A cozy handmade baby blanket made of soft yarn is one of the best gifts an infant can receive. Seeing your little treasure wrapped in warm crochet or knitted blanket is extremely rewarding. Not to mention a properly made blanket can help babies get much-needed sleep when they’re snuggly wrapped in it.
If you’re going to crochet or knit a baby blanket, the first thing you need to do is choose a good yarn. In this guide, we will cover everything you possibly need to consider when choosing a baby blanket yarn.
Our Picks for the Best Baby Blanket Yarn
BrightBeeCraft is reader-supported. When you purchase gear through links on our site, we may earn commissions.
1. Bernat Baby Blanket Big Ball
Product Features
Brand Name: Bernat
Weight Category: 6 Super Bulky
Material: 100% Acrylic
Skein Weight: 10.5 oz / 300 grams
Yards: 220
Knitting Gauge: 8sts – 13 rows with 8mm (US 11) needle
Crochet Gauge: 8sc – 8 rows with 6.5mm (US K) crochet hook
Care Instructions: Machine washable and dryable
The best thick yarn for baby blankets is the Bernat Baby Blanket Big Ball Yarn. This is a thick, luxury soft, chunky, chenille style yarn that will give your blanket cuddly warmth without being too heavy.
The yarn is safety certified so it’s tested to ensure that it’s safe for a baby’s sensitive skin.
The yarn is available in 30 soft beautiful color options that would match the decor of any room.
In addition to blankets, you can also make soft baby clothes and other projects with this yarn. Two balls of this should be sufficient for your average baby blanket.
2. Patons Silk Bamboo Yarn
Product Features
Brand Name: Patons
Weight Category: 3 Light Worsted
Material: 70% Bamboo, 30% Silk
Skein Weight: 2.2 oz / 65 grams
Yards: 102
Knitting Gauge: 22sts – 26 rows with 4mm (US 6) needle
Crochet Gauge: 16sc – 20rows with 4mm (US 6) crochet hook
Care Instructions: Handwash
The best lightweight baby blanket yarn is the Patons Silk Bamboo Yarn. Silk is one of the most luxurious of all yarn types you will come across, and it has many benefits that are perfect for baby blankets.
If you’re knitting a summer blanket, this is the perfect choice.
Bamboo and silk are both temperatures regulating so it can help provide warmth in the cold without being too hot in the summer. So this yarn is good for any season.
Both kinds of fabric are also hypoallergenic which means that this yarn will not irritate a baby’s skin.
This is one of the softest yarns out there, which is why we recommend it so highly.
The only drawback is that this is not machine washable, so it may not be best for an everyday baby blanket unless you have a lot of extra time on your hands to commit to washing this one.
3. Bernat Softee Baby Yarn
Product Features
Brand Name: Bernat
Weight Category: 3 Light Worsted
Material: 100% Acrylic
Skein Weight: Solids: 5 oz / 140 grams Ombres: 4.25 oz / 120 grams
Yards: 310
Knitting Gauge: 22sts – 30 rows with 4mm (US 6) needle
Crochet Gauge: 16sc – 19 rows with 4mm (US 6) crochet hook
Care Instructions: Machine wash and dry
The Bernat Softee Baby Yarn is another excellent choice when you’re looking for something soft and easy to work with. It is one of our favorite DK yarns for baby blankets.
The yarn is soft and lightweight which makes it perfect for baby blankets, baby clothes, and other home decor projects. The pastel colors offer a wide variety of options that are perfect for matching the colors of any newborn’s room or crib.
The yarn is also pretty easy to crochet with if you’re new to it. Being machine washable and dryable is always an added plus too. Overall this is definitely a good choice.
4. Lion Brand Yarn Babysoft Yarn
Product Features
Brand Name: Lion Brand Yarn
Weight Category: 3 Light Worsted
Material: 60% Acrylic, 40% Polyamide
Skein Weight: 5 oz / 141 grams
Yards: 459
Knitting Gauge: 22sts – 30 rows with 4mm (US 6) needle
Crochet Gauge: 16sc – 20 rows with 4mm (US 6) crochet hook
Care Instructions: Machine wash (water temperature under 40C/105F)
The Lion Brand Yarn Baby Soft Yarn is another excellent acrylic yarn blend that is perfect for cuddly blankets.
