Knitting for babies is fun. Baby items are generally cute, sometimes more whimsical than what we make for adults, and are small, which can make for a quick project. There are many different items you can knit for baby: hats, booties, cardigans, blankets, dresses, sweaters, toys, etc. With the exception of baby blankets--and even among those, there are patterns designed to knit up quickly--baby-sized projects are perfect for last-minute gifts.

When knitting for baby, choose yarn carefully. The most important requirement is softness. This knitted item is going to be next to the most delicate skin on earth, so no rough stuff. Although many people have a preconceived notion of wool being scratchy and itchy, there are wool yarns manufactured today that are exquisitely soft. Sometimes, however, wool allergy is a consideration. Some babies are allergic to wool and since you probably won't know this beforehand, you can either go with the wool or choose another fiber. If you do choose wool, it'd be a nice favor to the new parents to use "superwash" or machine-washable wool--new moms and dads are usually too busy adapting to their new lifestyle of caring for a baby around the clock to have time to lovingly hand-wash anything (with the possible exception of the baby). Many charities who accept baby items, however, require acrylic yarn--they don't have to worry about allergies and it's washable.

Cotton is also acceptable. Cotton tends to be a less forgiving fiber (as far as hiding uneven stitches or mistakes), but in a warmer climate, can be more comfortable than wool. There are yarns that are a combination of cotton and other fibers: cotton/linen, cotton/acrylic, cotton/nylon. A cotton jumper in the summer is an adorable option. Again, as with wool, check the washability. Acrylic is widely available and some yarn companies manufacture lines specifically for baby knitting. Most acrylics are inexpensive and machine-washable and dryable, making them ideal for baby items.

When choosing colors, you can go the traditional route and knit with pastels, or you can be a little modern and use bright colors. Different colors can give the same pattern a vastly different look. A knit blanket done in blocks, with letters of the alphabet on each block, would get more attention in primary colors or even black and white because babies notice bright colors more. If you know the sex of the baby beforehand, you can go with blue for boy and pink for girl, but you could also knit in beige or cream (making it unisex). If the sex isn't known, yellow, green, or white are traditional options, but again, it doesn't have to be pastel if you don't want.

A baby blanket is going to require more time than smaller items, so plan accordingly. You can find a pattern as simple or as complex as you like, but keep in mind the commitment. Good knitters the world over have been felled by the utter tedium involved in the millions of repetitive stitches in a blanket (myself included).

You don't have to stop at clothing or blankets. You can knit the new baby a teddy bear or soft blocks (which can either be played with individually or combined into a mobile). But why stop at teddy bears? There are patterns for knitted elephants, rabbits, cats, dogs...you name it, there's probably a pattern for it.

There's no shortage of patterns or books designed specifically for baby knits. Besides the available patterns on the Internet, here's a short list of just several books:

Knitting for Baby by Melanie Falick and Kristin Nicholas

Baby Knits for Beginners by Debbie Bliss (very easy patterns perfect for beginners)

Adorable Knits for Tots by Zoe Mellor (showcases many patterns in bright, fun colors)

Simple Knits for Cherished Babies by Erika Knight

Baby knits are perfect for when you need a quick "fix." A simple baby cardigan can be worked up in a weekend; a hat in just a few hours. If you want the feeling of accomplishment a FO (finished object) can provide, knitting for babies will give it to you.