Babies look so cute, wrapped in a blanket! The parents will appreciate a hand-knitted baby blanket with cuddly fiber. I share the best soft and snug Baby Blanket yarn. Read my buying guide.
In a hurry? The best baby blanket yarn is Bernat Baby Blanket Big Ball.
My Quick Recommendations
- My Top Pick – Bernat Baby Blanket Big Ball
- Best Luxury Option – Wonderfluff
- Best Budget Pick – Knit Picks Brava
Note: The links take you to further information, current prices, and customer reviews on Amazon & Knit Picks.
I reviewed and updated this post on January 8, 2022.
Table of Contents
- Yarn Brands Knitters Swear By For Baby Blankets
- Knit Picks Brava
- Bernat Softee Baby
- Bernat Baby Blanket Big Balls
- Lion Brand Babysoft
- Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice
- Universal Yarn Bella Chenille
- Caron Simply Soft
- Plymouth Yarn Dreambaby
- Wonderfluff
- Lion Brand Cotton
- Bernat Handicrafter
- Knit Picks Simply Cotton
- Knit Picks Comfy Fingering
- What Makes The Best Baby Blanket Yarn
Soft And Squooshy Yarn
When knitting a treasured item, you want the best yarn for baby blanket for the job. These are all the qualities you would be looking for in baby blanket yarn – Soft, cuddly, lightweight, functional.
Sometimes you might want to create something beautiful, a keepsake. A perfect handmade baby shower gift. You need the best wool for knitting.
You’d like the coverlet to keep a bundle of joy comfortable, cozy, and snug. 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.
Read my best sock yarn review for recommendations.
Yarn Knitters Swear By For Baby Blankets
What is the softest yarn to make a baby blanket?
The softest is Bernat Baby Blanket Big Ball.
Knitters recommend the yarns below. They’re listed by what material the yarn is made from.
Acrylic
Knit Picks Brava
100% acrylic yarn comes with a broad range of bright colors. Soft on the baby’s skin and easy to work with. Machine Washable and Dryable on low. Check the dye lots on the label to ensure it matches!
(If you buy from a different dye lot, the colors look different.)
Imagine a blanket with colored stars using all these gorgeous shades.
- Brand: Knit Picks
- Product Line: Brava
- Yarn Weight: Medium (4)
- Material: 100% Premium Acrylic
- Skein Weight: 100gm
- Yardage: 218 yds / 199 m
- Care: Machine wash and dry. 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)
Bernat Softee Baby Yarn
100% acrylic, incredibly soft to touch, and machine washable. Machine Dry. The best yarn in terms of a large range of lovely pastel colors and marl options. Sure to last a long time. The yarn makes great baby garments too.
- Brand: Bernat
- Product Line: Softee Baby
- Yarn Weight: Light Weight Yarn (3)
- Material: Yarn made from 100% acrylic
- Care: Easy to care for. Machine Wash
- Skein Weight / Ball Size: 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
Found some great suggestions for snug baby yarn? Now peruse my post on the best gift for a knitter.
Bernat Baby Blanket Big Ball
100% Polyester yarn, luxurious, incredibly soft, chenille-style yarn. The 10.5oz/220yards ball means you can make a decent size chunky baby blanket quickly.
Babies love the soft texture of this yarn, an excellent soft yarn for baby blanket.
Bernat Baby yarns are Oeko-tex certified (tested for over 300 harmful substances) and proven safe for your little one’s sensitive skin. Perfect for these types of baby projects and decor. Learn more here.
Baby Blue, Lilac, and Vanilla are popular.
Other craft projects for kids are great done with this yarn too.
People found the yarn Bernat Baby Blanket is a lovely choice for softness.
PDF knit and crochet patterns for this yarn offer all sorts of different designs.
How Many Balls Of Bernat Yarn Do You Need For A Baby Blanket?
For most baby blankets, you need two balls of Bernat Blanket Yarn 10.5 oz. This makes 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 Weight Yarn (6)
- Material: 100% Polyester
- Skein Weight: 10.5 oz. / 300 g
- Yardage: 220 yd. / 201 m
- 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
Check out my Knitting Tools Reviewed post.
