Babies just look so darn cute wrapped up in a blanket!
The parents will so appreciate a hand-knitted baby blanket made with soft cuddly fiber. Plus the little one will be nice and snug. In this post, we share the best Baby Blanket yarn, making sure it is the softest and snuggest.
In a hurry? I say the best baby blanket yarn for most people is Bernat Baby Blanket Big Ball.
At A Glance: Our Recommendations For The Best Baby Blanket Yarn
- Bernat Softee Baby
- Bernat Baby Blanket Big Ball
- Lion Brand Babysoft Yarn
- Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice
- Universal Yarn Bella Chenille
- Lion Brand Yarn Jiffy Thick and Quick Yarn
- Caron Simply Soft
- Knit Picks Brava
- Patons Silk Bamboo Yarn
- Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton
- Bernat Handicrafter Cotton
- Knit Picks Simply Cotton Organic Worsted Yarn
- Knit Picks Comfy Fingering Yarn
Note: Clicking the above links will take you to further information, current prices and customer reviews on Amazon and Knit Picks.
When Only Soft And Squooshy Yarn Will Do
When knitting what will be a treasured item, you want the best fiber for the job.
These are all the qualities you would be looking for, in baby blanket yarn – Soft, cuddly, lightweight, functional.
Sometimes you might be wanting to create something beautiful, a keepsake.
Most of the time, you’d like the coverlet to keep a bundle of joy comfortable, cozy and snug.
That means that you have to consider what small babies do to their baby blankets!
There are bound to be occasional diaper disasters, leakages, drooling, etc. Ah, the joys of newborns in the home!
The best baby blanket yarn can handle being washed many times.
Table of Contents
- Things to Consider In The Best Baby Blanket Yarn
- Is The Yarn Washable?
- What Yarn Will The Parents Like?
- How Much Are You Willing To Spend?
- Is The Baby Sensitive To Wool?
- Remember Babies Always Put Things In Their Mouths
- What Season Will The Baby Arrive?
- So What Is the Best Yarn For A Baby Blanket?
- Yarn Brands That Knitters Swear By For Baby Blankets?
Things To Consider In The Best Baby Blanket Yarn
Is The Yarn Washable?
As much as parents want to look after the beautiful hand knitted blanket you’ve given them, they probably won’t have the time or energy for handwashing.
The best fiber for newborn blankets must be machine washable. It won’t be washed just once but many times.
While superwash wool is machine washable, you still need to be careful.
Choose a product that can not only be machine washed (and ideally tumble dried) but can withstand at least a 40°C normal wash. Cotton yarns, some linens, commercial sock yarns, and other superwash wool blends are a good choice for this reason.
If you’ve done some testing with your swatch in warmer machine washing settings and it came out fine, tell the parents. Knowing this will give the parents peace of mind to know they won’t ruin your hard work.
The issue with hot washing is some animal fibers can felt, and all the beautiful stitch work disappears! Man-made fibers can become scratchy and floppier if exposed to high temperatures.
Knitters have found acrylic and cotton yarns come out well when washed many times.
Some acrylics can become softer when a little fabric softener is added when washing it.
Acrylic yarns can be scratchy to work with, so it is best to knit up a swatch, wash it with the fabric softener and check the results. Red Heart Super Saver Yarn is a popular acrylic brand.
If you go cotton, get a blend. Some only cotton can be very stiff and your hands will tire much faster while knitting with them.
SHOP AT KNIT PICKS >>
What Yarn Will The Parents Like?
As babies don’t get a say in the decor of their nursery or the clothes they wear, the coverlet you knit will need to appeal to the parents.
Colorwise, most parents have their choice of colors for the nursery chosen well in advance. Take notice of their chat about color choice and then incorporate those baby blanket yarn colors. It might not be the traditional pink or blue.
If they haven’t hinted it already, straight up ask them which they prefer. It will prevent anything awkward.
An option to add different colors that work well together is to choose variegated yarn. Clever dyers have already decided which colors work best in a variegated yarn.
If you already know the parents find wool uncomfortable, opt for cotton/acrylic blends or acrylic.
How Much Are You Willing To Spend?
There are many gorgeous baby blanket yarns, such as alpaca or bamboo that are super soft but can be expensive. Acrylic or non-wool yarns such as cotton tend to be a little more affordable. Price can be important and shopping a sale can save money.
Throws for babes are often well used during the first year, but after that, they might not be used anymore.
