Hand knitted baby items - would you use on baby?

[stripeyshutters]

My nephew's partner is going to be having a baby. Do people still use hand knitted items or is it just too old fashioned now? I mean things like attached images.

After I made a blanket for a friend’s DD2, she said that her toddler DD1 kept trying to take it for her doll, so I sent DD1 a doll-sized version & now doll & baby always use their blankets at the same time.

A colleague is having her second baby in February, so I’m repeating the pair of blankets idea for baby & big sister. It takes hardly any time to make a dolls’ blanket from the yarn left from the baby one!

I washed all hand knitted things on a quick wash with a low spin and never had an issue.

Probably better to just ask them, so you'll know whether you'd be wasting your time and materials or not.💛

I would use the hat, and cardigan over a babygrow but the little outfits only for photos or special occasions I think, due to the washing. But I love them!

Yes absolutely.

Things I found most useful were blanket for the pram, and old fashioned knitted boottees which seemed to stay on much better than the socks. Very cute with a matching cardigan.

My baby refused all hats unless it was very very cold outside.

I'd avoid the chunky and button pattern blanket in your OP - it doesn't look very comfy.

Pick a washable wool.

I have treasured the hand-knitted items we were given.

I love hand knitted things, the only thing that concerned me a little was buttons on cardigans but realistically just because something's sold in a shop doesn't mean the buttons are any better attached.

If you do make blankets make them without holes that baby's fingers can get caught in so avoid whatever the knit equivalent of crochet granny stitch is.

My DH's aunts made crochet cardigans, jackets and blankets and I adore them. Used with both my children. I don't think they are old fashioned at all.

They are very cute. The only reason I wouldn't is because of the washing issue.

You should ask your nephew (or ask him to ask his partner, if she'll be doing the washing).

I have hand-knitted cardigans, hats and dresses for my baby. Wouldn't use the sleeping bag because she's swaddled ATM.

Love hand knitted stuff. And it was especially useful as a newborn, as she was born with a tiny head, too small for the shop bought newborn hats. My mum rattled a tiny hats off for me quickly and then a more involved patterned one arrived a week later. It has loads of stretch and we used it every day for the first few months.

Perhaps you could also offer the same? They will measure the babies head in the hospital. If you ask them to send that measurement, you could do a made to measure hat! Our daughter screams every time a hat covers her eyes, it was so useful for us to have one that fitted properly!

Yes.
But in cotton/easy to wash material.
Without holes for getting little fingers trapped in

Socks and mittens I’ve never used tbh.
But I still have kept the cardigans my gran had knitted for my dcs (they’re adults now 😂)

Yes! My DMIL knitted little blankets for each of mine when they were born, both blankets still on the go keeping teddy bears and tiger cuddlies warm 🥰 Also was gifted some gorgeous cardis for DD over the years knitted by a friend of MIL's and a beautiful white baptism blanket that has been used for all my DCs and DNs baptisms.

I would have been delighted with those! I took up crochet after the baby days so didn't make my own anything.

Hand knitted is lovely, you can get some really nice, soft and machine washable yarns. I made my best friend a baby blanket and she loved it.

Lots of baby yarn can be handwashed these days, and dries very quickly over and airer too.
@stripeyshutters I'd do plainer things like the cardi or a nice hat, or even wee booties/socks, in an easy washable baby yarn and in creams or neutrals (nothing too patterned or fluffy).

Yes, I loved the little cardigans I had for dc. They still used a couple of the blankets for their dolls! I found the cardigans especially on cold winter mornings to put over their babygros before I changed them into clothes for the day.

Yes, they are invaluable. They're warm and they stretch.

It's pretty much all my DD wears, but I do have quite traditional taste. Most yarns people use these days can be chucked in the washing machine at 40 alongside everything else.

I meant the baby sleeping bags.

The ones in the shop have different togg ratings

These were my absolute favourite items when my 2 were babies. I’ve kept them all too.

Interesting the cardigans and hats were the ones my daughter used the most for her children . They look lovely and were very useful over the top of their clothes in the winter.
She never used mittens as they never seem to stay on and the blankets weren't used much either as the babies slept in sleeping bags.
But everyone is different. OP the items look beautiful, I would ask who we've you are knitting for what they would like

I agree with this

Another thought: for any keen crocheters with time to spare and small children to please, look up Zookeepers Blanket. It’s fantastic. Toddlers love them and they are real heirlooms.

What is unsafe about a hand knitted cardigan?

They are very sweet and I kept all the stuff that was knitted for DDs. I mean, they are 19 and 15 now and it is in a keepsake box. I couldn't bear to part with it. Some of the baby blankets they still had on their beds for years.

The cardigans etc are lovely but I wouldn't use the sleeping bag as it's not attached at the shoulders so the baby could slide down into it. My step mother made some beautiful cardigans and we were sad when the last baby outgrew them!

‘Safe’ as in ‘a safe bet’, likely to be used.

With the style of baby clothes, little sweatshirts and jumpers, outdoor clothing etc, cardigans over a baby grow aren’t used as much as perhaps they were.

Blankets are handy for prams, pushchairs, car seats etc and aren’t outgrown quickly like a cardi.