What Exactly is a Temperature Blanket?
A Temperature blanket also referred to as a Weatherghan or a 4 season blanket, is a blanket that is either hand-knit or crocheted daily– with yarn colors representing the temperature of each and every day of the year.
This is a 365-day project. You knit or crochet ONE row per day
This is a huge undertaking, but the blanket does not get boring at all, working on this blanket feels familiar yet new each day.
How Do you plan a Temp Blanket?
To begin your Temperature Blanket you will first need to answer 5 questions:
- Which yarn do you plan to use?
- What stitch are you going to use for this blanket?
- How big will your stitch make the finished blanket?
- How many colors of yarn do you want to use?
- What is your color scheme going to be?
While it is very tempting to plan your color scheme and buy your yarn first (a mistake, I did myself!) I highly recommend planning your Temperature Blanket by answering the above 5 questions in order.
- Which yarn do you plan to use? There are many yarns available to buy, and depending on your preference you want to choose a thinner yarn. A medium 4 thickness will work if you choose a stitch with minimal height. If you tend to crochet looser. then perhaps choose a thinner yarn. If you choose a bulkier yarn, keep in mind that there will be 365 rows and that adds up in inches quickly with thicker yarns.
- What stitch are you going to use for this blanket? I had initially planned on doing a hdc or dc row daily. But my test gauge swatch math turned out to be helpful here! If I had done a dc row a day my blanket would be as large as 12 ft!! You can to use a stitch that has a short height- a simple single crochet or a crochet moss stitch works best.
- How big will your stitch make the finished blanket? With the moss stitch, according my guage calculations, I will end up with a 72 inches long blanket. Thats about 6 ft long. so accordingly I started with a foundation chain to create a 55 inch size.
- How many colors of yarn do you want to use? This is where the fun begins! Depending on where you live, enter your city into a weather site like Accuweather and get an idea of what temperature range you will be dealing with. I live in Minnesota, and my temps can be anywhere from -30 to 100+! You can choose to use one color for every 10 degrees, or go narrower and change colors every 5 or 6 degrees.
- What is your color scheme going to be? Oh the choices you have! I chose a rainbow scheme with a couple of extra teal colors- which are my favorite. I have seen so many great examples of muted, pastel, grey tone Temperature blankets too!
QUICK TIP: Create a small swatch of your blanket say 20 chains long, work 10 rows in the pattern you want for this Temperature Blanket. Measure how tall the 10 rows is in inches and multiply that by 3. That is how long your finished blanket will be in feet!
For example, on day 10 my blanket meausured 2 inches tall, that means that my finished blanket will be 2 x 3 = 6 ft long!
crochet temperature blanket color chart
Below is a list of the colors of yarn and the temperature ranges I chose for them. Most of the yarns I am using for this blanket are Loops & Threads® Impeccable™ Yarn, Solid.
I’m using about 15 yarn colors with a 10-degree range for my Temperature Blanket.
HOW MUCH YARN DO YOU NEED FOR A TEMPERATURE BLANKET?
I’m really not sure how much yarn I will need- it all depends on the weather! I might need more of a certain color if the weather stalls- we shall see as this blanket progresses.
best stitch for temperature blanket
First, you can choose to knit or crochet this blanket. Either works. In my research, I’ve also seen beautiful Temperature Crochet art!
I chose to crochet. I wasn’t a fan of knitting one big blanket, it could get heavy on the needles towards the middle. If I make another one, I would like to knit and try though.
While crocheting, make sure that you choose a stitch with a short height- basic single crochet or crochet moss stitch works great here.
NOTE: Stitching a row a day is probably the simplest of all Temperature blankets, You can also create other designs- like a granny square a day, or a crochet hexagon a day and then join 366 blocks at the end of the year!
My temperature blanket crochet pattern
For my blanket, I am using the Crochet Moss Stitch. This stitch is also known as the linen/granite/moss stitch. The pattern goes as follows:
Using a size H/8 5mm hook, start with a foundation chain as wide as you would your blanket to be, in multiples of 2
Row 1 Sc in 2nd ch from hook, [ch1, sk1, sc in next st] repeat to end, turn.
Row 2 Ch2, [sc in next sp, ch1] repeat to last sp, sc in the last sp, turn.
