Yarns for baby clothes and toys

What Yarn Should I Buy for Knitting and Crocheting Baby Clothes?

For baby clothes, the best choices are cotton, bamboo, or acrylic yarns, as well as their blends. These materials are soft, breathable, and gentle on babies' sensitive skin. Our products are ÖKO-TEX certified, which is particularly important for knitting and crocheting clothes for babies to ensure the yarn is soft, skin-friendly, and easy to handle.

  • Cotton Yarn: Natural, breathable, and soft. Ideal for summer clothes and babies with sensitive skin.
  • Bamboo Yarn: Hypoallergenic, antibacterial, and very soft. An excellent choice for baby clothes.
  • Acrylic Yarn: Easy to handle, washable, and generally more affordable. It's important to choose a soft variant.
  • Blended Yarns: Blends of cotton and acrylic, or bamboo and wool, can also be good options as they combine the benefits of different materials.

How Much Yarn is Needed for a Baby Garment or Accessory?

The amount of yarn needed for knitting a baby garment depends on several factors, such as the type of garment, size, yarn thickness, and pattern. Below are some general guidelines:

  • Baby Sweater or Cardigan: Typically requires 200-300 grams of yarn.
  • Baby Blanket: Depending on the size, you may need 300-600 grams of yarn.
  • Baby Hat: Approximately 50-100 grams of yarn is sufficient.
  • Baby Socks or Booties: Requires 50-100 grams of yarn.
  • Baby Pants: May need 150-250 grams of yarn.

These values are approximate, and it's always a good idea to check the specific pattern you want to follow, as it will provide more accurate guidance. If in doubt, it's better to buy a little extra yarn to ensure you have enough for your project.

For more accurate calculations, use our online yarn calculator. Check the yarn weight of the selected yarn (marked with numbers 0-7, which you can read more about here) and how many stitches and rows are needed for a 10x10 cm square (you can find this information in the parameter values on the product page of the selected yarn).

 

The Yarn Fairy recommends the following yarns for knitting and crocheting baby clothes
(from thinner to thicker yarns):

1. Thin yarns for finer accessories (yarn weight 1-2):

Scheepjes Catona is a mercerized 100% cotton super fine / fingering yarn (hook size: 2.5-3.5 mm). "Mercerisation" is a textile finishing treatment which improves dye uptake, tear strength and reduces yarn shrinkage. The surface of the yarn will be more silkier. Every shade of this yarn is Babysafe certified according to the international EN71-3 standard. This means you can confidently use it to make toys for children and infants. I highly recommend it for crocheting baby blankets and toys!

Yarn Weight: 1
Needle / Hook size: 2.5-3mm
Knit Gauge (10x10 cm = 4x4 inch, needle size 2.5 mm): 26 stitches, 36 rows
Ball: 25gramm - 62.5 meter or 25gram - 125 meter

 

Scheepjes Sunkissed is a 100% cotton super fine / fingering (1) yarn (hook size: 2.5-3.5mm). Each ball of Sunkissed has subtle, faded sections that create a beautiful texture. It made from 100% unmercerized cotton to give an amazing natural, matte finish, to your projects, as if it has been gently faded in the sun. This yarn is perfect for summer garments.

Scheepjes Catona Chroma is a beautiful, multicolored variation of the popular Scheepjes Catona. Both yarns are identical in fiber content and quality and the new colorways of Catona Chroma are based on the existing shades of the Catona series. This makes both yarns perfect to mix and match and gives projects a playful pop of color. Scheepjes Chroma is a mercerized 100% cotton superfine / fingering yarn. "Mercerisation" is a textile finishing treatment that improves, tear strength and reduces yarn shrinkage, and the surface of the yarn will be silkier. This yarn is perfect for amigurumi toys, crocheted dress-up dolls, and baby toys. Catona is suggested for colorful handmade crochet bags, home decorations, knitted baby blankets, hats, or clothes.

Yarn Weight: 1
Needle / Hook size: 2.5-3mm
Knit Gauge (10x10 cm = 4x4 inch, needle size 2.5 mm): 26 stitches, 36 rows
Ball: 25gramm - 62.5 meter or 25gram - 125 meter

 

 

Rico Design presents Ricorumi, a wide range of amazing multicolor and gradient amigurumi yarns. Ricorumi Twinkly Twinkly is upgraded with a sparkling glitter thread. Ricorumi Spin Spin conjures up harmonious color gradients, sometimes tone on tone, sometimes mixed colors. The yarn comes in a 50 g ball, which is why this yarn is great for crocheting slightly larger figures. Due to our huge color palette, you can combine all gradient colors with different plain shades. Ricorumi Spray yarn ball gives your stitches some extra texture for something a bit different. Ricorumi Prints blends some wonderful complementary shades for colour patterns that would spark anyone's imagination. Ricorumi Lamé lets you include a little shine in your crochet work, adding even more magic to your makes.

Yarn Weight: 2
Needle / Hook size: 2.5-3-3.5mm

 

As a company and as a brand, Scheepjes is continuously looking for ways to innovate and create products that are both enjoyable to use while also being good for the planet. This led them to the creation of their sustainably produced and vegan-friendly yarn, Scheepjes Organicon. Made from 100% Soft Organic Cotton, this Fingering weight (1) yarn is part of a global movement towards reducing resource consumption and conscious production methods. Alongside the benefits of organic farming on water quality, land fertility, and energy use, organic cotton is an exceptionally soft fibre that is delicate for you and your little one's skin. Being EN71-3 certified, Organicon can be used to knit or crochet garments, accessories, and home décor items that are safe for use by those with sensitive skin, in particular babies and children. Perfect for baby toys, amigurumi, and light baby blankets, hats, and so on...

