Babies just look so darn cute wrapped up in a blanket!
The parents will appreciate a hand-knitted baby blanket made with soft cuddly fiber. Plus, the little one will be nice and snug. This post shares the best Baby Blanket yarn, making sure it is the softest and snuggest.
Read on for my buying guide.
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
- Knit Picks Brava – Best Budget Pick
- Bernat Softee Baby Yarn
- Bernat Baby Blanket Big Ball
- Lion Brand Babysoft Yarn
- Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice
- Universal Yarn Bella Chenille
- Caron Simply Soft
- Patons Silk Bamboo Yarn
- Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton
- Bernat Handicrafter Cotton
- Knit Picks Simply Cotton Organic Worsted Weight 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 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 be wanting to create something beautiful, a keepsake. A perfect handmade baby shower gift.
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?
- What Is The Best Yarn For Baby Blanket?
- Yarn Brands 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 baby blankets must be machine washable. It won’t be washed just once but many times.
While superwash wool yarn 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 good choices for this reason. However, some of these might not be a good choice if you’re looking for super soft baby yarn.
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.
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 can 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 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 or Red Heart Soft Baby Steps is a popular acrylic brand and has great stitch definition.
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.
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What Yarn Will The Parents Like?
As babies don’t get a say in the decor of their nursery or the baby clothes they wear, the coverlet you knit will need 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 then 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. It will prevent anything awkward.
An option to add different shades that work well together is to choose variegated yarn. Clever dyers have already decided which ones work best in a variegated yarn.
If the parents find wool uncomfortable, opt for cotton/acrylic blends or acrylic fiber, or merino wool yarn.
How Much Are You Willing To Spend?
Many gorgeous baby blanket yarns, such as alpaca yarn or bamboo 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 during a sale can save money.
Throws for babies are often well used during the first year, but after, they might not be used anymore. So no need to spend a million dollars 🙂
Any leftover yarn could be used 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. More often than not, if they do, so will their child.
Knitters highly recommend cotton/bamboo or cotton/acrylic blends. These yarns are washable, stain-resistant, soft, and allergen-free. They’re lovely to knit with. However, merino
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 can grab goes 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.
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 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, make a summer blanket. Have a knitted lightweight blanket made in a cotton blend.
For a child born in the colder months (who is not sensitive to wool or animal fiber), 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. It 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.
However, if you want something that will last through the years and could be passed down, use a yarn like alpaca yarn or silk.
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?
Generally, 2 balls of chunky yarn, such as Bernat Baby Blanket Yarn 10.5oz, are enough to knit a good-sized blanket. When knitting with a medium yarn such as Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton yarn, 9 balls would make a good size.
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How Many Balls of Yarn for A Baby Blanket?
Most knitting 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.
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 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.
Knitters highly recommend the yarns below. They are listed in what material the yarn is made from.
Acrylic
Knit Picks Brava – Best Budget Pick
100% acrylic that comes in a broad range of bright colors. Soft on the baby’s skin 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!
(If you buy from a different dye lot, the colors will look slightly different.)
Imagine a blanket with brightly 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)
Knit Picks offers free shipping for purchases over $65 in the US.
Bernat Softee Baby
100% acrylic, 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.
Great for baby garments too.
- Brand: Bernat
- Product Line: Softee Baby
- Yarn Weight: Light Weight Yarn (3)
- Material: 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
Bernat Baby Blanket Big Ball
100% Polyester yarn, 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, an excellent soft yarn for baby blanket.
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 baby projects and decor. Learn more here. Baby Blue, Lilac, and Vanilla are popular.
Other projects for kids are great done with this yarn too.
People found the yarn Bernat Baby Blanket is a lovely choice for softness.
PDF 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 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 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
Lion Brand Babysoft
Baby Soft comes in 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 soft to the touch and feel on baby skin and has a lovely texture.
For this reason, many knitters love yarn like this.
Made from 60% Acrylic, 40% Polyamide materials. Machine Washable.
- Brand: Lion Brand Yarns
- 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
Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice
It has a wonderful variety of brighter trendier colors and pastel colors. It isn’t quite 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, and soft and easy care.
This yarn is perfect for multicolour 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
Universal Yarn Bella Chenille
Super soft and snuggly. This falls somewhere between worsted weight and bulky yarn, the best yarn in this weight category. Using super bulky yarn means the newborn cover will knit 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 comes in a large range of fun different colors with sheen. Easy to work with, and soft and easy care. Make sure you 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)
Silk/Bamboo Blend
Patons Silk Bamboo
Soft to the touch with the beautiful, high-quality yarn of a Silk/Bamboo blend. 70% Bamboo and 30% Silk yarn comes in a range of colors, brighter and pastel 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, 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 little more laundry care to keep the knitted blanket in good condition.
The yarn is four-ply and slippery, so it’s not so easy to work with. Take your time when knitting, as the yarn could split into separate strands.
Bamboo, Wood, or Plastic needles are recommended to use with this yarn, as they have a little more tooth and make a slippery fiber blend easier to knit.
Click to Learn More / Buy from AmazonCotton
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. 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. You can 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)
Click To Learn More / Buy From Knit Picks
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)
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.
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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.
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!
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!
Thanks so much for your kind words Min. All the best for creating your first knitted baby blanket. It is a very exciting time for you. Cheers Jodie