2020 TEMPERATURE BLANKET PROJECT
You may be concerned that we are a quarter of the way through the year (It’s April 2nd as we’re writing this) or more depending on when you’re reading this post. However if instead of one row each day you do two you will catch up to everyone else by the end of June. If you do three rows each day you’ll have caught up by the middle of May. Finally if you work 4 rows a day for the next month you will have caught up by the end of April. (I’m not going to do any more maths, you get the idea).
What is a temperature blanket?
Some of you may have made temperature blankets before, but for those who haven't, here's a brief description. The main process of making a temperature blanket is to crochet or knit a number of rows / motifs everyday for a year. Each rows / motifs are made using colours that correspond to the temperature outside on a particular day. Some people choose to follow the minimum temperature, some the average and some the highest temperature of the day. (You could even choose to work min, max AND average by crocheting little hexagons with the minimum temp in the first round, the average in the second round and the highest temp in the third and final round!) Before you start you'll choose colours to correspond with temperature ranges. Check out Stationery Geek's guide to using their fantastic crochet / knitting bible to keep track of your yarn requirements. There are many printouts available that you can use to keep a record of your colour palette handy, and we will work on making one for you to print out and keep over the next week or two. The images below (Top to bottom) are Tracey's 2018 tunisian crochet temperature blanket, Theresa's 2018 crochet granny stripe temperature blanket and Tracey's 2019 knitted corner to corner temperature blanket (which is almost finished!)
Is this a CAL / KAL (crochet/knit along)?
Strictly speaking, no. This project could be called a MAL (make along) however there are a couple of crucial differences. Firstly, unlike a CAL / KAL there is no specific pattern to follow. Your temperature blanket may be knitted or crocheted. You may decide to work in rows or on the diagonal, or in squares or hexagons, your choices are only limited by your imagination, time and yarn available. Secondly, you can choose your own yarn weight and colour way and decide on the temperature gradient yourself. Some may chose one colour for every 5 degree change whilst others may choose a different colour for every 1 or 2 degree change, Again, you are only limited by your stash, your imagination or your budget, whichever runs out first!
What yarn will I need?
You can use any yarn! Often people choose acrylic yarns because they're readily available and have a wide colour range. However there are so many yarns available, you really are only limited by your budget and your imagination! As a rule, the more colours you choose the more striking your overall blanket will be. Often rainbow colours are used to make temperature blankets, with violet and blue tones being used for cooler temps, red and orange tones to represent highs and with greens and yellows to represent the temperatures that fall in-between, however you're not limited to using a rainbow colour scheme, check out this blog post by Esther from It's All In A Nutshell. She's using Scheepjes Metropolis in an ombre style palette for her upcoming Faded Fantasy Temperature Blanket project in association with Scheepjes. Whatever you choose, we would encourage you to stamp your personality all over your blanket and choose yarns which sing to you! maybe choose a sparkly yarn for snow days? Maybe add a bead or charm for birthdays? The possibilities are literally infinite and no two blankets need be the same!.
When does this project start?
The best day to start your temperature blanket is January 2nd. You will be armed with the previous day's temps and can either cast on, chain and work your first rows or motifs. The project will end on January 1st 2021, so there's a fair commitment involved! Some people may choose to work the whole week of temperatures on a single day each week, others will stick to a daily routine, making sure they get some mindful time every day.
*One thing to bear in mind, if like myself and Angela you're making a corner to corner blanket, every day until the middle of the year your rows will get larger! On the plus side, they will get shorter again in the latter half of the year
How will I know what the min / max / average temperature is each day?
We have been using a website called AccuWeather which lists the high, low and average temperature for each day. It also has records for all previous months and years!
Where can I find patterns for inspiration?
Please follow the links below for ideas.
Crochet (corner to corner) - It's all in a nutshell Faded Fantasy Temperature Blanket
Knit OR crochet (straight rows) - Craft Warehouse knit or crochet a temperature blanket
Knitting (rows) - Simple Knitting temperature blanket
Crochet (granny stripe) - Beneath the Rowan tree temperature blanket
Knitting (corner to corner) - Marianna's Lazy Daisy Days
Crochet (3 round hexagons) - Bluprint (3 hexagon Crochet Motifs)
*If you find or follow any other patterns that you think others will find useful, please let us know and we'll update this section!
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