Chicken boarders

[A chickychickychick-ENN!!]

Hello! You know my knitting and crochet skills are ropey, so I wondered if anyone could tell me about wool for knitting for babies.

 

Do you need to use special wool when knitting for babies?

 

Is any wool you must must must avoid (fluffy angoraey types, I imagine, but anything else as well?)

 

Is normal syntheticy double knit too harsh?

 

Is it better to use natural or plastic-based wool?

 

I'm thinking if baby clothes are washed all the time, what's the best type to use for durability and softness?

 

And does anyone know of anywhere that does deep dyed colours? I hate pastels really.

 

And does the wool type differ for blankets vs clothes?

 

So many questions AND so much ineptitude!

 

Ooh! And who knows of any cool free patterns? I'm thinking landgirl/boy style. 1920s-50s classic, rather than fussy Victoriana. Or geek funky modern - that might be good too.

[eeyoreshunny]

When I knit for babies I tend to just use whatever wool I like as long as it's easily washable (no mum wants to have to handwash )

A lot of brands will do a special baby wool if you want it but it does tend to be very a pastel pallet normally

a normal syntheticy double knit should be fine it becomes much softer once washed anyhow.

I use the same wools for blankets and clothes

 

http://www.ravelry.com Is FAB for free patterns

 

hope this helps a little and have fun choosing wool and making little cute bits

[BarbaraJ]

100% cotton for knitting is lovely and Bamboo wool

[theherd123]

Im sure whatever wool you knit with the parents will be very appreciative. I know the OH & I were when we received knitted gifts for our daughter

[Snowy]

Patons Fairytale Color 4 Me or Fairytale 4 ply is lovely, designed for babies and comes in a whole rainbow of bright colours!

[welovemarmite]

Patons Fairytale Color 4 Me or Fairytale 4 ply is lovely, designed for babies and comes in a whole rainbow of bright colours!

 

 

yep - i have some really bright variegated ready for me to knit up..... its fantastic!!

[Purplemaniacs]

I like knitting for babies with 4 ply rather than double knitting.

 

Chrissie

[A chickychickychick-ENN!!]

And what about colours? Was having a discussion with MIL who is a hardcore megapattern matinee jacket knitter, and she says newborns have to be in whites and pastels or it looks wrong. I hate em as a rule. Pastels, not newborns! My dad was saying I looked great in a navy babygro, and I'm of the colour-is-better school.

 

But what do other people reckon? Never go deep colour with a very wee one? Go colour at six months? Never?

[eeyoreshunny]

 

But what do other people reckon? Never go deep colour with a very wee one? Go colour at six months? Never?

 

I put all three of mine in very bright colours from day one my eldest had a lovely lime green sleepsuit which he looked fab in, I think it is acceptable to do either pastels or deep colours it just comes down to the parents preference in the end

[welovemarmite]

I ask the mum what sort of thing she would like. She said modern and bright..... she has dound out she is having a boy so I have gone orange, purple and lime green.... well she did say bright.

[Tulip]

I love bamboo yarns but am currently making myself a baby blanket in a wool/acrylic mix (63% wool) that I found at a good price. I panic about 100% acrylic stuff in case god forbid there's a house fire and it melts

 

Definitely Ravelry for free patterns

 

As for colour..... go bright, I will be! x

[PurpleTree]

And what about colours? Was having a discussion with MIL who is a hardcore megapattern matinee jacket knitter, and she says newborns have to be in whites and pastels or it looks wrong. I hate em as a rule. Pastels, not newborns! My dad was saying I looked great in a navy babygro, and I'm of the colour-is-better school.

 

But what do other people reckon? Never go deep colour with a very wee one? Go colour at six months? Never?

 

Bright colours definitely, the only white my 2 wore were babygrows at night time. Being welsh they were in red Welsh shirts from a very early age. My nan bought me lots of knitted matinee jackets in white from charity shops and they were never used.

 

Colours that won't show up milky sick stains are a good idea (for parents and baby! )

[ubereglu]

4 ply is better for little knits and always use something which is easy to wash and won't take too long to dry-eg a cotton blend rather than 100% as that takes ages to dry when using a washing line.

 

Acrylic is ok as long as it's soft though.

 

In regards to colours stripey things usually go down well!

[Mrs Webmuppet]

Baby 4 ply is best.

 

There are some lovely modern knitting paterns out there for babies. I have an easy 'hoodie' pattern for babies, always goes down a treat with Mums. I also have an aran pattern for toddlers (another fav).

[Couperwife]

I think babies look amazing in COLOUR!!! - not just pastels

 

if mum thinks that colour is right - then colour is right - end of chat

 

cathy

x

[Omletina Kyckling]

I remember once reading that young babies respond more to bright colours than pastels....I bore this in mind when I bought my niece her first teddy bear, each limb etc. was a different bright shade....she preferred this to all the baby pink, cream etc. bears she was given....her eyes literally lit up when she saw it!!

[Velia41]

I am trying to find whom I can contact in the New Forest Area re knitting 8" squares.

 

Can anyone help me out please?

[bluekarin]

I'd say go for the colour. Mine looked gorgeous in their babygros in darks blues, reds and greens. I think it would look odd as well what with you in your colourful clothes and baby in pastel lemon