LionBrand Babysoft
Baby Soft has two different yarn weights, sport weight yarn or light worsted. A lovely color palette of plenty of pastel colors to choose from.
As you’d expect, it feels incredibly soft on baby skin. Many knitters love yarn like this.
Made from 60% Acrylic, 40% Polyamide materials. Machine Washable.
- Product Line: Babysoft
- Yarn Weight: Light Weight Yarn (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
A ball winder is an excellent tool for winding yarn into neat yarn cakes
Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice
It has a wonderful variety of brighter trendier colors and pastel colors. It isn’t as soft as some of the other yarns, but among 100% acrylic options, it’s still some of the best yarn.
Machine washable and dryable, incredibly soft, and easy care.
This yarn is perfect for multicolor blankets, given the range.
- Brand: Lion Brand Yarns
- Product Line: Vanna’s Choice
- Yarn Weight: Medium Weight Yarn (4)
- Materials: 100% acrylic
- Skein Weight: 3.5 oz. / 100 g
- Yardage: 170 yd. / 156 m
- Care: Easy to care for. 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
Are you looking for the best place to buy yarn? Check out my guide.
Universal Yarn Bella Chenille
Super soft and snuggly knit and crochet yarn. Somewhere between worsted weight and bulky yarn, the best yarn in this weight category. Using super bulky yarn means the newborn cover knits up quickly.
Super soft on the baby’s skin. A range of different colors, brighter and pastel colors. Chenille-style yarn is machine washable but not dryable.
- Brand: Universal Yarn
- Product Line: Bella Chenille
- Yarn Weight: Super Bulky Weight Yarn (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
Caron Simply Soft
Simply soft is 100% acrylic and has a large range of fun different colors with sheen. Easy to work with, and soft and easy care. Use 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 and dry. 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)
Plymouth Yarn Dreambaby
The blend of microfiber acrylic and nylon in this yarn gives it a soft and comfortable feel and machine wash it. A perfect choice for babies. A US size six needle is necessary to knit this yarn.
It’s available in a great variety of colors.
- Brand: Plymouth Yarn
- Product Line: Dreambaby
- Yarn Weight: DK
- Material: 50% Microfiber acrylic and 50% nylon
- Skein Weight: 1.8oz (50g)
- Yardage: 183yds
- Care: Machine wash
- Knitting Gauge: 4 inches = 21-24 stitches
- Suggested Knitting Needle: Size 6 (4mm) needles
- Suggested Crochet Hook: Size G-6 (4mm) hooks
A joy to knit with, this super-soft yarn works up quickly into beautiful blankets.
This yarn is easy care as you put it in the washing machine, even in cold water. The wonderful stitch definition makes your pattern pop!
Alpaca/Wool Blend
Wonderfluff
Soft to the touch with the beautiful, high-quality yarn.
- Brand: Knitpicks
- Product Line: Wonderfluff
- Yarn Weight: Bulky
- Material: 70% Baby Alpaca, 7% Merino Wool, 23% Nylon
- Skein Weight: 50g
- Yardage: 142 yards
- Care: Handwash, dry flat
- Knitting Gauge: 3 – 3.75 sts = 1″
- Suggested Knitting Needle: Size 10-11 (6-8mm) needles
- Suggested Crochet Hook: Size K-M (6.5-9mm) hooks
It has a pretty sheen, is lovely to knit with, and makes a beautiful fabric. More expensive than acrylic yarn for baby blankets, but when it’s for the special bundle of joy in your life, it’s so worth it.
Best to hand wash it and lay it out flat to dry away from sunlight. This means a bit more laundry care to keep the knitted blanket in good condition.
Cotton
Lion Brand Yarn 24-7 Cotton Yarn
This 100% cotton is smooth and soft to the touch. It’s lovely to knit with, with no stiffness at all. Soft, easy-care, machine washable, and dryable.
An excellent choice for baby garments too, and crochet projects.
- 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 Handicrafter
100% Cotton, smooth and soft. Easy to work with, and machine washable and machine dryable. Works with a variety of knitting patterns.
- Brand: Bernat
- Product Line: Handicrafter Cotton
- Weight: Medium (4)
- Contents: 100% cotton
- Skein Weight: 1.5 oz. / 42.5 g
- Yardage: 68 yds/ 62 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 Weight 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 the low setting in the dryer.
