Choose a soft yarn that can go in the washing machine, in a fine weight, usually sport or light (DK), so garments stay light and move well. Acrylic-bamboo blends like Alize Baby Best (90% acrylic, 10% bamboo, 100 g / 240 m) are easy care, Gazzal Baby Cotton (60% cotton, 40% acrylic) is cooler for summer, and Gazzal Baby Wool (40% merino) adds warmth. All three are OEKO-TEX certified.

Yes, a good-quality soft acrylic is widely used for baby clothes and blankets: it is machine washable, keeps its shape and suits babies who react to wool. It breathes less than cotton, so cotton is the better pick for hot weather. Look for OEKO-TEX certification, which tests for harmful substances. Alize Sekerim Bebe (100% acrylic, 100 g / 320 m) and YarnArt Baby Dream (90% anti-pilling acrylic, 10% bamboo, 100 g / 330 m) are both certified.

Usually not: merino fibres are much finer than ordinary wool, so most babies find it soft, and it is warm and breathable for cooler months. Alize Merino Royal is 100% merino (50 g / 100 m, 4–5 mm needles), while Gazzal Baby Wool XL blends 40% merino with acrylic and polyamide for easier care. Always follow the care symbols on the ball band, and if a baby has very sensitive skin, test a swatch against your inner wrist first.

Cotton is the go-to for warm weather because it breathes and absorbs moisture. Gazzal Organic Baby Cotton is 100% organic cotton (50 g / 115 m), and Gazzal Sweet Baby is a thicker organic cotton (50 g / 75 m) for quick blankets and toys. Cotton-acrylic blends such as YarnArt Jeans Soft Colors are a little lighter and stretchier than pure cotton. Buy all the balls for one project from the same dye lot.

For a baby blanket of about 80 × 80 cm, plan on roughly 600–900 m of sport or DK yarn, or 5–6 balls of a 120 m chenille. That works out to about 2–3 balls of Alize Happy Baby New (100 g / 320 m), 4–6 balls of YarnArt Baby (50 g / 150 m) or 5–6 balls of Himalaya Dolphin Baby (100 g / 120 m). Textured stitches such as bobbles use noticeably more yarn, so add a ball.

Yes, polyester chenille makes a very soft, warm blanket that works up fast and is usually machine washable on a gentle cycle. Wolans Bunny Baby and YarnArt Dolce are 100% polyester at 100 g / 120 m, and Alize Velluto is thicker at 100 g / 68 m; all three are OEKO-TEX certified. Weave the ends in well and keep an even, firm tension so loops do not pull out. As with any blanket, keep it out of a sleeping newborn's cot.