Calling knitters/ crocheters with a yarn habit....

[UMaimedMe]

I'm going to have a go at making this blanket for a friend as a gift when her twins arrive in December (or perhaps even two blankets). I've done a couple of squares using this pattern for Chipmonkey's blanket, and they came out quite well.

I'd like to do it in something a bit more exciting than standard baby pastels, perhaps one of these fancy ombre yarns, but I don't know where to start looking. Has anyone got any suggestions for something soft, beautiful and colourful, that will work well with this design, but not hideously expensive?

woollies

Woolly bump

The nice ones I have seen all seem very ££, if you mean self patterning/varying colour ones.

I really like the look of artesano hummingbird, but even when on offer is about £11 per 150gm skein this one

But , if you are doing the lettered squares IMHO it would be better in a plain one colour yarn.

I would just do different coloured squares. Looks fab though [hsmile]

Blanket looks fab - I'd be tempted to do it in plain colours, but in 5 or so of them to get a patchwork effect. Babycashmerino is gorgeous for baby stuff - check out attic24's blog for non pastel colour inspiration:)

I'm making this blanket too! Though i dont have a baby to give it to...
Im making it in white baby aran and its GORGEOUS! I'd stick to a plain colour or you may lose the definition on the letters.

I thought the white might be a bit plain on its own but its actually stunning and has the advantage of becoming instantly unisex and timeless

I would use what we use for the various MN blankets - Rowan Cashmerino or Debbie Bliss or the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino.

It isn't that cheap but it could be worse plus they both come in lots of colours so you could get a scheme going to do different squares in different colours or, if you feeling adventurous, do the lettering in different colours to the rest of the squares.

Since the yarn they use is pure acrylic I would go for a matching acrylic. The bereavement blankets we made were in pure wool, but if you want a 'working' blanket that gets used (and washed) a lot I would go for acrylic every time. There is loads of it about, in all sorts of colours.
Compare the thread length and thickness of the original pattern and match it with the yarn you want to use.
You may well have to use the internet for nice acrylic, since the posh shops don't really want to sell anything that is not expensive.

The yarn used in the MN blankets are 33% synthetic which is partly why they were choosen in the first place - they are a bit more durable than the wool/cashmere mix alone.

If you wanted a cheap machine washable wool Paton Dreamtime yarns are very nice and come in lots of good colours.

Patons Fairytale and Sirdar Snuggly are much the same as far as quality baby yarns go and both come in a good range of colours.

Or you can go Stylecraft Special DK which comes in loads of colours. It isn't as soft as the baby yarns though but still knits up well (although I actually crocheted with it but I don't suppose it makes that much difference) and it doesn't make a squeaky cheap acrylic blanket iyswim.

Ooh, sorry all, went away on hols and here are lots of lovely responses! Thank you one and all, and I'll be back to read them properly very soon.