To knit toys for babies?

[Againanothername]

Over lockdown I learnt to knit. I am reasonably good by now, but not expert standard yet of course.

I want to make knitted animal toys for my friends’ children (just the ones under 3) this Christmas.

But AIBU? Do knitted animals come under the category of ‘homemade crap everyone hates’ or do you think it would be appreciated?

If they look nice, there is no reason why wouldn't they be appreciated. I had personalised soft toys commisioned for few of my friends. They all love them.

Generally my only rule with presents is no soft toys (we have 30 million) but I actually think these would be nice. I wouldnt do massive ones though

DS has always preferred knitted ones, as long as no buttons or anything else that could fall off, I say go for it!

I think it would be lovely.

Lovely idea. I made my friend's baby something and my friend was very appreciative of it :)

Just bear in mind that they are legally supposed to have the CE mark if they are intended to be played with.
I've made toys as gifts before, but made it very clear to the parents before I made them that I will not have tested them and if they arent happy then I won't make them.
I am planning to test things in future but there was talk that post Brexit might need different labeling and I didn't want to pay out for something that would become obsolete within the year.

My fave toy as a kid was a knitted postman pat which I held so tight under my arm that he ended up with a giraffe neck my DD also now loves knitted teddies

Small TY size would lovely as a comforter type teddy and wouldn't take up much space if it does end up being a fave!

I think it is lovely.
Some people I know knit the little octopuses for premature babies in NICU and tiny baby hats. They're needed more than you think. Love knitted items.

Oh these replies are a pleasant surprise!
Thanks for the heads up re. being child friendly. I wouldn’t be selling them, just giving them. I will buy wool and stuffing intended for the purpose and will show my friends the labels.

I have a 10 month old (she'll be 1 just before Christmas) and I'd LOVE something like this for her, it'd be something that would be kept

Do it! Our baby DD was given a gorgeous hand knitted elephant when she was born, and it is one of the loveliest gifts she got.

It doesn't matter if you aren't selling them. The same safety standards apply. Its why the octopi mentioned by a PP are not meant to be given to the babies once they leave SCBU.

MIL’s friend does this for DD all the time. She loves getting them as presents. This week she’s given her a Halloween pumpkin, ghost and witch and DD has loved playing with them.

Go for it!

@CrochetBug you're right that safety standards do apply but how many people go to the extent of testing it to gift a knitted toy? People know to be careful and it's the thought that counts

Lovely!

[quote Snackasaurus]@CrochetBug you're right that safety standards do apply but how many people go to the extent of testing it to gift a knitted toy? People know to be careful and it's the thought that counts [/quote]
Oh I agree. But it's something people don't always realise.

Top tip from a fellow knitter - use needles .5mm or .75mm smaller than the pattern. So like 2.75mm for double knit wool. It makes a tighter fabric with less space between the stitches, and the filling is less likely to seep through.

It's a lovely idea. I remember so fondly a knitted on I had from my aunt when I was pre-school and that was over 40 years ago.

I have one that my son had when he was a baby.

Great plan!

Sounds lovely! One of my most beloved toys as a child was a small navy blue knitted cat with buttons as eyes that a little friend "made" for me (I imagine with significant help from a parent).

Go for it! I'm a keen knitter, but I'm at an age where none of my friends have small children or are old enough to have small grandchildren, so I've never had an excuse to try making toys! I think for under 3s it's a lovely idea.

My lovely late Mam was a champion knitter (amongst many other crafts) and not long before she died she presented me with a box of the most gorgeous knitted toys for me but also for any future children I might have one day.

Knowing that her illness was terminal it gave her a great deal of joy to do this and definitely gave her something to focus on.

Two years after her death her Grandson was born and is now 15. His knitted Tetley Tea Monkey is still in his room and very much loved.

Just as she was.

Knit away OP, it's a lovely thing to do.

My Nan knits Mr & Mrs Claus stuffed toys/teddies. They are absolutely adorable!
Very similar to this:
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