Knit Picks has excellent support from expert knitters. Leave your email address on their contact form for any questions on your orders or purchase.
Stay in the loop by subscribing to their emails or e-newsletters, full of beautiful knitting patterns and current yarn sales.
- Brand: Knit Picks
- Product Line: Simply Cotton Organic Worsted Weight 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)
Cotton/Acrylic Blend
Knit Picks Comfy Fingering Yarn
75% Pima Cotton and 25% Premium Acrylic. A lightweight fiber with plenty of colors to choose from. Machine washable. Dry on the low setting in the dryer.
Key Features
- Brand: Knit Picks
- Product Line: Comfy Fingering Yarn
- Weight: Fingering Weight
- Material: 75% Pima Cotton, 25% Acrylic Fiber
- 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)
What Makes 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 won’t have the time or energy for handwashing.
The best fiber for newborn baby blankets must be machine washable. It won’t be washed once but many times.
While superwash wool yarn is machine washable, you still need to be careful.
Choose a machine wash (and tumble dry) product withstanding at least a 40°C normal wash.
Cotton yarns, some linens, commercial sock yarns, and other superwash wool blends are good choices for this reason. However, some of these might not be a good choice if you’re looking for super soft baby yarn.
Tell the parents if you’ve done some testing with your swatch in warmer machine washing settings, and it came out fine. This gives the parents peace of mind to know they won’t ruin your hard work.
The issue with hot washing is some animal fibers felt, and all the beautiful stitch work disappears! Man-made fibers become scratchy and floppier if exposed to high temperatures.
Another thing you shouldn’t do is use bleach product or iron the yarn.
Knitters have found acrylic and cotton yarns come out well when washed many times.
Some acrylics become softer when a little fabric softener is added when washing them. Soft baby yarn is a must to keep the child comfy!
Acrylic yarns is 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 or Red Heart Soft Baby Steps is a popular acrylic brand with great stitch definition.
If you go cotton, get a blend. Some cotton is stiff, and your hands tire much faster while knitting with them.
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What Yarn Do The Parents Like?
Babies don’t get a say in the decor of their nursery or the baby clothes they wear. The coverlet you knit needs to appeal to the parents.
Colorwise, most parents have their choice of baby colors for the nursery chosen well in advance. Often it suits their home decor.
Take notice of their chat about color choice, and incorporate those baby blanket yarn colors. It might not be the traditional pink or blue.
If they haven’t hinted at it already, ask them which yarn color they prefer.
An option to add different shades is to choose variegated yarn. Clever dyers have already decided what works best in a variegated yarn.
If the parents find wool uncomfortable, opt for cotton/acrylic blends, acrylic fiber, or merino wool yarn.
How Much?
Many gorgeous baby blanket yarns, such as alpaca yarn or bamboo, are super soft but expensive. Acrylic or non-wool yarns such as cotton tend to be a little more affordable.
Price is important, and shopping during a sale saves money.
Throws for babies are often well used during the first year, but after, they might not use them anymore. So no need to spend a million dollars 🙂
You could use any leftover yarn in baby accessories such as hats or other knitted baby items,
Is The Baby Sensitive To Wool?
It’s essential to check with the parents to see if they have any sensitivities to wool. Often, if they do, so does their child.
Knitters recommend cotton/bamboo or cotton/acrylic blends. 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 for tiny tot blankets.
Remember Babies Always Put Things In Their Mouth
Babies explore their environment through their mouths. Whatever they grab goes to the mouth to be sucked or licked.
Avoid novelty yarns as a choice for baby blanket yarn, as they’re fluffy and shed. A parent won’t be happy if their child chokes on a yarn furball!
What Season?
Babies are notorious for wriggling out of swaddling and kicking off covers. Choose a baby blanket yarn to suit the season.
An important thing is making sure you have the right size blanket.
Match the weight of yarn to the size of the cover when you’re knitting blankets. If it’s too big, it will be folded in half. It’d be more like 2 or 4 covers.
If the tiny tot is due in the warmer months, make a summer blanket. Have a knitted lightweight blanket made in a cotton blend.
