I don't know how I missed this board before! Knitting and Letterboxing are my favorite!

Anyway, does anyone have a suggestion for a SOFT natural yarn that would be good for a newborn baby sweater. I'm having a hard time because:
1. The parents are prone to allergies so the baby might be, too, so I'd like to avoid animal fibers
2. I really hate working with acrylic
3. I'm making a blanket out of cotton, but it seems kind of rough for a garment that may be worn next to the skin
4. I'd like it to be machine washable
5. could it possibly be organic, too?
6. I'd like it to come in at least DK weight if not worsted.

Any suggestions? Too much to ask for?

Actually, yes, I have a couple of suggestions....

Soysilk yarn....

http://www.flyingfingers.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=20_3_4

or, believe it or not....hemp yarn....

http://www.lanaknits.com/usaallhemp6.html

I don't personally recommend the links I used above...those are more representative. You may like to do your own search online or ask at your local yarn shop.

Hope this helps!

JPMcD

Should have also added....mercerized cotton...VERY soft and silky, by the way. I use it all the time for baby/newborn items. Can be machine washed, and knits up great. And, you can get some colors (not a great selection, but some) at Micheals and Wal Mart, etc. I have better luck at my local yarn shop for 'baby cotton' for knitting. You can also find it online. My personal favorite yarn shop on line is www.gotyarn.com. She's great, answers questions, etc.

Here's some things she had:

http://www.gotyarn.com/detail.cfm?ID=2570

http://www.gotyarn.com/detail.cfm?ID=1358

I didn't see any mercerized, though...

Hope that helps too...

Jenni P McD

Thanks so much for the recommendations! I stopped by one of our local yarn stores today - Imagiknit in San Francisco, which you MUST go to if you're ever visiting the area! - and took a look at some mercerized cotton and some soysilk. They were great! I saw some great bamboo yarn that was soft, too.

They also had some cotton/tencel yarn that was so, so soft! Apparently tencel is man-made from wood pulp so it pretty much fits into the "natural fiber" category.

Anyway, thanks again for the suggestions and for inspiring me to get out there and handle some yarn. What a nice day!

Glad you found some great yarns. I always get so inspired with I go to my LYS...

and I walk out so broke....lol


JPMcD

I just checked gotyarn and they have some of the cotton/tencel blend for a great price. Their color selection isn't great on it (probably why it's on sale!), but they do have a nice natural colorway! I think I'm gonna buy some...

I do like gotyarn.....

and, don't feel shy about asking questions etc. She's really nice!

JPMcD