This yarn is somewhat in-between light worsted and sport weight. It is available in a wide selection of cute pastel colors.
The yarn itself is very budget-friendly because it’s made with an acrylic-polyamide blend.
It’s also very easy to knit or crochet with, though it can feel a little thin.
Just pay attention to the care instructions on this one. It’s best washed on a cold cycle only.
5. Caron Simply Soft Solids Yarn
Product Features
Brand Name: Caron
Weight Category: 4 Worsted
Material: 100% Acrylic
Skein Weight: 6 oz / 170 grams
Yards: 315
Knitting Gauge: 13sts – 14 rows with 5mm (US 8) needle
Crochet Gauge: 18sc – 24 rows with 5mm (US 8) crochet hook
Care Instructions: Machine wash and dry, delicate cycle
The Caron Simply Soft Yarn is another highly regard soft yarn that’s excellent for baby garments and blankets.
They offer this yarn in a huge selection of colors that are suitable for any project, from brights to pastels. They currently have 42 different color options. Though all of the colors are solid colors and we would like to see some variegated options.
We like this yarn because of its smooth and silky feel, cheap and affordable price, and huge color selection. It is also machine washable and dryable but you have to use a delicate setting only.
6. Alize Velluto Baby Blanket Yarn
Product Features
Brand Name: Alize
Weight Category: 6 Super Bulky
Material: 100% MicroPolyester
Skein Weight: 3x 3.5 oz/ 100 grams
Yards: 3x 75
Knitting Gauge: 10sts – 14 rows with 8mm (US 11) needle
Crochet Gauge: 7.5sc – 19 rows with 8-10mm (US 11-15) crochet hook
Care Instructions: Hand wash and dry flat
Another extremely soft chenille style yarn is the Alize Vellute Yarn. This is a great choice if you want something thick and cuddly without being too overly heavy.
These are sold in packs of 3, so for each purchase, you get 300 grams of this yarn.
The color selection would make for gorgeous blankets.
This yarn is also Oeko-tex certified class 1, which means it’s been tested to show it’s safe for babies.
We really like this yarn, but it doesn’t hold up to the best to washing cycles, so it’s best to wash by hand.
7. Lion Brand Yarn 24-7 Cotton Yarn
Product Features
Brand Name: Lion Brand
Weight Category: 4 Worsted
Material: 100% Mercerized Cotton
Skein Weight: 3.5 oz / 100 grams
Yards: 186
Knitting Gauge: 20sts – 28 rows with 4mm (US 6) needle
Crochet Gauge: 14sc – 19 rows with 4mm (US 6) crochet hook
Care Instructions: Machine wash and dry
If you want to make your baby blanket from cotton, the Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton series is an excellent choice.
This one is made from 100% natural mercerized cotton which makes this yarn not only super soft but strong too. Even after repeated washing cycles, the yarn tends to hold up well.
You can use this to make blankets, baby garments, or home decor projects.
The yarn has a beautiful sheen and the yarn works up quite well, making this one very beginner-friendly. The only real drawback is that it is a little more expensive than other options like acrylic.
8. Red Heart Soft Baby Steps Yarn
Product Features
Brand Name: Red Heart
Weight Category: 6 Super Bulky
Material: 100% Acrylic
Skein Weight: 3x 5 oz / 141 grams (multicolored options are slightly less)
Yards: 3x 256
Knitting Gauge: 17st – 23 rows with 5mm (US 8) needle
Crochet Gauge: 12sc – 15 rows with 5mm (US 8) crochet hook
Care Instructions: Handwash
Red Heart Soft Baby Steps Yarn is another choice that many crocheters and knitters highly recommend. This is a worsted weight acrylic yarn that is sold in packs of 3 skeins.
It’s a decent quality yarn, and some of the colors are cute, but overall this is a pretty basic yarn. They don’t have many colors, and there is nothing too special about it.
It’s a solid choice, but we prefer the other acrylic options we have mentioned earlier.
