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Choosing yarn for baby items
Soft, washable and safe. Which fibers work for babies, which to avoid, and the details that matter more than the yarn: buttons, ties and loose bits.
By The StudioPublished Jul 10, 20264 min read
Baby items get more use and more washing than anything else you will make, and they go against the most sensitive skin there is. The yarn that makes a beautiful adult sweater is often the wrong yarn for a baby cardigan. The choice comes down to three questions: is it soft, will it survive a hot wash and a tumble dry, and can any part of it come loose?
Fibers that work
- Superwash merino: soft, warm, machine washable. The classic choice for cardigans and hats. It grows a little when wet, so block the gauge swatch.
- Cotton: cool, strong, washes at any temperature. Good for summer items, bibs and anything that will be chewed. Heavier and less stretchy than wool.
- Bamboo and cotton blends: very soft with a slight sheen and good drape. Machine washable; dry flat.
- Acrylic and acrylic blends: cheap, light, washes and dries in the machine. Choose a soft, quality acrylic; the coarse kind is scratchy. Most hospital and charity groups ask for it.
- Wool acrylic blends: the warmth of wool with easier care. Check the label says machine washable.
Fibers to avoid
Anything with long fuzz: mohair, angora, brushed alpaca and eyelash or novelty yarns shed fibers a baby can breathe in and can be pulled loose and swallowed. Untreated, non-superwash wool felts in a hot wash, which a tired parent will do eventually. Very slippery yarns like pure silk or bamboo tape make the stitches loosen with wear. And anything you cannot bring yourself to wash on a normal cycle is a gift that will sit in a drawer.
Softness test
Hold the skein against the inside of your wrist or your neck for a few seconds. If it prickles there, it will prickle on a baby. Softness on the shelf is not the same as softness after washing, though: some acrylics soften in the wash and some wool blooms and gets fluffier. A swatch, washed, is the only real test, and it takes ten minutes.
The details that matter more than the yarn
- 1Buttons: sew them on with strong thread, through the button and a small backing button on the wrong side if possible, and check them at every wash. Or use the tie or snap option that our baby patterns include for under one year.
- 2Ties and cords: keep them short, never around the neck, and never on anything worn in a cot or car seat.
- 3Faces on toys: embroider eyes and noses. Safety eyes are for children over three and only if fitted correctly with the washer fully home.
- 4Holes: lace and open mesh catch fingers and toes. Keep blanket stitches closed enough that a fingertip cannot push through.
- 5Ends: weave every tail in for at least 5 cm in two directions. Small hands find loose ends and pull.
Weight and size
Fingering to DK weight suits small garments; worsted makes a thick fabric that is bulky on a newborn but fine on a blanket. Babies also grow faster than crochet happens. Unless the gift is for the birth itself, make the next size up from the baby's current age, and make it in spring for autumn wear. The Little Acorn Cardigan has a note on lengthening the body and sleeves so a size lasts longer.
Color
Light colors show every stain and dark colors show every fluff. Mid-tones and heathers are the practical choice, and a variegated yarn hides a lot. Check that dark dyes are colorfast by washing the swatch with a white cloth; a good yarn will not bleed, but it is better to find out on a swatch than on a christening outfit.
Finally, keep the label. Tuck it into the gift with a note of the yarn and how to wash it. The person receiving it will thank you the first time it goes in the machine.
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