Best yarn for newborn?

I do a lot of knitting for a charity, especially for premature and newborn babies. I always use Wendy Peter Pan DK as it is beautifully soft. I usually buy it at Hobbycraft when they have 3 for 2 as an offer. The charity specifically request acrylic as wool can irritate sensitive baby skin.

I think the issue with acrylic yarn is that it’s basically plastic and it would be good to cut down on the use of plastic as much as possible. However I can’t bear any sort of wool next to my skin, I can wear cashmere outdoors on the really cold day but have to change as soon as I come inside, so do use acrylic sometimes. If I’m knitting or crocheting with cotton I go up a needle size and that makes it softer and more drapey. Good luck!

I have never had an issue with acrylic...it's washable, non-itchy and some brands can even be tumble dried, making it easier for mum's who might not want to spend ages laundering delicate items. I like Stylecraft Special For Babies at the moment, and have used Woolcraft Babycare from littlewoolshop.com

Almost all my makes are acrylic. Soft and washes well. I never use wool. Have used cotton but prefer acrylic.

This yarn is beautiful to knit with, I’ve just made a little cardigan for my great nephew with it.

I use cotton for baby blankets & garments. Lovely to crochet or knit with and soft for the babe. Plus washes well.

Pure wool can be an irritant to babies. One of my GC has eczema, and wool is the worst possible yarn for him.

It's going to be washed frequently and probably thrown into a machine so pure wool might not be best.
Baby bamboo would be fine but needs a cool wash.
Sirdar Snuggly is an acrylic/nylon mixture but washes very well and stays soft. However, if you're wanting a natural yarn, it might not be for you.

Watching this thread with interest as I knit for a charity called Baby Basics. They provide help to families with newborns who are in difficulties. Some of them only have very basic laundry facilities so finding yarns that wash easily is important.

I’m currently using King Cole Cutie Pie but find that the balls are very loosely wound and the wool tangles easily.

Baby bamboo.ive used this many times.

I would second baby bamboo. I have used it for garments rather than blankets though.

It washes really well, keeps its shape and doesn’t itch.

Cotton comes in different thicknesses just as wool does. I use the thicker one for dish and pan cloths. The thinner one would be good for a blanket. Both thicknesses come in a huge range of colours.

I can’t help with the ply, sorry. I buy mine from a Danish company and they measure 8/8 for thick, 6/8 for thinner.

Baby bamboo is beautifully soft, washes well and is not too expensive.

I’m looking at layettes as a gift for prospective parents and it all seems to be in “soft” cotton - even the high end stuff. How things change - it was always pure wool in my day.

I usually order my wool from Wool Warehouse if you go on their website and look under baby yarn it lists all the baby wool brands.

I've made baby blankets in acrylic and they wash lovely.

mscombobulated

does cotton drape well?

I’ve used cotton yarn in the past and found it to be rather ‘stiff’. That may have been my tension and the fact that it was a close pattern. However, you wouldn’t really want an open lacy pattern for little fingers to get caught in……..perhaps avoid cotton yarn.

does cotton drape well?

I’d avoid pure wool as many infants are allergic/sensitive. Cotton?

I avoid acrylic, as it’s basically plastic. The yarn SueDonim has linked to looks good, although I haven’t used it, but any natural fibre will be fine if it’s not hairy. Cotton is good for baby blankets as it can be washed on a hotter wash than wool, but it can be tricky to knit with as there is no ‘give’ in it.

Try the Drops brand. Their yarn is good quality and not expensive. Just avoid the mohair and other hairy/fluffy yarns as they can shed and get into babies’ mouths and noses. Drops is also available on the Wool Warehouse site.

Friends speak highly of this brand. I haven’t used it myself but will be starting some squares with it tomorrow, to contribute to a blanket.

www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/yarnsmiths-merino-dk-superwash-all-colours