9. Universal Yarn Bella Chenille
Product Features
Brand Name: Universal Yarn
Weight Category: 6 Super Bulky
Material: 100% Polyester
Skein Weight: 3.5 oz / 100 grams
Yards: 131
Knitting Gauge: 1.25-1.75st – 2-2.5 rows with 9-10mm (US 13-15) needle
Crochet Gauge: 1-1.5sc – 1-1.5 rows with 9-10mm (US M?N-P/Q8) crochet hook
Care Instructions: Machine wash, dry flat
Universal Yarn Belle Chenille is a super soft bulky yarn that will keep any newborn cozy and comfortable.
The yarn has a velvet feel that makes a great texture for a thick blanket that isn’t too heavy.
The yarn is 100% polyester and is machine washable, but you don’t want to put it in the dryer. The only drawback is that this one is a little bit expensive compared to some of the other chenille style yarns we have mentioned earlier.
10. Knit Picks Brava Premium Acrylic Yarn
Product Features
Brand Name: Knit Picks
Weight Category: 2 Fine
Material: 100% Acrylic
Skein Weight: 3.5 oz / 100 grams
Yards: 273
Knitting Gauge: 6st = 1″ with 3.25-3.75mm (US 3-5) needle
Crochet Gauge: 16-20sc =4″ with 3.5-4.5mm (US E-7) crochet hook
Care Instructions: Machine wash and tumble dry
If you’re looking for a premium acrylic yarn, the Knit Picks Brava Sport Weight is a great option for making blankets, children’s clothes, sweaters, hats, and other projects.
It’s a solid budget-friendly yarn that is easy to care for. The color selection is decent, and the yarn itself makes for durable projects that can be washed many times.
The only drawback though the yarn is soft, it’s not quite as soft as we would like for our blankets. It’s a good cheap yarn though, so it may be worth trying.
Soft Yarn is Required
There are some projects where you can get away with a low-quality yarn—but this isn’t one of them.
When you’re making a blanket or afghan that will be used for a baby, whether it’s your own child or you intend on giving it as a baby shower gift for a newborn, you need to make sure the blanket is extremely soft, lightweight, and somewhat durable.
You only want to softest yarn that will comfort the baby when it’s delicate skin is covered in your handmade blanket.
It’s also important to consider that a newborn baby is likely to drool, have diaper problems, and potentially vomit, which is why ease of washing is another thing to loook for.
In the end, you want your blanket to be a treasured keepsake — and it starts with choosing the right yarn.
Choosing a Baby Blanket Yarn
Machine Washable
Your hand-knitted or crocheted blanket is likely to be soiled rather quickly by a newborn. And new parents definitely won’t have the time to commit to handwashing the blanket—no matter how gorgeous it may be.
When choosing a fiber for a newborn baby blanket, make sure it is machine washable. It is absolutely going to be washed very frequently, so you need something that can handle frequent cycles.
Better yet is if the yarn can be washed and tumble dried, at least on a normal setting. If you can find a soft yarn that can handle a warm washing cycle, that is always a plus too.
Some fibers will become scratchy when washed at high temperatures, so if you’re giving the blanket as a gift you may want to advise the parents on washing instructions.
Generally, acrylic and cotton yarns tend to hold up to repeated washes. Either 100% or blends can work well. Particularly for cotton yarn, 100% can feel stiff sometimes, so a blend may be a better choice.
It never hurts to try washing your blanket on your own to get an idea of how it holds up to cycles.
How Does the Yarn Feel?
Baby blankets always required a soft yarn. So make sure the yarn is soft to the touch so the baby can enjoy its comfortable texture. Avoid anything scratchy that is not pleasant to the touch, because a baby’s skin is very delicate.
You also need to consider whether you want to use a lightweight soft yarn or a more bulky soft yarn.
This could depend on the weather in the area you live in or on the season the baby is due to arrive in.
If you are in a place where the weather tends to be cold or the baby is coming in winter, you likely want to consider a soft and bulky yarn. You can try superwash wool like merino if the baby is not sensitive to wool.
In hotter places or in summer a lightweight and soft yarn is a good choice. Cotton blends tend to be good for this.
What Will the Parents Like?
If you know the parents of the baby quite well (or if you are the parents!) you will probably have a good idea of what kind of colors and design to choose for your blanket.
You want to make something you know they will love and use. Often times it has to match the decor of the nursery or home, so it may not hurt to ask the parents what colors they are choosing for the baby’s room.
Sometimes a traditional baby pink or baby blue is used, but these days that is becoming less common, so don’t be afraid to ask.