Any left over yarn could be used in baby accessories such as hats or other knitted items.
Is The Baby Sensitive To Wool?
It’s essential to check with the parents to see if they have any sensitivities to wool. More often than not, if they do, so will their boy/girl child.
Cotton/bamboo or cotton/acrylic blends are highly recommended by knitters. These yarns are washable, stain resistant, soft and allergen-free. They’re lovely to knit with.
Luxuriously soft chenille-style yarn is also a good choice.
Remember Babies Always Put Things In Their Mouth
Babies explore their environment through their mouth. Whatever they can grab, goes to directly to the mouth to be sucked or licked.
You should avoid novelty yarns as a choice for baby blanket yarn, as they are fluffy and shed. A parent will be none too happy if they see their child choking on a yarn furball!
What Season Will The Newborn Arrive?
Babies are not able to regulate their body temperatures very well. They are notorious for wriggling out of swaddling and kicking off covers. Choose a baby blanket yarn that suits the season.
Match the weight of yarn to the size of the cover. If the it is too big, it will be folded in half or worse quartered. This means the blanket would be more like 2 or 4 covers.
If the tiny tot is due in the warmer months, have a knitted lightweight blanket made in a cotton blend.
For a child born in the colder months (who is not sensitive to wool), a knitted coverlet gift made from superwash wool such as merino would be ideal.
What Type Of Yarn Is Best For Baby Blankets?
As there are many types of yarn available out there, it can be hard to know which to choose. To answer that, we searched high and low for the best recommendations.
Turns out, Knitters recommend Acrylic or Cotton Blends for their softness and machine washability. These types come in a variety of colors and are relatively inexpensive.
A great tool to stop your balls of wool from moving all over the place when knitting up your blanket is a yarn bowl.
How much yarn do I need for a baby blanket pattern?
Generally, 2 balls of chunky yarn, such as Bernat Baby Blanket Yarn 10.5oz is enough to knit a good size blanket. When knitting with a medium yarn such as Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton yarn, 9 balls would make a good size.
How Many Balls of Yarn for a Baby Blanket?
Most patterns will show the yardage of yarn required to complete the blanket. To determine how many balls of yarn for a baby blanket, find on the label how many yards it includes.
On the pattern see how many yards of yarn are mentioned, divide that total by the amount on your label and you will get a guide to how many balls of that yarn you’ll need.
For example if you were to make the Knit Picks As Sweet As Honey Receiving blanket measuring 28″ x 36″ it requires 1,526 yards. A ball of Brava Worsted is 218 yards, so if you divide 1526 yards by 218 you’ll need 7 skeins.
Yarn That Knitters Swear By For Baby Blankets
As knitters we are often asked “What is the softest yarn to make a baby blanket?”
The following recommendations are all soft. The softest would be Bernat Baby Blanket Big Ball.
The yarns below are highly recommended by knitters. They are listed in what material the yarn is made from.
Acrylic
Bernat Softee Baby – 100% acrylic, soft to touch and machine washable. Machine Dry. There is range of lovely pastel colors and marl options.
Brand: Bernat
Product Line: Softee Baby
Yarn Weight: Light (3)
Material: 100% acrylic
Care: Machine Wash
Skein Weight: 5 oz. / 140 g
Yardage: 362 yd. / 331 m
Knitting Gauge: 22 sts – 30 rows = 4″ (10 cm)
Crochet Gauge: 16 sc – 19 rows = 4″ (10 cm)
Suggested Knitting Needle: 4.00 mm, US – 6
Suggested Crochet Hook: 4.00 mm, US – G/6
Bernat Baby Blanket Big Ball – 100% Polyester, luxurious, soft, chenille-style yarn. The 10.5oz/220yards ball means you can make a decent size chunky baby blanket very quickly. Babies love the soft texture of this yarn!
Bernat Baby yarns are Oeko-tex certified and proven to be safe for your little one’s sensitive skin and perfect for these types of projects. Learn more here.
How many balls of Bernat yarn do you need for a baby blanket?
– For most tiny tot blankets you will need 2 balls of Bernat Blanket Yarn 10.5 oz. This will make a blanket approx 34″ [86.5 cm] wide x 36″ [91.5 cm] long.
