Best yarn for a baby blanket?

[Zhx3]

My friend is having a baby and I'd like to crochet a blanket for her. I'm a beginner but have successfully crocheted a few patterns from books!

I was wondering if you could recommend your favourite suitable yarn, and any links to any patterns? I have a stash of Stylecraft Special DK and Drops Lima - use the Stylecraft a lot, but would love to know if there is anything else I should be buying. I remember having a gorgeous, bright stripy buggy snuggle for my own dc and it was nice to get away from the pastels for a bit!

Thanks in advance.

Stylecraft DK or for a chunky blanket (works well with chevron patterns) Bernat Baby Blanket

Personally, I use the Drops merino yarns for baby blankets. They are machine washable and amazing quality and so beautifully soft. There’s also a Drops merino cotton blend which is beautiful but the colours are quite muted compared to the pure merino yarns.

Of course it’s more expensive than acrylic but the finished item looks so much better. Much less expensive than natural fibres from other brands.

The other yarns I really like at the moment are the Scheepjes stone washed yarns - I made some toys for my twins using it and the yarn is lovely and would make a beautiful blanket.

Drops Lima isn’t machine washable is it? It’s a beautiful yarn but worth bearing in mind. I may be mistaken but I think that’s the wool and alpaca blend and handwash only?

My mum crocheted my dd a baby blanket using bamboo wool. It’s the most lovely, soft blanket and my dd still has it on her bed.

Machine washable above all else

Drops Lima is the alpaca one - thanks for the heads up on machine non-washability!

I love the Drops Merino, it makes such gorgeous squares. Will look at the bamboo and the Schjeepes too. Thanks!

Sirdar snuggly has come up really well for baby blankets. My mum made a few in different colours and they've lasted the test of time - v happy to be chucked into the machine over and over, with all sick etc disappearing. It's often 3 balls for 2 in hobbycraft.

I was admittedly a bit of a yarn snob pre kids and made some lovely cashmere jumpers and a blanket for them. Needless to say they were worn once and then sat in the hand washing pile for ages, never to be worn again!

I made one (knitted) for Gdc1 with Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, a DB pattern. It’s lovely and soft. I was a bit worried about the washing aspect since dd just chucks everything in, but over 5 years later it’s still fine and being used for Gdc3.