A knitted coverlet gift made from superwash wool such as merino would be ideal for a child born in the colder months (who is not sensitive to wool or animal fiber).
What Type Of Yarn Is Best For Baby Blankets?
Many types of yarn are available. What do you choose? Knitters recommend Acrylic or Cotton Blends for their softness and machine washability.
These types have a variety of colors and are inexpensive. However, if you want something to last through the years, use a yarn like alpaca yarn or silk. (Alpaca wool is expensive though.)
A great tool to stop your wool balls 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?
Two balls of chunky yarn, such as Bernat Baby Blanket Yarn 10.5oz, are enough to knit a good-sized blanket. Nine balls would make a good size when knitting with a medium yarn such as Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton yarn.
If you’re using baby sport yarn (weight category 2) you’ll need much more.
How Many Balls of Yarn for A Baby Blanket?
Most knitting or crochet patterns show the yardage of yarn required to complete the blanket. To determine how many balls of yarn for a baby blanket, find how many yards it includes on the label.
One skein is often not enough!
On the pattern, see how many yards are mentioned, divide by the amount on your label. You’ll get a guide to how many balls of 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 of yarn.
Plenty of yarn suggestions to start knitting a perfect baby blanket. Enjoy knitting the special newborn in your life a hand-knitted treasure.
Want more blanket yarn info? I have a full post here.
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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.
Hi Katherine. Congratulations on your first 🙂 Cheers Jodie
Yours is the second blog post that has recommended
Patons Silk Bamboo. Does it stand up to a washing machine?
Hi Heidi 🙂 Patons Silk Bamboo yarn is best hand washed. This isn’t as convenient, but your creations last longer. Cheers Jodie
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. Google ‘local yarn store’ to find nearby stores. Cotton yarns are available at Spotlight and Lincraft. You can also buy them online. Knitpicks has a Simply Cotton Organic Worsted Yarn that isn’t dyed or bleached and machine washable.
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. Lion Brand says you can machine wash and dry. Tell your family member the first wash shouldn’t be hotter than 30 degrees centigrade or 65-85 F. Set the dryer to medium heat. 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. Cheers 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. How exciting, your first baby blanket! Labels on yarns often indicate which needle size is recommended. Baby blanket patterns tell you gauge. Depending on your gauge, you may have to go up or down a needle size. Do a swatch first to check your gauge. Cheers Jodie
So much info on the yarns could be great for a baby blanket. I would love to see a hint of how many skeins or balls of the yarns you suggested. Then, when following the links, I’d be more ready to actually buy the yarn or check my supply.
Thanks for these helpful suggestions Mary. I will work on them and update my post. Happy knitting! Cheers Jodie
You are so kind to help us all figure out, explicitly, how in the world we are going to make our first baby blankets. No pressure at all, when it’s for our first grandchild (haha). The excitement had us searching, and you shined your light for us. Bless you!
Hi Min. All the best for creating your first knitted baby blanket. So exciting! Cheers Jodie
Thank you so much for the tips. I have two new nieces arriving (different moms!) in March, and want to do baby blankets for them. I was planning on using a cotton/acrylic blend, and I even purchased a few skeins of knitpicks’ comfy worsted, but it seems very stiff. I’m used to working with merino wool–malabrigo, knit pick’s palette yarn, etc, so I’m used to that kind of feel, but those are generally not machine washable. I’m worried that the blanket will not be plushy/stretchy enough with the cotton blend. What do parents like? Will it be soft enough? I’m not a parent and am worried.
Hi Corrie. Cotton/acrylic blends soften with washing. A machine washable and dryable blanket is a plus. My second child was given a cotton-crocheted blanket. It softened with each wash. If you have a tumble dryer, I recommend doing a swatch using Knit Picks Comfy Worsted and machine washing it afterward. Check out the result. Cheers Jodie
Hi. My niece only wants 100% organic for her new baby. I have been struggling to find organic baby yarn that is soft but 100% organic. I am afraid I will have to give up. Any suggestions? Thank you.
Hi Maria. This organic cotton yarn becomes softer with every wash. Knit Picks Simply Cotton Organic Worsted Here is another organic cotton baby yarn that is colored – Debbie Bliss Eco Baby yarn. Cheers Jodie