Row 3 Repeat row 2 until you have completed 365 days
How many chains to start a temperature blanket?
This one needs a little bit of math. If you are using a medium 4 thickness yarn, and getting 4 rows to an inch you will need approximately 350 chains to make a square blanket of 365 rows.
To make more of a rectangle blanket, start with a foundation chain of about 225 to 250 chains.
NOTE: If you start with a short foundation chain, your blanket will end up being skinny and tall and not wide enough for even a person to use. So make sure to check your gauge!
But, if you have started the project, and feel that your blanket seems skinny midway- simply create two panels and join them together to form one big blanket. So you would work with a row a day from Jan to Jun and then start another blanket for July to Dec and join them both!
ETA end of 2022:
Friends, this Temperature Blanket of mine has been a lesson in patience and love for me. I have had to change course so many times since I started and I really didn’t know how to add all this info into this blog post.
So I decided to start at the beginning and just take you along my progress month by month- and hopefully you will be able to benefit from my mistakes!
Mistakes I made in my Temperature Blanket (and how to fix them!)
January, I started my Temperature blanket with my above color chart of 15 beautiful rainbow colors. I had a new color for every 9 degrees and my colors went fro -30F to 100F +. I worked for the first 30 days of the year-
First MISTAKE I MADE: My gauge calculation was off. At the end of month 1, I was 1/12 of the way through with my blanket and when measured it was about 6.5 inches tall. That brings finished blanket estimate to 12 x 6.5 =78 inches tall. But with my 200 stitches cast on, the blanket was barely 45 inches wide.
Second MISTAKE I MADE: While growing my Temperature Blanket I had somehow lost stitches. I am not a beginner crocheter, and have many scarves and blankets. Dropping stitches/ missing stitches while turning is not something I do. BUT this time, I was paying too much attention to changing the color + weaving in the color changes as I go. And then one day I pick up my blanket and saw I no longer had a straight side to the blanket! What a bummer.
February, I’m observing a pattern in my blanket- I just use the blues and teals and for some reason there is a lot of green but NO purple or dark blue at all!
Third MISTAKE I MADE: I had made my color chart from -30F! Yes, I live in Minnesota, but the daily HIGHs never go that low. When making my color chart I had taken into consideration both the daily lows and highs (face palm) – I should have ONLY focussed on the daily high temperatures as that is what I am documenting. And the daily high rarely falls below 0F so I basically had wasted my first 3 colors.
So now we are in mid Feb and here is how I fix those mistakes:
- Restart the blanket with more chains: I started a new blanket (did not frog- I loved the colors of what I had created, and saved it to be used as a scarf) and this time I changed my starting chain to 264. I decided to start fresh so that I would have a blanket that I love and since it was still early it would be doable.
- Recalibrate the colors: I eliminated a few colors, double checked the approximate daily high temperature of my area and recreated a new Temperature Blanket Color Chart (spoiler alert- I change the colors again, more later)
- Pay attention to your turning chains: This time I ensured that every time I turned the blanket was not losing stitches.
And then at the end of February, we had to suddenly travel to India to due to my Mother in laws sad demise. Within 24 hours we booked our tickets and were on an international flight. We stayed there for about a month and I didn’t take my Temperature blanket with me.
During the entire month of March, we were grieving so hard, but I also was so amazed that it was 2022 that I chose to start my first ever Temperature Blanket.
This blanket would now made in memory of my Mother in law and will forever serve as great hug for my kids.
But now, I had a new question.
“Do you document Temperatures where you live or where you to travel to in your Temperature Blanket?”
There is no right answer- the choice is yours here. On long plane layovers, my husband, daughters and I discussed this question a lot. We decided as a family that we wanted the scorching hot days of Hyderabad documented into the blanket- because that was temperatures we had lived through. Hyderabad had gone through an unprecedented heat wave during our stay and the daily high temps had been 106F for days.
April, we were back home in Minnesota. I slowly started catching up with my blanket. The blanket is super wide now and each row takes a good amount time. My goal was to do 2 or 3 rows a day, but with my Mom also visiting and staying with us, it was difficult to find time and honestly this blanket was not at the top of my priorities. Life happened.
