ideas for easy care yarn for gifts

[Peace+Hope]

hi ladies,

lots of new babies in my near future, including my own, and i'm wanting to make hats, blankets, baby legwarmers.

here's my question:

is there yarn that i can knit baby stuff in that would not shrink if washed AND dried in washer/dryer? i'd love to be able to give things that require no fussy care to moms, as opposed to hand wash/line dry.

p.s. i avoid synthetic yarns, but am worried only synthetics will deliver this outcome...

thanks in advance, truly!

[notjustmamie]

I pretty much exclusively craft in cotton for babies. You can prewash the yarn to cut down on shrinkage. Also, I've found that it works like jeans--you wash them and they feel tight the first time you put them on, but then they loosen up as you wear them.

[Rhiannon Feimorgan]

You can also look at "super wash" wool yarn. This is yarn that has been treated so that it won't shrink. It's similar to the chemical relaxant that hair is treated with to make it straight.
There are many different brands and some are better than others. Most can be washed in the washing machine and some can also go through the dryer.

[iowaorganic]

I hate acrylic too- but ya know what? I have a DS who drags his hand knit and crocheted blankies around the farm and they have gone through evything from the cattle lot to tractor grease and wash and dry well. They come out clean but plasticy... He doesn't care one bit though. That said- I can't knit on acrylic- it hurts my hands so bad.

[Peace+Hope]

Originally Posted by Rhiannon Feimorgan

You can also look at "super wash" wool yarn. This is yarn that has been treated so that it won't shrink. It's similar to the chemical relaxant that hair is treated with to make it straight.
There are many different brands and some are better than others. Most can be washed in the washing machine and some can also go through the dryer.

oh, cool. would you mind, if you check back in to this thread, recommending the "better" brands?

[Peace+Hope]

Originally Posted by notjustmamie

I pretty much exclusively craft in cotton for babies. You can prewash the yarn to cut down on shrinkage. Also, I've found that it works like jeans--you wash them and they feel tight the first time you put them on, but then they loosen up as you wear them.

how would you prewash yarn? in the skein still rolled up, like in a mesh bag or something?

[notjustmamie]

Originally Posted by Peace+Hope

how would you prewash yarn? in the skein still rolled up, like in a mesh bag or something?

I would follow directions for dying yarn, only skip the dying part. As I recall, you wind the yarn and tie it every few inches then you can wash it. A lingerie bag would probably be good to help keep it from tangling.

[~Nancy~]

I avoided acrylic yarn .... until I started making preemie caps for our nicu. They only accepted soft acrylic.

I found a great brand - Wendy Peter Pan. My favorites are Tinkerbell, and Velvet Touch. The softest yarn ever! Makes adorable baby gifts.

[Malva]

Supewash wool!

Mission Falls 1824 Wool is soft and squishy!

[Rhiannon Feimorgan]

Originally Posted by Peace+Hope

oh, cool. would you mind, if you check back in to this thread, recommending the "better" brands?

Well my budget doesn't allow me to try every brand out there.especially the premium brands. I tend to use less expensive yarn or recycled sweaters. But superwash wool that I've personally used and had success washing/drying would be Patons Kroy Socks There are a bunch of self patterning colorways but I usually get the natural off white and dye it myself. I used to really like the Moda Dea but it's been discontinued. I've also been happy with everything I've ever bought from Knit Picks. The most disappointing superwash yarn was a premium brand I bought at a LYS. I can't remember what it was called now but it cost a lot. When I washed the socks I made some of the yarn shank and some parts didn't.

[DeerMother]

Dark horse fantasy is machine wash/dry. 50/50 nylon/acrylic. Lots of nice colors. I about worked my self in a tizzy b/c it is so splitty, but I know a lot of people like it. http://www.darkhorseyarn.com/catalog...asy&type=basic


eta - it's super soft too.

[mamaveggie]

I'm loving this at the moment for baby knits and there are tons of colors. http://www.knitpicks.com/cfyarns/yar...cfm?id=5420122

[Peace+Hope]

thanks to all of you - i've made a list and plan to see if my local small shops carry any of these brands. i'd rather buy it locally if i can.