We've selected some of our favourite cotton yarn for baby blankets, so your spring and summer bundles of joy don't overheat!
Cotton yarns are well loved by knitters and crocheters alike. Aside from being hypoallergenic and a fantastic choice for those with lanolin (wool) allergies, most are machine washable in addition to being soft and strong as well.
FREE PATTERNS! These free crochet baby blanket patterns feature Drops Safran, a 100% cotton yarn in a 4-ply/fingering weight that knits and crochets up like a dream. Click here for the free patterns!
Why should you use cotton yarn for baby blankets?
As mentioned above, cotton is hypo-allergenic, which is a great option for little ones with wool allergies or sensitive skin. Lanolin, the oil that sheep have in their wool, is generally what causes that allergic reaction. Cotton (and other plant fibres too, as well as alpaca) doesn't have lanolin, and it makes up most of an average wardrobe. It's easily washable, usually can be tumble dried, and it's soft and smooth against the skin.
Cotton allows for airflow and breathability, while keeping your little one safe from unexpected evening and early morning drafts. The cotton yarn helps prevent overheating in warmer weather. Cotton has been clinically proven to help improve sleep when used for sheets or blankets!
We also like that cotton yarn doesn't retain odours like some synthetic fibres like polyester and acrylic can. The cellular structure of the cotton plant fibres mean that bad smells wash away easily in the machine, leaving your little one with a fresh and clean blanket no matter what happened to it.
Wool and the Gang Shiny Happy Cotton is another one of our favourites, available in a wide range of shades! This cotton yarn is grown in Peru with a long staple fibre for an extra soft yarn your little one will love. At an aran weight, it works up quick!
What to look for in a cotton yarn for baby blankets
We all know that new parents (or those adding a new member to their family) are stressed out. We think that looking for yarns that are low-maintenance and machine washable, like Sirdar Snuggly 100% Cotton is the way to go! This particular yarn has been lighly mercerised, a type of heat treatment that gives cotton yarns a slight shine and keeps it from shedding fibres or splitting when you work with it.
Mercerised cotton yarns can take a lot of wear and tear, but can be slightly heavier than non-mercerised, especially at larger weights. Some knitters and crocheters have intentionally made heavier blankets to use as weighted covers for older children and adults.
Textured stitch patterns for both knitting and crochet can be used to make a squishier blanket and provide some interesting textures for baby to explore. We love simple ripple stitch blankets for crochet, or a waffle stitch or seed stitch for knitting. Both have minimal holes for little fingers to get caught in, but feel soft and nice!