I was still progressing with my blanket, but very slowly. At the end of the month of May, I again had to go to my Temperature Blanket Color Chart and this time added a black for the hottest temperature that I had not anticipated. I started slowly working on my blanket only to realize I did not like the black, hot pink and coral colors together at all.
What to do if you don’t like a color you’ve chosen?
I debated again for a few days, because I was already so BEHIND on this blanket, but then eventually ripped out the rows and recalibrated the colors. I wanted this blanket to be perfect, and something to last for years and the black simply had to go. I really was not liking the pink and coral together either.
Because the black was not a color that looked well with the others I had, I chose a neutral cream to break the color and mark days of white heat instead. I eliminated the hot pink (lippy) color completely, because it did not look good with the coral at all and redid the 80F + temperature range. At last I had my FINAL Temperature Blanket Color Chart.
I ripped out and redid rows in the new color scheme, and now I am loving this Temperature Blanket!
June. The blanket is progressing along nicely with a soft pink, coral, and cream section to mark our Hyderabad days. Yes, it is June and I am working on March. School has ended, and we had a few road trips planned. I took my blanket with me with good intentions, but the reality was that I never really got to work on the Temperature Blanket during the vacations. It was really too hot to work on the blanket, and my mom was visiting and the days were jam packed.
October. Yes, October. I shelved this project till after my mom went back to India. And then I slowly started progressing. I took my blanket to a Crochet meet at the Mall of America, and met so many amazing crocheters and found my Crojo back.
November. I’ve caught up with my blanket till June, and all the summery yellows are so pretty and beautiful!
December, I’ve finished June, and just starting July! Half way done and the blanket measures roughly 60 inches wide and 44 inches tall. So the finished blanket will probably be about 60 by 88 inches!
January (of the new year), I’m starting September! Three quarters of the way done and this project has gain momentum and is chugging along quickly.
End of January. I just started December, and the end is near! We are back to the blues and cool colors
I finished my blanket in the month of February and immediately missed having it as my crochet project buddy. This has to be the best blanket I have ever made, and that is saying something since I have been knitting blankets for more than a decade now.
My finished 2022 Temperature Blanket!
It was a cold February day but that did not stop us from taking a few photos outside too
I am beyond thrilled to be finally sharing my finished Temperature Blanket with you all!
The finished blanket is more than half the size of our King bed! The only other blanket I have ever made that comes close to this size is this Big Chunky Knit Blanket Pattern using Size 50 HUGE needles.
Is it too late to start a Temperature Blanket?
For 2023, I tried not to start a new blanket, but on Jan 20th I caved in and bought new yarn and got started! I was able to quickly catch up to speed in a few days. I’ve seen many people start their blankets in the middle of the year and document the next 365 days. You can also make historical blankets based of the temperature of a special year in your life.
2023 Temperature Blanket:
I could not resist starting a new blanket this year, but I made it simpler. I’m following my Basic Granny Square Pattern and crocheting one block per day. I’m making tiny blocks, with just 2 rounds each. These small blocks look so cute!!
How many granny squares do I need for a temperature blanket? I’ll be making a total of 360 blocks
with 15 blocks per row and 24 rows. If you prefer to document all 366 days, you will need create 11 extra filler blocks of your choice.
By making smaller blocks, I’m hoping I wont fall behind on my blanket. Daily blocks will be much quicker to make, and you can easily carry 2 or 3 skeins of yarn in a bag and make a bunch of squares on the go. Both of my daughters are learning to crochet, and can help me out with these smaller blocks. Finally, this blanket will be much smaller when finished, approx 36 inches by 58 inches.
tips:
- Join a Facebook group like this Crochet Temperature Blanket Year after Year group. You will find companionship, learn from others mistakes and watch everyones blanket grow along side yours!
- While choosing colors- pair any two colors that you have chosen and see if they work together. Try inputting your color estimates into a Weather Data Art site and see a mockup.
- Download these Temperature Color Chart Tracker pdf and Temperature Tracker pdf. Print and keep your yarn colors, and weather data organized.
- Enjoy the project! There will be ups and downs, and at some point you might fall behind, but the happiness is in the process so enjoy crocheting it!
FAQS
Do you use the high or low for a temperature blanket?