Yarn Weight: 1
Needle / Hook size: 2.5-3mm
Knit Gauge (10x10 cm = 4x4 inch): 28 stitches, 40 rows
Ball: 50 gramm - 170 meter

 

2. Medium-thick yarns with exciting effects (3-4):

 

Scheepjes Stone Washed is a Sport weight cotton based (78%) yarn blend. A really special yarn with a "tough name" and a soft, woolly feel. It has a warm and soft touch thanks to its 22% acrylic fiber content and stiff and strong at the same time. Stone Washed can work equally well for monochrome designs and also for the projects with multiple color changes thanks to its special character. This very popular yarn by Scheepjes adored by both customers and bloggers.

Yarn Weight: 2
Needle / Hook size: 3.5mm
Knit Gauge (10x10 cm = 4x4 inch): 24 stitches, 32 rows
Ball: 50 gramm - 130 meter

 

Scheepjes Scrumptious is a deliciously sustainable go-to yarn, made of 50% Recycled Polyester (recycled plastic bottles) and 50% Acrylic. Scrumptious is a DK / Light (3) weight yarn, the recommended hook and needle size is 4.00mm. Being the same weight as Scheepjes' favorite, Colour Crafter, these new yarns can easily be combined or used as a substitute for the many existing patterns Scheepjes already has to offer in Colour Crafter. The 80 shades, in a mix of softly heathered and solid colors, offer lots of options to be creative!

Yarn Weight: 3
Needle / Hook size: 4mm
Knit Gauge (10x10 cm = 4x4 inch): 20 stitches, 24 rows
Ball: 100 gramm - 300 meter

 

Durable Comfy is a soft Fine / Sport weight (2) yarn made of 100% microfiber acrylic, which makes it a premium acrylic yarn. Microfibers are extra fine fibers with a natural touch. These fibers give Durable Comfy a light and soft structure and simultaneously ensure that the yarn is strong and durable. Durable Comfy can absorb and drain moisture well. This means crochet and knitting projects feel less clammy in warm weather.

Yarn Weight: 2
Needle / Hook size: 3mm
Knit Gauge (10x10 cm = 4x4 inch): 22 stitches, 33 rows
Ball: 100 gramm - 226 meter

 

Scheepjes Softfun is a marvelous all-rounder yarn made from a super soft Cotton and Acrylic blend in DK (3) weight  (needle/hook size 3.50 – 4.00mm). It is gentle to the touch while benefiting from the breathability of Cotton together with the lightweight, strength, and easy care properties of Acrylic. Thanks to these properties, Scheepjes Softfun is suitable for creating a wide range of knitted and crocheted items including garments for babies through to adults, accessories in all shapes and sizes, toys for children and items for the home. This yarn is suitable for creating almost everything! 

Yarn Weight: 3
Needle / Hook size: 3.5-4mm
Knit Gauge (10x10 cm = 4x4 inch): 21 stitches, 30 rows
Ball: 50 gramm - 140 meter

 

Scheepjes Stone Washed XL is a Medium / Aran weight cotton based (70%) yarn blend. A really special yarn with a "tough name" and a soft, woolly feel. It has a warm and soft touch thanks to its 30% acrylic fiber content and stiff and strong at the same time. Stone Washed can work equally well for monochrome designs and also for the projects with multiple color changes thanks to its special character. This very popular yarn by Scheepjes adored by both customers and bloggers.

Yarn Weight: 4
Needle / Hook size: 5mm
Knit Gauge (10x10 cm = 4x4 inch): 14 stitches, 19 rows
Ball: 50 gramm - 75 meter

 

Scheepjes Chunky Monkey is an amazingly soft Medium / Aran weight (4) yarn made from lightweight, hypoallergenic Premium Acrylic (recommended hook size: 5mm). This yarn boasts a lovely thick texture, and what’s more, it’s super easy to care for. A core feature of Chunky Monkey is that it is an Anti-Pilling Yarn. (You may already be familiar with those pesky little balls appearing on your knitwear garments or children's stuffed toys after frequent use; this is what we call Pilling.) Scheepjes Chunky Monkey, on the other hand, has been specially designed to prevent pilling!

Yarn Weight: 4
Needle / Hook size: 5-5.5mm
Knit Gauge (10x10 cm = 4x4 inch): 13 stitches, 18 rows
Ball: 100 gramm - 116 meter

 

3. Bulky Yarns with Special Textures and Effects (5-7):

 

 

Cuddle time! Durable Velvet is a wonderful soft medium weight (4) chenille yarn and suitable for projects like soft toys, pillows, blankets and lots of other home deco items. The high fiber density makes this yarn super soft and gives it a luxurious look. The recommended hook or needle size is 3-5mm. Durable Velvet is made of 100% polyester and 100gr balls with a length of 180m.

Yarn Weight: 4
Needle / Hook size: 3-5mm
Knit Gauge (10x10 cm = 4x4 inch): 10 stitches, 15 rows
Ball: 100 gramm - 180 meter

I would like to choose a baby cloth pattern

I still don't know which yarn to choose.

If you have any further questions or would like to ask for advice or assistance, feel free to contact me through any of the following channels:

Fonaltündér - Varga Bori Email: info@fonaltunder.hu 
Phone (weekdays from 8 AM to 6 PM): +36 30 565 9978

 

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