Brand: Bernat
Product Line: Baby Blanket Big Ball
Yarn Weight Category: Super Bulky (6)
Material: 100% Polyester
Skein Weight: 10.5 oz. / 300 g
Yardage: 220 yd. / 201m
Knitting Gauge: 8 sts – 13 rows = 4″ (10 cm)
Crochet Gauge: 8 sc – 8 rows = 4″ (10 cm)
Suggested Knitting Needles: 8.00 mm, US 11
Suggested Crochet Hook: 8.00 mm, US L/11
Lion Brand Babysoft comes in two different yarn weights, sport weight or light worsted. Plenty of pastel colors to choose from and as you’d expect, it feels soft to the touch. Made from 60-Percent Acrylic, 40-Percent Polyamide materials. Machine Washable.
Brand: Lion Brand Yarns
Product Line: Babysoft
Yarn Weight: Light (3)
Materials: 60% Acrylic, 40% Nylon
Skein Weight: 5 oz. / 140 g
Yardage: 459 yd. / 420 m
Knitting Gauge: 22 sts – 30 rows = 4″ (10 cm)
Crochet Gauge: 16 sc – 20 rows = 4″ (10 cm)
Suggested Knitting Needle: 4 mm, US – 6
Suggested Crochet Hook: 4 mm, US – G/6
Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice – has a wonderful variety of brighter trendier colors. It isn’t quite as soft as some of the other yarns, but among 100% acrylic options it’s pretty good. Machine washable and dryable.
Brand: Lion Brand Yarns
Product Line: Vanna’s Choice
Yarn Weight: Medium (4)
Materials: 100% acrylic
Skein Weight: 3.5 oz. / 100 g
Yardage: 170 yd. / 156 m
Care: Machine Wash and Tumble Dry
Knitting Gauge: 16 sts – 22 rows = 4″ (10 cm)
Crochet Gauge: 12 sc – 15 rows = 4″ (10 cm)
Suggested Knitting Needle: 5.5 mm, US – 9
Suggested Crochet Hook: 6 mm, US – J/10
Universal Yarn Bella Chenille is super soft and snuggly. This falls somewhere between worsted weight and bulky. Using bulky yarn means the newborn cover will knit up quickly. Chenille-style yarn is machine washable but not dryable.
Brand: Universal Yarn
Product Line: Bella Chenille
Yarn Weight: Super Bulky (6)
Material: 100% Polyester
Skein Weight: 100gm
Yardage: 131 yd.
Care: Machine wash. Do not tumble dry.
Knitting Gauge: 10 sts – 14 rows = 4″ (10cm)
Crochet Gauge: 9 sc – 9 rows = 4″ (10cm)
Suggested Knitting Needle: US Size 10.5 (6.5 mm)
Suggested Crochet Hook: (8 mm) US – L-11
Lion Brand Yarn Jiffy Thick and Quick Yarn– Using a soft, bulky weight like this will cut down on time taken to knit. It’ll make for an extra cuddly blanket.
Brand: Lion Brand Yarns
Product Line: Jiffy Thick and Quick Yarn
Yarn Weight: Super Bulky (6)
Material: 100% Acrylic
Skein Weight: 5 oz / 140gm
Yardage: 84 yd / 76m
Care: Machine wash. Machine dry.
Knitting Gauge: 8 sts x 10 rows = 4″ (10cm)
Crochet Gauge: 6 sc x 6 rows = 4″ (10cm)
Suggested Knitting Needle: US Size 17 (12mm)
Suggested Crochet Hook: (10mm) US P-15
Caron Simply Soft – 100% acrylic and comes in a large range of fun colors with sheen. Soft to touch. Gentle machine wash and gentle dry.
Brand: Caron
Product Line: Simply Soft
Yarn Weight: Medium (4)
Material: 100% Acrylic
Skein Weight: 6 oz / 170 g
Yardage: 315 yds / 288 m
Care: Machine wash delicate cycle. Machine dry delicate cycle
Knitting Gauge: 18 sts and 24 rows = 4″ (10cm)
Crochet Gauge: 13 sc and 14 rows = 4″ (10cm)
Suggested Knitting Needle: 5 mm (U.S. 8)
Suggested Crochet Hook: 5 mm (U.S. H/8)
Knit Picks Brava – 100% acrylic that comes in a broad range of bright colors. Soft and easy to work with. Machine Washable and Dryable on low. Make sure you check the dye lots on the label to make sure it all matches!
Brand: Knit Picks
Product Line: Brava
Yarn Weight: Medium (4)
Material: 100% Premium Acrylic
Skein Weight: 100gm
Yardage: 218 yd.