I recorded ONLY the High temperature daily and incorporated those values into my blanket. You can choose to focus on the daily high, daily low, or both temperatures. The choice is yours.
How many rows a day for a temperature blanket?
One row per day if you are recording the daily High temperatures. Two row per day if you are recording BOTH the daily high and low temperatures.
How many rows should a temperature blanket be?
365 rows
CONCLUSION:
A Temperature blanket or weather blanket is a very unique way of documenting a year. You can choose to use the temperatures of the current year, or make this a special blanket by using temps from someone’s birth, wedding, or another important event year.
There is so much comfort in this project- you can reach for it each night- not knowing which color you will be using next! I am documenting the daily high temp and so far we’ve seen temps between -10 to 30F. Typical Minnesota.
I’d love to hear from you in the comments if you have made such a blanket and have tips for me or if you are planning to start one. The right time is now!
Thank you for being here today and spending some creative time with my friends! I’m so thankful for your kind words and support.
If you recreate this tutorial and share it on social media don’t forget to tag me! @smithakatti #smithakatti
Thanks for all the awesome tips for making this type of blanket. I’m a MN girl too. Did you choose a color for each degree or for a range? That’s where I will struggle. Thanks in advance for any suggestions! Happy hooking! 😁
I used one color for every 10F. My colors are from -20 to 100! Hope this helps
I have been working on a Temperature Blanket for the year 2018, still working on it. But I have made a Temperature Blanket for my parents’ 40th wedding anniversary afghan by using everyone in the immediate family’s favorite colors, the temperatures from the year they got married as well as using yarn that used to be my Grandma Anderson’s yarn (which is my mom’s mom) and my Great-Grandma Cook’s yarn (which is my dad’s grandma) and made it into a family hereloom. I did each month as a heart corner-to-corner block. It’s absolutely beautiful! My parents’ love it! And I live in the wonderful state of Iowa, where the temperatures are not that much different than Minnesota’s.
Oh your blanket sounds so amazing and filled with love! Thank you for sharing it with me!
I started a temperature blanket in 2021. I’m still working on it. I used the Lion Brand color chart. I also use a strand of gold yarn held together with the regular color for birthdays and holidays. I’m hoping to get it done in 2023. And don’t forget to put a label on it with start and end dates and/or the year it represents
.
Thank you for the great tutorial! I have admired these blankets made by crafters from overseas and was a bit intimidated. You have given me hope that I can do this especially with your very well explained post. Looking forward to seeing your finished project and pinning your post for “one day” when I can get started on one of my own.
Thank you Vickie. Glad you found my blog post. I’m thoroughly enjoying my Temperature blanket project and can’t wait to it!
My ten year old asked me about making one, he saw it on you tube. I’d not seen one before and was amazed to see a great idea bought to life. He called it a weather blanket! I’m tempted to add clouds and sun etc to fit his description. We are going to plan it together, I expect in UK the range maybe limited but we can adapt the ranges of colour shifts. Maybe link a different stitch to each too. 🤯😊 Thanks for your post. X
I started my blanket in June since I had just learned about them and didn’t want to wait until January. I’m doing my temps × 6 degrees. I plan to make a temperature scarf for my friend, using low temps for her town. Also one for myself using low Temps
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Wow Smitha! I’ve crocheted since I was 5 and I’m 68. Thoroughly enjoyed reading about your Tempature Blanket. I’ve never heard of one before but am definitely going to make one. I live in southwest MO but winter in southern TX so the ‘temps’ will be very interesting. Can’t wait to start. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful idea. Blessings.
I discovered temperature blankets the other day and thought what perfect timing to try my first one! I was searching extensively for a rough idea on how long the foundation chain should be and came across your blog. Such wonderful information and gorgeous colors! My son helped me pick out our colors for ours, and in doing so an idea occurred to me. I wanted to be able to differentiate between the months and thought about alternating stitches for each month but unsure as to which to do. Would there even be a noticeable difference between a single and a half double stitch for every other month? Is there any specific stitch you recommend that would be noticeable between a single or hdc?
I would only recommend a moss stitch or single crochet. Anything else turns out to be too tall and will make the blanket a skinny rectangle! Hope this helps.
