Appalachian Baby Organic Cotton Sport Weight Yarn

Is organic cotton yarn a good choice for babies?

Yes, and it is one of the main reasons we stock it. This yarn is grown, spun and dyed in the United States using low-impact dyes, so there is very little between the plant and the finished blanket. Cotton is also breathable and does not have the prickle some wools carry, which makes it a gentle choice for newborn skin and for anyone with a wool sensitivity.

Can you machine wash and dry it?

Yes, both. Like in your favorite cotton tee, a cotton fabric knit or crocheted with Appalachian Baby Organic Cotton Sport can shrink slightly on its first wash in warm water or its first time in the dryer, but not unpredictably so. If you’d like your project to stick to an exact measurement, we recommend blocking and laying your project flat to dry.

Where is this cotton actually grown and milled?

In the United States, start to finish. The cotton is grown, spun and dyed domestically, and the dyes are low-impact. If traceability is what brought you here, this is one of the few yarns we carry that can answer the whole question.

The organic cotton in this yarn is sourced from a group of around forty family farms in Texas, then travels to North Carolina to be spun at a third generation family cotton mill. Some skeins are left undyed, as like Appalachian Baby’s Chunky Cotton, and others are dyed using a low-impact dyeing process. The finished yarn is OEKO-TEX and GOTS certified. Read more on the Appalachian Baby Design cotton story here.

What can I make with a sport weight cotton?

Baby blankets, cardigans, bonnets, and light summer tops for adults. Sport weight is the sweet spot for baby knits, heavy enough to show stitch pattern and light enough that a blanket does not become too warm.

We often recommend Appalachian Baby Organic Cotton for baby items (it’s in the name)! It’s a frequent choice for baby cardigans, bonnets, and also tops and light sweaters for adults! Appalachian Baby Design has many pattern designs for baby garments in their Ravelry catalog.

How much yarn do I need?

Referencing your pattern and your desired size & gauge is the best way to ensure you will have enough to work with! For a general example, our shop pattern, the Courgette Bag, calls for four skeins of Appalachian Baby Organic Cotton Sport, or three of a main color and one of a contrasting color. Not every pattern you’re interested in using this organic cotton for will recommend this specific yarn as we do, but you can easily substitute by picking up the same yardage. We are always happy to help you work this out if the pattern is unclear!

If you are curious how Apricot Yarn & Supply began, read the full story on Our Story page.