Care: Machine Washable/Tumble Dry Low
Knitting Gauge: 4.5 – 5 sts = 1″
Crochet Gauge: 11–14 sc = 4″
Suggested Knitting Needle: US 7 – 8 needles (4.5mm-5mm)
Suggested Crochet Hook: I – K hooks (5.5 mm-6.5 mm)
Click To Learn More / Buy From Knit Picks
Silk/Bamboo Blend
Patons Silk Bamboo – Soft to the touch with the beautiful Silk/Bamboo blend, 70% Bamboo and 30% Silk in a range of colors.
Brand: Patons
Product Line: Silk Bamboo Yarn
Yarn Weight: Light (3)
Material: 70% bamboo, 30% silk
Skein Weight: 2.2 ounces / 65 grams,
Yardage: 102 yards / 93 meters
Care: Handwash, dry flat.
Knitting Gauge: 22 stitches by 26 rows = 4×4 Inch
Suggested Knitting Needle: Size 6 (4mm) needles
Suggested Crochet Hook: Size G-6 (4mm) hooks
It has a pretty sheen, and it’s is lovely to knit with and makes a beautiful fabric. A little more expensive than an acrylic but when it’s for the special bundle of joy in your life, it’s so worth it.
It is best to hand wash and lay it out flat to dry away from sunlight. This means a little more laundry care, to keep the knitted blanket in good condition and to make it last.
As the yarn is four-ply and it’s slippery, take your time when knitting as the yarn could split into the separate strands.
Bamboo, Wood or Plastic needles are recommended to use with this yarn, as they have a little more tooth and makes a slippery fiber blend easier to knit.
Cotton
Lion Brand Yarn 24-7 Cotton Yarn – This 100% cotton is smooth and soft to the touch. It is lovely to knit with, no stiffness at all. Machine washable and dryable.
Brand: Lion Brand Yarns
Product Line: 24/7 Cotton
Weight: Medium (4)
Material: 100% Mercerized Cotton
Skein Weight: 3.5 oz. / 100 g
Yardage: 186 yd. / 170 m
Care: Machine Wash and Dry
Knitting Gauge: 20 sts – 28 rows = 4″ (10 cm)
Crochet Gauge: 14 sc – 19 rows = 4″ (10 cm)
Suggested Knitting Needle: 4 mm, US – 6
Suggested Crochet Hook: 4 mm, US – G/6
Bernat Baby Blanket Yarn such as Bernat Handicrafter – 100% Cotton, smooth and soft. Easy to work with. Machine Washable and Dryable.
Brand: Bernat
Product Line: Handicrafter Cotton
Weight: Medium (4)
Contents: 100% cotton
Skein Weight: 14 oz. / 400 g
Yardage: 674 yd. / 616 m
Care: Wash and Machine Dry
Knitting Gauge: 20 sts – 26 rows = 4″ (10 cm)
Crochet Gauge: 13 sc – 14 rows = 4″ (10 cm)
Suggested Knitting Needle: 4.5 mm, US – 7
Suggested Crochet Hook: 5 mm, US – H/8
Organic Cotton
Knit Picks Simply Cotton Organic Worsted Yarn – No dyes or bleach are used to process the fibers. It’s super soft, comfortable to work with and is 100% organic cotton yarn. Lovely and soft. Machine washable. Dry on low setting in the dryer.
Brand: Knit Picks
Product Line: Simply Cotton Organic Worsted Yarn
Weight: Worsted Weight
Material: 100% organic cotton
Skein Weight: 100gms
Yardage: 164 yd.
Care: Machine Washable/Tumble Dry Low
Knitting Gauge: 4.5 sts = 1″
Crochet Gauge: 11–14 sc = 4″
Suggested Knitting Needle: US 6 – 9 needles (4.0mm-5.5mm)
Suggested Crochet Hook: I – K hooks (5.5 mm-6.5 mm)
Click To Learn More / Buy From Knit Picks
Cotton/Acrylic Blend
Knit Picks Comfy Fingering Yarn – 75% Pima Cotton and 25% Acrylic. A lightweight fiber with plenty of colors to choose from. Machine washable. Dry on low setting in the dryer.
Brand: Knit Picks
Product Line: Comfy Fingering Yarn
Weight: Fingering Weight
Material: 75% Pima Cotton, 25% Acrylic
Skein Weight: 50g
Yardage: 218 yd.
