ok–I have managed to second guess myself into a frenzy here. As a new knitter I have been to the usual suspects looking for yarn to make a baby blanket. I first went to a great yarn shop and got great help picking out a fleece yarn in two gorgeous orange shades. I was very excited until I figured out the blanket was going to cost me over $100 to make. The pattern calls for double knit weight yarn and it is knit with two strands. I have picked out a worsted weight yarn in nonbaby standard colors but it is acrylic. The blanket is a gift for the wife of someone dh works with. So finally the question…what yarn should I pick that won’t cost me an arm and a leg but will still make an impressive gift? I need 800 yards each of two strands knit together. I am open to all suggestions! Thanks in advance
Need help with yarn choices
What’s wrong with the acrylic you picked out? I wouldn’t give a baby blanket that’s not machine washable and dryable.
If you want something a step ‘above’ acrylic, look at Plymouth Encore. It’s an acrylic/wool blend, comes in worsted and dk, lots of colors and is affordable. The worsted has 220 yards and goes for 5.29 from www.yarnware.com and the dk has 150 yds and goes for 3.19.
Thanks so much Ingrid, those are both great alternatives! I have never ordered yarn on the internet before so I suppose I should get my feet wet–HeHe–thanks again…you are a great source of information.
I got my most recent purchase of Plymouth Encore at a LYS so you might check to see if they have it.
I hve a bunch of baby blankets that were made for me out of acrylic, and it’s pretty much the only thing that I make baby blankets out of for other people – they wash up really nicely, and you can find acrylics that are SOOO super soft! 
It’s hard to justify an expensive yarn for a baby blanket because usually you need so much of it and it can literally be out of the dryer for five minutes before it needs to go back in the washer. It’s nice to have something without a special care label!