Choosing the Right Yarn for Baby, Part 1

There are a lot of decisions to make when starting a new crochet or knit project, but I tend to start with my yarn choice and let it drive my decisions from there (we'll be talking over the next few weeks about other options for the starting point).

The yarn choice for a baby project is especially important because there are some additional considerations to keep in mind than just softness against baby's skin: How easy is it to care for? How much will it cost to complete the project? How will it stand up to the test of time?

There are basically two choices, a natural fiber or a synthetic one.  Each has its benefits and downsides, which you'll need to weigh in making a final decision.  As we start exploring the different items that we will include in baby's first wardrobe, I'll make specific recommendations geared towards each project.  But, for now, here's some general considerations to keep in mind:

    1. Wool - wool is a natural fiber that produces a high quality, soft, and durable yarn for baby items; however, it can be more pricey than some of the other types of yarn and may shrink or felt when washed.  Look for a superwash wool that can be machine washed and dried to add life to the baby item and to make mama's life easier.

    2. Cotton - also a natural fiber that's soft, lightweight, and hypoallergenic, making it a comfortable and airy choice for baby in warmer climates; however, it's not going to provide the warmth that other types of yarn will, and it can stretch and lose its shape over time. 

    3. Bamboo - a sustainable and eco-friendly natural fiber that is soft and hypoallergenic; however, it stretches and loses shape even more than cotton and is not durable over the long term.  It can be expensive as well, but blended yarns with a little bamboo in them can be a good choice.

    4. Acrylic - a synthetic fiber whose quality has improved immensely in recent years.  It is cost effective and easier to care for than natural fibers; however, it may not be as soft and breathable and may not hold its shape over time.

Of course, there are a number of blended fiber yarns these days, which try to combine strengths of various fibers while minimizing the downsides.  In a future post, I’ll dig deeper into good combinations of fibers for baby, but, in my next post, we’ll explore yarn weights and which ones are well-suited for baby projects.