Care: Machine Wash Gentle/Tumble Dry Low
Knitting Gauge: 7 – 8 sts = 1″
Crochet Gauge: 21 – 32 sc = 4″
Suggested Knitting Needle: US 1-3 needles (2.25mm – 3.25mm)
Suggested Crochet Hook: B – E hooks (2.25mm-3.5mm)
Click To Learn More / Buy From Knit Picks
There you go, plenty of yarn suggestions to start knitting a perfect baby blanket.
Enjoy knitting for the special newborn in your life a hand knitted treasure.
Something we forgot? Leave a question or comment at the end.
Now It’s Your Turn…
I’d like to hear what you have to say. What did you think about today’s guide?
Or maybe you have a question. Either way let me know by leaving a comment below right now or send me a message on Twitter.
You can also contact me here.
Baby blankets are amazing because you can knit them in a variety of colors. Thank you so much sharing these handy tips. Looking forward to knitting my first grandchild’s baby blanket.
Sounds great Katherine 🙂
Congratulations on your first 🙂
Please post a photo on our facebook page when you are done.
I would love to see it!
Yours is the second blog post that has recommended
Patons Silk Bamboo. Does it stand up to a washing machine?
Hi Heidi 🙂 Thanks for the message.
It’s best to hand wash Patons Silk Bamboo yarn.
Not as convenient but your creations will last much longer with hand washing.
Would love to see your finished blanket 🙂
Thanks again and we’ve updated our post to let people know this yarn is best to hand wash.
Hi … I live in Sydney and I’m looking to buy cotton yarn for a new born baby’s blanket …
1) what type of cotton yarn should I buy that’s machine washable, easy to maintain and soft on the baby ?
2) where will I find it here? Any shops that you know of pls ?
Thanks a ton . Your blog was very helpful
Thanks
Zainab
Hi Zainab. Thanks for getting in touch and for your kind words.
So glad you’ve found the information here helpful.
Try googling ‘local yarn store’ to see what stores come up near you.
Spotlight and Lincraft are the larger stores that would have cotton yarns available.
Buying online would also be an option.
Try Knitpicks.com They have a Simply Cotton Organic Worsted Yarn that is not dyed or bleached and is machine washable.
Cheers Jodie 🙂
I can’t wait to make a baby blanket!
Great to hear Edith!
Be sure to send us a pic so we can share your creation with our readers.
What yarn did you end up choosing?
Cheers Jodie
Hi just discovered your article and it is very good. I’m using Lion Brand Baby Steps, making a blanket. Can you put in the dryer and wash machine? Thanks as still want it to look nice when they wash it.
Hi Pat. That’s great you found my information helpful. I checked what Lion Brand recommend.
They say that it is okay to machine wash and use a dryer.
Be sure to tell your family member that the first wash shouldn’t be hotter than 30 degrees centigrade or 65-85F.
And to have the dryer on a medium heat setting.
All the best with your knitting and I’d love to share a pic with our readers when you finish.
Be sure to get back in touch here – https://knitlikegranny.com/contact/ Cheers Jodie
Thank you so much for taking the time to post this treasure chest of information. I’m going to knit my first blanket for my first grandchild and didn’t know where to start…which pattern, which yarn, etc. Such a big commitment and I would like to get it right the first time. Thanks again!
Hello Debbie.
Congratulations on your first grandchild! How special.
What a lovely start to my day, seeing your comment 🙂
It’s so nice to hear someone has found my research helpful.
I would love to follow along while you are making this blanket.
Please let me know how it’s going.
I’d love to share a photo of your finished blanket with our readers, please get in touch with me here.
Also if you have any questions, just let me know.
Thanks again
Jodie
Thanks for sharing, this will be my first baby blanket and I’m super excited to get started. I love the idea of the silk bamboo, never heard of that one, would love to give it a try. Thank you for including needle size by the way, that always gets me because I never what’s the best one to use.
Hi Bebe. That is exciting to begin your first baby blanket! I hope you love every minute of knitting it. That’s great that you’ve found a yarn you’d like to try. I often find that the label on yarns indicate which needle size is recommended. It certainly is helpful. Your baby blanket pattern will also give you the gauge and sometimes, depending on your gauge, you may have to go up or down a needle size. I’d recommend doing a swatch first to check your gauge, before beginning the blanket. Happy Knitting!