When a newborn baby comes along, one of the nicest gifts to give them is something which has been carefully hand knitted, such as a blanket, cardigan or little teddy.
Knitting for babies is such an unmissable opportunity to create something cute and our Bognor Regis knitting and crafting specialists have seen some lovely creations being made over the years.
If you browse through our website, you’ll see a wonderful range of knitting patterns for babies that offer some great inspiration. King Cole, for example, has some easy to follow knitting patterns for babies, which include some lovely cardigans and jumpers, booties and blankets.
There are also some gorgeous toy patterns by Sirdar which offer you the chance to create some of the cutest little animals and other toys, thanks to their happy cotton crochet booklets.
This kind of inspiration makes it easy for even the earliest of beginners to give a really lovely and personal gift to the child of a friend or loved one when they welcome their baby into the world. So what should you take into account when knitting something for a baby?
Make sure it will suit them
Just like that awful 1970s style bridesmaid dress you might have been forced to wear as a child, there’s no point knitting something for a baby that the parents won’t like (or indeed, the baby).
Remember to create your gift based on the style of the parents, so that you know they really will treasure it and it won’t end up discarded in the back of a wardrobe.
After all, if you’re going to take time and effort in knitting something for a baby, it’s worth ensuring it’s something the family will love – and that can be done based on their style.
Keep it safe and comfortable
While something may look lovely, it’s vital to check that it will be safe for the baby. This means checking that there’s nothing loose for them to choke on, such as pom poms or buttons and no frilly bits they could get tangled up in. Also, check that it’s safe for them to put the knitted gift in their mouth – as we all know this a big favourite pastime for babies.
Additionally, it’s important to remember when knitting for babies that some wool can be quite scratchy, so check that if you’re making a blanket or piece of clothing, that it won’t irritate a baby’s sensitive skin. We have a lovely selection of yarns to choose from to ensure you get the right material.
Check your colours
It might be that the parents have chosen not to know the sex of their baby and many people these days choose not to go with the blue for boys/ pink for girls stereotype, anyway.
But, because chances are you will be knitting for a while in the lead up to the baby’s arrival, consider checking with the parents before you start as to whether there are any colours or styles which they prefer.
What to knit for babies
If you’re stuck for ideas on what to knit for the baby, or you want to keep it simple, remember you can’t go wrong with a blanket. Babies can never have enough of these, it seems.
Make sure it’s machine washable and comfy and it’ll be a valuable piece of kit for keeping the baby snuggly and warm while on pram rides.
For more information on our range of knitting and sewing materials, take a browse on our website, or get in touch with a member of the team.