What yarn for a baby blanket? (slow knitter)

[Bristolnewcomer]

I want to make a baby blanket for my much longed for first baby, but I'm SO confused about all the yarn options. Looking for:

• wool
• not too fine so that I can knit it pretty fast (but not sure how chunky you really want it for a baby blanket? what's the max you would use?)
• and a nice range of colours.

(Washable a bonus but not essential).

I'm a verrry basic knitter so just planning to do rows otherwise the chances of me getting in a tangle are 100% - I've done a couple like that before years ago and they looked nice but unfortunately can't remember what I used then.

Any recommendations would be really appreciated!

I am also a very basic knitter- just lines, definitely nothing fancy. The last one I made was woth Hayfield baby blossom chunky. They are soft and wash nicely and they have different coloured bits in the wool so when you make a basic just straight lines blanket it comes out in coloured stripes with little flowery type things on, self patterning maybe?

I'm not explaining it well but it made my plain knitting look really pretty.

When I could only knit and purl, cast on and cast off, I found this a good kit for my DS. Done quickly, not too stressful and didn't get bored. I bought an extra 2 x balls of wool and cast on 40 stitches, not 35:

https://www.woolcouturecompany.com/products/amias-baby-blanket-knitting-kit?pos=7&&sid=1f9204313&ss=r

Its washable in a laundry bag at 20 degrees or handwashbwith Woolite, dry flat.

Ah thanks! I am not confident I can make a self-patterning wool work...

Never thought of a kit! That's an idea.

Any more suggestions for wool would be great as I might make something bigger than the ones in the kit.

There are quite a lot of lovely baby wools out there but I struggled to find one that wasn't a synthetic blend for my stripey baby blanket crochet project (like you I plumped for simple rows, nothing fancy). Eventually went for Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo which has a lovely feel though it's a tad on the heavy side - https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/sirdar-snuggly-baby-bamboo-dinky-denim-117-50g

Their pattern suggests you'd need 11 balls for a baby blanket - https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/sirdar-5477-baby-blanket-in-snuggly-baby-bamboo-dk-downloadable-pdf

My blanket alas remains unfinished - baby's now here 😄

Good luck!

Haha aw @Nitwittishy can totally see how that would happen! Congrats on the baby 🥰

thank you x

MillaMia yarn is worth looking at. They started off producing just yarn for baby/ kids blankets, clothes etc but have added other yarns since. Most of their yarns are 100% wool and machine washable and the colours go together really nicely too.

https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/l/yarns/yarns-by-brand/millamia-yarn?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=82423033&utm_term=millamia%20yarn&gclid=CjwKCAjwg4SpBhAKEiwAdyLwvPaExAWcHSvP8LQk3n3xOIno_dow5V9XpsThKY2Em2bvMzzObo4VGxoCl-IQAvD_BwE

Hi Bristolnewcomer,

As per my knowledge, the Bamboo yarn is a popular choice for baby blankets because of its easy care. Also it is much softer than cotton, its lustre and drape turn even the simplest project into an elegant creation and it feels terrific against the skin.

As you are a slow knitter, I would suggest you to just buy an organic bamboo baby blanket online instead of knitting. If you search online you will get to see reversible baby blankets with lovely patterns. Last week only I came across one website called Tiny Lane that sells bamboo baby blankets. You can just go and check their adorable baby products.

I hope you find this helpful.
Thanks

Thank you so much!!! Really appreciate the advice on here.