It’s also important to consider the parents when choosing a fabric. If the parents are sensitive to wool and find it scratchy, they are not likely to want it for their child.
Is Baby Wool Sensitive?
Washable wool like merino can be a great choice for babies in colder climates. Only if the baby isn’t sensitive to it.
You will want to check in with the parents on how they handle wool, because usually if they are sensitive to it, their child is likely to be as well.
Other popular choices are cotton/acrylic blends, cotton/bamboo blends, or soft luxury chenille yarn.
Is it Baby Safe?
We all know adventurous babies like to experience the world with their mouths. The odds are high that your blanket is likely to come into contact with the newborn’s mouth at some point or another.
If they do end up putting your blanket in their mouth, you want to make sure whatever you use is safe. This generally means avoiding any yarn that is likely to shed. So avoid any furry or fluffy yarns that have shedding problems, or the parents will not be very pleased.
How Much Should You Spend?
There are good quality yarns across the spectrum when it comes to prices. You don’t always need to buy the most expensive yarn to end up with a good blanket.
Not to mention the fact that baby throws are often only used in the first year before the baby outgrows them.
This means you don’t need to spend more than you are comfortable with — so long as you still choose a good yarn.
Acrylic blends and cotton blends are pretty affordable options. Wool, alpaca, and bamboo tend to be on the expensive side, but sometimes you can find a good budget-friendly blend.
How Heavy Should the Blanket Be?
You need to carefully select your yarn so you choose the appropriate heaviness for your blanket or afghan.
In general, you do not want to make a blanket that is too heavy. For summer you want a lightweight blanket, but for the colder months you may want to use a thicker yarn, but the blanket should still be somewhat lightweight.
So even your thick yarns should result in a lightweight blanket. There are many lightweight chenille style yarns that result in the appropriate heaviness.
What Kind of Baby Blanket are You Making?
There are a ton of different kinds of baby blankets, and each kind might work better with certain kinds of yarns depending on the use of the blanket.
What kind of yarn you choose may be dependent on the size of the baby blanket and the kind of baby blanket you are making.
What Type of Yarn is Best?
The best type of yarn for a baby blanket acrylic, acrylic blend, cotton blend, superwash wool, alpaca yarn, or silk yarn. They all have their pros and cons over the other.
Acrylic and cotton blends tend to be soft, machine washable, and affordable—which is why they are recommended by many knitters for these kinds of projects.
Superwash wool is a popular choice but it is a little on the expensive side. It is very warm and cozy if the baby can handle it, but sometimes after heavy washing, it doesn’t last very well.
Alpaca and silk are luxury options that are durable and soft and will last years. These tend to be on the expensive side though, so that’s something to keep in mind.
Best Yarn Weight for Baby Blanket
Baby blankets are commonly crotched and knitted from anything from fingering weight to super bulky weight yarns. This ultimately depends on how you want to blanket to feel and how comfortable you are working with different yarns.
The most popular choices for baby blankets are 3 light worsted, 4 worsted, or 6 super bulky weight yarns. Most baby blankets are made from these.
How Much Yarn for a Baby Blanket?
If you’re following a pattern, they will usually indicate how many yards of yarn you need for your baby blanket.
Check the label and figure out how many yards each ball is to figure out what you need.
How Many Balls of Yarn Do I Need?
This depends on if you’re knitting with chunky yarn or a medium weight yarn. If you’re using a chunky yarn with 10.5 ounce balls—2 balls are all you need. If you’re knitting with a medium weight yarn you will need around 9 balls for your average-sized baby blanket.
Closing Thoughts
There are a ton of different yarns that can work well for your blanket project depending on what you need. Figure out what you want the final resulting blanket to feel and look like and try and pick the yarn that will get you to this end product.
It never hurts to consult the parents if you’re unsure if they will approve of a certain color or type of yarn.
If you’re new to knitting or crochet make sure to pay attention to the knitting needle size and crochet hook size. You want to choose the right one for the yarn.
Make sure to also pick the highest quality yarn within your budget, because you want to create a cherished keepsake that the parents may keep forever to remind them of their loved one.
We hope you found this guide useful in some way. If you have a favorite yarn of yours that you think should be on the list be sure to reach out to us and we can look into it.
