How To Make A Baby Blanket With Yarn? Comprehensive Guide

There are two common approaches to creating a knitted baby blanket.

It can be knitted or crocheted, according on your inclination.

However, regardless of the approach you take, you will undoubtedly put in a lot of time, effort, and care.

Knowing that your efforts at crafting are contributing to your baby’s safety and comfort is a rewarding feeling.

But before you start building it, you need to figure out how big it should be, how many skeins you’ll need, and what kind of yarn to use.

The Benefits Of Baby Blankets

A sense of security

One of the best things about baby blankets is that they remind newborns of the cozy and warm environment they were accustomed to while they were in the womb. Baby blankets in general, and swaddling blankets in particular, can help a young child feel secure by wrapping around them snugly while also providing necessary warmth.

Stimulation of the senses

Of course, the blanket can also offer young babies some of the sensory stimulation they crave. You already know that babies find the tactlessness of blankets to be quite enticing. In addition, babies might enjoy the visual stimulation provided by the variety of vibrant colors and patterns available. When a baby is being rocked or otherwise moved around, the blankets generate sounds that are soft and pleasant to an adult’s ear but highly intriguing to a newborn. The sheer amount of stimulation provided by a baby blanket is astounding given how basic they are.

Temperature regulation

Obviously, the blanket can also provide the kind of tactile stimulation that newborns and infants need. Surely you are aware that infants find the tactlessness of blankets to be quite enticing. In addition to being comfortable, they are generally designed with a baby’s visual interests in mind. The movement of blankets can also generate some quiet but intriguing sounds to a baby. To put it simply, infant blankets are surprisingly stimulating given their apparent simplicity.

You can see now that baby blankets are crucial to a baby’s growth and development, and not only in the obvious ways you might have believed. It would be hard to find a better use for your crocheting skills than practicing on a couple of adorable baby blankets, whether you’re expecting a child yourself or know someone who is. Remember to use the smoothest, least scratchy fabrics you can get your hands on.

How To Make A Baby Blanket With Yarn

Make a baby blanket out of yarn in one of two ways if you’re not sure where to start;

Method #1. Crocheting

• Create a blueprint for the baby blanket. You’ll need to select the desired size, yarn, and hook before you can begin.
• The second step is to determine the types of stitches you will be employing. You can choose from a wide variety of crochet stitches and techniques, some of which are more involved than others.
• Third, make the foundation chain that will serve as the base for your blanket.
• Step 4: Master either the single or double crochet stitch.
• As a first step, make a chain five inches long. Occasionally pause your work to make sure the chain is not twisted.
• First row of crocheting. Step 6. Work single or double crochet stitches along the foundation chain, beginning with the second chain from the hook.
• Seventh, once you’ve completed the rotating chain, you may begin working on the second row.
• Eight, keep crocheting until you have completed the desired number of rows.
• Bringing the blanket to a close is Step #9.

Method #2. Knitting

• First things first: sketch out your baby blanket design. Pick out the correct size needles, yarn, and skein. For infant blankets, circular needles tend to work best.
• Second, thread your right needle with a slipknot.

To make a slip knot, wrap the yarn twice around the index and middle finger, then thread the first loop through the second.

To draw the tail in and secure it, pull.

• For the third step, cast on approximately 133 stitches. Pursue both threads simultaneously. Wrap the end of your working yarn around the needle on your left hand.

Insert your right-hand needle inside the loop. The yarn can be retrieved by passing it through the loop on the left needle.

• Fourth, to work in garter stitch, knit across the rows. This stitch requires very little skill to execute, making it ideal for novices.

While other stitches are not prohibited, you are free to use your own.

• Across your rows, work a speciality stitch for a more sophisticated and elaborate blanket in step 5.

You may attempt the brioche, bamboo, seed, or brioche waffle stitch.

• Step #6: If you want to make stripes, you can switch up the color scheme every 10 colors.
• Seventh, keep going till you get to the desired size.
• Eighth, bind the final row of the blanket. Finish up with a knot, and then weave the end in with a yarn needle.

The blanket’s edge can be hidden by cutting a satin border and pinning it in place.

How Big Is A Baby Blanket?

Baby blankets come in a wide range of sizes. The answer depends on the blanket’s intended use.

A standard size for a baby blanket given at birth is 30 inches square.

The standard size of a crib blanket is between 45 and 60 inches long. The swaddling blanket ranges in size from roughly 40 by 40 inches to 48 by 48 inches, making it one of the largest.

How Many Balls Of Yarn To Make A Baby Blanket?

How much yarn you’ll need to make a baby blanket is variable.

One to three skeins of yarn are sufficient for a baby blanket of appropriate size for a newborn, whereas three to seven skeins may be required for a larger blanket.

You can get a more reliable result by doing the math by hand.

Simply find out how many yards are in a single ball of yarn by looking at the label.

What Type of Yarn Should I Use For A Baby Blanket?

Baby blankets, as their name implies, are intended for infants, thus they must be specially designed and constructed to ensure the newborn is warm and cozy.

Blankets for infants should be gentle on their skin and simple to wash. Knowing what kind of yarn to use is crucial while creating one.