Could you use a smaller hook size to make the blanket smaller. I used a 4mm hook when making a blanket, was wondering if I use a 3.5 with the stylecraft yarn
You could size down on the hook, but the fabric might turn out to be dense and rigid like a rug or basket. I’m not sure if it will work, but there is no harm in trying and then deciding
Great post! I’m in the northwest suburbs and thinking about making a blanket for my cousins who recently got married. How far north are you, I’m trying to get an idea based off the temperatures you’re using to make my own? I may have to write down the temps for a while and then start just to be sure I get whatever the lowest temperature is this winter! 🙂 Thank you again!
Hi! I live in the Twin Cities suburbs, so not that north. You can try writing temps down, but honestly every year the winter is different in Minnesota! I would say just start the blanket and enjoy 🙂
I live in the desert southwest and we have temperatures ranging lows 30F to over 115F. Every suggested temperature chart I’ve ever seen is either too low, -30 to 90F or doesn’t go to high enough – only up to 90 or 100F. I’ve not figured out how I want to go high enough for my area.
Hi Jane! If the temps go that high and stay at 110 for days- I would suggest breaking your colors as 90 to 97, 98 to 105, 106 to 112, 113+ to keep it interesting while crocheting and have some color variation. Hope this helps!
Now that we’re nearing the end of the year, I’d love to see your blanket!
Hello Vicki! I just updated my blog post with all of my 2022 progress 🙂
Thank You for sharing Your pattern for Your Temperature Blanket . You saved me alot of time and gray hair figurine this out. Truly Thank You Again.
I enjoyed this post. I’ve been working on a knitted temperature blanket for 2022 and went down the proverbial rabbit hole looking for crocheted blanket information. I had the opposite experience from yours. I live in Arizona with higher warm temperatures but I spent about 4 1/2 weeks in Hennepin county in October and November. Luckily my temperature ranges and yarn choices gave me the flexibility to accommodate the new temp range. I, too, did not take my blanket with me when I traveled. So I’m about 7 weeks behind right now. But I figure it’s a marathon not a sprint. Best wishes for 2023.
Loved hearing about your blanket progress. And you said it aptly, it’s a marathon not a sprint. Did your blanket get heavier as it grew?
Yes. It’s gotten very heavy. I have a large yarn bag from Joann’s and the bag is stuffed full with the project and I’m currently knitting November 6th when I returned to Phoenix the first time. It’s most challenging when I put it away at the end of a day’s work and it’s heavy and awkward to fold up. But I’ve enjoyed the project; errors and all!! My knitting skills have improved this year and I’m hoping to achieve the same progress with a crocheted project next year.
I love the look of a knitted blanket and hope to make another version
Smitha, I’ve been interested in making a temperature blanket and your info is very helpful. How many balls or skeins of yarn per color will I need? I’m relocating to Asia in a couple of months and I won’t have access to size 4 cotton yarn. 🙁
I’m considering stock piling on the yarn I’ll need to (hopefully) complete a temperature throw. A blanket will be too warm to use in my final destination.
I would say atleast 8skeins? Pick up double skeins of colors that are of average temp-
I really want to do one of these for 2023, but I was afraid of getting behind. Your post made me feel better and reminded me that I might not be the only one catching up in December!! Thank you for sharing! ❤️ (I may also do a temperature scarf instead of a blanket, but we’ll see!)
I started this blanket with so much love and good intentions- but it taught me to persevere and to hang in there. It is the best project I have made in a while and if I can do it so can you! But a scarf definitely sounds like a safer bet 🙂
I had 3 grandchildren (all girls) and knitted a temperature blanket for all 3 in one year (whew!). I used the high temp for each day for their first year, from date of birth to days before first birthday. They came out wonderfully. I now have a 4th granddaughter. I bought the yarn for hers, but haven’t started it yet. But I will. Something for them to keep from grandma.
It’s a beautiful gift! Love this ✨
That’s a wonderful idea. I live in Flint. But my 3 grandchildren lives in Arizona. I could do a blanket for them and use Arizona weather.
I love the idea of a temperature blanket. I’ve been crocheting for 60 years and never heard of this. One way to avoid the edges from being uneven is to use a pattern that has a scalloped edge. This also gives a finished look with no need for a border. I’m going to experiment with a pattern that I’ve used many times to make scarves with scalloped edges. Thanks for letting us know about this unique project.
