn | Acrylic medium worsted weight |
| 4. | Caron Simply Soft Yarn | Acrylic satin medium weight |
| 5. | Lion Brand Pound of Love | Acrylic medium to worsted weight |
| 6. | Lion Brand Cotton Blend | Polycotton blend (50-50%) DK weight |
| 7. | Bernat Baby Blanket Yarn | Chenille polyester bulky |
We’re sure any one of these would make a fabulous finished project. Read on for more about these lusciously soft skeins!
1. Lion Brand Baby Soft Yarn
True to its name, this yarn is reasonably soft and lightweight, perfect for baby items. This yarn is DK weight and 3-ply, ideal for a lightweight summer baby blanket.
Lion Brand’s Baby Soft yarn is an acrylic nylon blend, which makes it as soft as the name implies. The skein measures 459 yards, or 5 oz, for solid colors. There’s a variety of pastel colors in solids and exciting prints, such as circus and twinkle.
If you’d like yarn with some sparkly oomph, there’s the pompadour with a pretty silverish streak. Though you should be warned you may get less with a print.
You will probably want a size G/6 US (4mm) crochet hook to work with this yarn. You can work it up fairly easily – and it will be machine-washable at the end, too!
2. Bernat Softee Baby Yarn
If there’s one brand that is serious about giving babies a premium textile experience, it’s got to be Bernat.
We particularly chose this one because it is OEKO-TEX certified. That means the yarn is absolutely safe for babies having undergone a rigorous testing process for hundreds of toxic substances.
The light worsted weight yarn is acrylic. It is not only lightweight, but incredibly soft. Again, it’s perfect for baby blankets.
Each skein has 362 yards or about 5 oz. This should also work well with a G/6 (4mm) hook.
We also loved that it comes in a variety of solid and ombre shades with special colors such as peach, lilac, fern, aqua, mint, and mauve. You can machine wash and dry your creation too.
3. Red Heart Soft Baby Steps Yarn
Red heart has a lot of superior quality yarn, and this is just another one of the greats.
If you’ve used the Red Heart Soft and Red Heart Hugs, which are really soft, then this 100% acrylic yarn is much softer than the two. It feels like silk on the skin.
It is also easy to crochet, though one minor drawback is that it doesn’t pull from the middle. That’s a small price to pay for a quality yarn with no knots, and that doesn’t split.
You get 205 yards or 4oz per skein with a good number of muted color options. This medium worsted weight yarn pairs perfectly with an H/8 or even I/9 hook. Depending on your natural gauge, G/6 will work, too.
You can launder the blanket in a machine with no worries that it will deform.
4. Caron Simply Soft Yarn
Fans of slick finishes will love this yarn from Caron. It is super soft and also has a subtle luster that will look lovely on any crib.
This medium weight skein guarantees warm baby blankets and you’ll get 6 oz and 315 yards each.
The array of colors from this Caron yarn is perhaps its best selling point next to softness and durability. There’s a myriad of colors to choose from: saturated jewel tones, neutrals, and muted shades.
It is easy to care for by machine and will not pill, though it may fuzz a little after regular washing. An H/8 (5mm) hook is probably the best for use with this yarn.
5. Lion Brand Pound of Love
Pound of Love is a premium quality acrylic yarn that is so soft and plentiful.
The yardage is 1020 and weighs, you guessed it, 1 pound. That’s ample yarn for one cuddly baby blanket from a single skein – no need to gamble with dye lots or keep running to order more skeins.
We also love the traditional baby colors it comes in.
Being a medium worsted weight yarn, it is ideal for a warm baby blanket using H/8 or I/9 crochet hooks. Though as a slightly thicker. yarn than the
It takes a machine wash quite well and lasts long.
6. Lion Brand Cotton Blend
100% cotton might be too stiff for a baby blanket, but a polycotton blend like this “cake” from Lion Brand is a match made in heaven. It is 50% cotton and 50% polyester with a cushiony softness.
You get 7 ounces, or 392 yards, in one cake, which is an economical buy. The warm and cool color schemes in each variegated skein merge beautifully and look really stunning.
The gauge 3 DK weight yarn is also light and easy to crochet. A J/10 US (6mm) hook is generally recommended with this yarn, but we suggest you go smaller, to an H/8 or even a G/6, for a tighter baby blanket stitch.
Some splitting is expected as with most poly-cotton blends, but the gorgeousness and softness of the finished crochet baby blanket are worth it. You can even throw it in the washer when it gets soiled, and the colors won’t run.
7. Bernat Baby Blanket Yarn
If a fuzzy soft chunky yarn is what you are after, this fits the bill. The 100% polyester yarn has a chenille texture that feels and crochets beautifully, whether you go for solids or variegated shades.
The super bulky gauge 6 strands make the best yarn for crochet baby blankets that are snuggly and heavy for winter.
For tight stitches, an L-11 (8 mm) crochet hook is recommended. That way, those tiny fingers won’t wiggle through the blanket.
You get 72 yards from the small 3.5 oz ball, but economic and enthusiastic crafters can settle for the 10.5 oz ball for 220 yards.
Related Questions
Which Is the Best Yarn Fiber For a Crochet Baby Blanket?
Acrylic and polyester fibers are soft, warm, and reliable to work with. They won’t fade, pill, fuzz, and cleaning the finished product is such a breeze. They are also resistant to stains.
If the thought of going 100% synthetic irks you, you can do blends such as poly-cotton or acrylic-cotton. They are the best fibers for crochet baby blanket.
Cotton is the most preferred natural yarn for baby items. It is soft, hypoallergenic, warm, absorbent, and easy to care for. However, cotton can be a little stiff after a few washes and is also susceptible to stains.
Wool provides excellent warmth but may feel too itchy. It is also prone to shrinking and needs special attention when washing, which is impractical for new mothers strapped for time.
How Much Yarn Do You Need To Crochet A Baby Blanket?
It depends on the blanket type. Is it a receiving, swaddling, or crib blanket? Do you want the blanket to continue functioning as a lap blanket until the child gets older? Each type varies in size. Your pattern will always point out how much yardage is needed.
The weight of the yarn also determines how much yarn you will use. Ideally, 900-1500 yards should be sufficient for a baby blanket project.
You are now fully equipped to pick the best yarn for crochet baby blanket. As a rule of thumb, always craft a small swatch sample and launder it to ensure it will not turn scratchy and dull before going all-in with yarn. Good luck!
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