Some of the finest yarn supplies are listed here.

Cotton

You may rest assured that your infant won’t overheat in cotton yarns because of their natural coolness and crispness.

Besides being long lasting, this yarn is very simple to maintain. It’s also quite gentle, so it’d be ideal for newborns with delicate skin.

Polyester/Acrylics

These yarns are excellent selections if you are seeking for those that require less maintenance. They may be machine washed and dried and should last a long time.

The majority of these yarns are soft and gentle enough for a baby’s delicate skin.

7 Best Yarns for Baby Blankets

Brava Yarn From We Crochet + Knit Picks

Because of its low cost and attractive finished product, Brava yarn is ideal for making baby blankets. The modern granny baby blanket I made with it in a few different colors worked out great.

You can easily crochet a baby blanket with just one skein, as it has 218 yards and costs very little. Have a look at the wide variety of yarn colors available for crocheting a beautiful baby blanket.

Vanna’s Choice From LionBrand

I cannot sing the praises of Vanna’s Choice yarn enough. It has a broad variety of attractive hues, is easy to work with, and is reasonably priced. The 171 yards in each skein of this four-weight yarn come in a wide variety of colors and patterns.

See how Vanna’s Choice looks when it’s crocheted into a baby blanket by checking out these examples of blankets made with the pattern.

Softee Baby From Bernat

Lightweight three yarn, made entirely of acrylic fiber, is what we call Softee Baby. It comes in a wide variety of pastels, brights, and ombres, making it ideal for crocheting baby items.

Take a good, long look at the yarn so you can see the stunning baby blanket you’ll create with it. I’ll tell you a secret: this fluffy yarn would make a great blanket.

Baby Blanket Yarn From Bernat

Baby Blanket Yarn is an extremely bulky six weight yarn made of 100% polyester. The larger yarn works up quickly, making even a large project like crocheting a baby blanket appear simple. It comes in both standard blanket yarn and baby blanket yarn. A soft baby blanket can be made using either yarn.

If you want to see how blanket yarn looks when crocheted into a baby blanket, check out the Sea Soft Blanket pattern here on Easy Crochet.

Soft Baby Steps From Red Heart

Soft Baby Steps yarn is an acrylic medium weight yarn that comes in a lovely spectrum of baby-appropriate hues, from neons to pastels.

I used it to create the pattern for the Granny Stitch Ripple Baby Blanket, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. It’s the ideal shade of pink for a baby blanket and it’s super silky.

Cotton + Cotton Blend Yarns

Yarns made of cotton or a cotton blend are highly recommended because of their softness, durability, and low care requirements. Comfy Cotton by Lion Brand and Comfy Worsted by WeCrochet are two of my all-time favorite cotton yarns. Read on to find out more and get ready to crochet the most cuddly baby blanket ever!

Comfy Cotton Blend From LionBrand

The three-weight yarn known as Comfy Cotton Blend is a blend of cotton and polyester for added softness and durability. Because of the blend’s airy texture, it’s ideal for a baby blanket or present at any time of year.

There are 392 yards in a ball of this yarn, so you won’t need as much to make a baby blanket, and you’ll have less ends to weave in before beginning a new project.

Comfy Worsted From WeCrochet

Comfy Worsted has 109 yards and is made from 75% pima cotton and 25% acrylic (100 m). Whether you’re making a baby blanket or something else entirely, this yarn will work beautifully.

This yarn is ideal for use adjacent to a baby’s skin because of the pima cotton it contains. In addition, it may be cleaned and dried in a washing machine.

FAQS

How Much Yarn Do I Need For A Baby Blanket Pattern?

A tiny crochet baby blanket will require about 400 to 500 yards of four weight yarn. The exact amount of worsted (or medium) weight yarn required to make a baby blanket of a certain size will vary depending on the yarn used. I find the Lion brand’s How Much Yarn Do I Need? chart to be an invaluable resource.

Although the sizes of crocheted baby blankets can vary, the site referenced above provides some useful averages for common blanket types, including the lovey, stroller, receiving, and baby sizes, which can be used for yarn calculations. To aid with yarn yardage, you may also use the Easy Crochet blanket resizing calculator. Don’t forget that the required yardage will vary depending on the recipient. The size of the finished blanket will vary depending on whether it is intended for a newborn or an older baby.

Do I Need To Buy All The Yarn For The Baby Blanket At The Same Time?

Yes! For consistency’s sake, it’s best to buy all the yarn you need for the baby blanket at once. When yarn is produced, it is assigned a dye lot that specifies whether or not subsequent balls or skeins will be of the same hue. The dye lot information is typically printed on the yarn’s outside label.

You wouldn’t want a baby blanket with varying tones of the same color, so be sure all the yarn you use is from the same dye lot. If you don’t want a traditional baby blanket and instead go for an ombre effect, this might work well. If you want your baby blanket to look more uniform, I always recommend using yarns from the same dye lot. You’ll be grateful to me in the future.

Conclusion

A baby blanket is a great first knitting or crocheting project. It’s ideal for you or a buddy who recently became a parent.

As long as the baby who will use it is comfortable, warm, and snuggled, it doesn’t matter what technique you used to create the baby with the yarn.