The temperature blanket idea is unique and enjoyable. I love your thought on using a scalloped edge- that would look so pretty!
I love how you have documented everything! and as for the blanket this is really helpful and answered a lot of questions I had as a beginner. Thank you! looking forward to seeing more projects from you!
Thank you for your comment! I was so unsure on how to document my progress, glad it all made sense and helped you.
This is the best temperature blanket article and instructions I’ve read! Thanks for your clear documentation and especially your do’s and don’t’s. Your blanket is beautiful! xxx
Thank you!! I love how my blanket is turning out- but boy has it been a journey!
What a lovely idea! Never heard of them before. I live in the UK, but my elder son lives in the TC. Would love to make one for them (my d-in-l is from MN) and they love blankets, but it would take me forever to make one over there on normally one visit a year, and it would eventually be too bulky/heavy to transport! Will have a think, ss I do check their weather each day. Maybe granny squares are the way to go in this instance.
Thank you!
For 2023 I am making granny squares and keeping it simpler! I just updated my Temperature Blanket post with pics of the squares. If you would like to make a blanket, I would suggest making the blocks according to the temperature and not joining them. You can easily fit small crocheted blocks into a suitcase while packing- they will fill up tiny nooks and crannies. And once you reach your destination, all you need to do is join the blocks to make the blanket!! I did this once, my mom and I made blocks together, and I brought them to the US as blocks only easily in my suitcase and joined them here. Hope this helps! Happy Crocheting!
I am a total crochet novice but I can knit. I have absolutely loved reading your tutorial because it was easy to follow, because of your honesty regarding any mistakes or changes that you came across and how to change them and also including your trip to India and dedicating those colours to your mother in law, which is beautiful. I live in the North East of the UK 🇬🇧 the temperatures here can be anything from -10 (however probably a high of -1) to 40 degrees celsius. You have inspired me to start my own Temperature Blanket and cannot wait to get started! Thank you!
I’m so happy you enjoyed my blog post! This blanket is so interesting to make, I’m sure you will enjoy it whether you knit or crochet. I just started my 2023 blanket and I am making small squares. I was planning on knitting garter stitch squares at first but switched to crochet because both my girls can crochet and wanted to help.
Congratulations. You caught my attention before the beginning of the year and I found out about these things. I researched for 2 days, then bought yarn 3 days before the first. I decided on granny square cause after over 50 years I have not forgotten how to do it. I’ve started the fourth month and am still happy with it. Will be moving back to MN after 31 years in AK. The temp will change some in July. Never know, might run into you in the cities somewhere. Thanks for catching my eye.!😍
thank you for your sweet comment! I love e-meeting fellow crocheters! Enjoy your Temperature Blanket Journey friend!
So, I’m embarrassed to say that I currently have three temperature blankets in progress 😂. One from 2019, 2020, and 2021. They’re all more than halfway done so this year I’m trying to complete them all so that I can do a new one for next year, lol. I already have the colors picked out for next year. Each one is based on the weather from a different location that means something to me. I’m not sure what 2024’s location will be but I want somewhere with variable weather so I can use all my colors. Thanks for sharing the Facebook group, I had no idea it existed.
Hi Erika!
I am so glad you found my blog post, and we met! I really found it difficult last year to keep up with the summer months, since it was so warm. But come Sep/ Oct I am sure you will be able to catch up with all of your blankets! I finished my 2022 Temperature blanket in mid Feb, still need to edit YouTube video and post more finished pics onto my blog. I’m at May of my 2023 blanket and am already thinking of colors for a 2024 one too. Happy Crocheting!
I heard of temperature blankets for the first time in February 2022 and spontaneously bought a lot of yarn, those knitting needles with a wire connecting them, and took off with almost no plan…I got through one month and shelved it because the dimensions were off and it took over an hour to finish logging one day. Just a couple of weeks ago, the tub of yarn started speaking to me, and I drafted up a new pattern and am off again! It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who’s been working on a 2022 blanket in 2023! Yours looks beautiful, and I love that it shows where you and your family were throughout the year.