Temperature Blanket

With it being the New Year, one of the most popular crochet projects to start is a Temperature Blanket. These blankets are made by crocheting one row for each day of the year, and different colors are used based on what the day’s high temperature is. It’s a fun way to document the year with a craft project, and with just a little bit to do each day it’s an easy project to keep up with! To make a temperature blanket you will need to know how to chain, single crochet, half double crochet, and double crochet. So let’s get started!

You will need a number 4 worsted weight yarn, and you will use a size I hook. To make your gauge swatch for this blanket you will follow this pattern:

Row 1: Chain 13, single crochet in second chain from hook and in each chain across. (12 single crochet)

Row 2-15: Chain 1, turn single crochet in each single crochet across.

After making your last row measure your square. It should be 4”x4”. If your square is larger than this, you will want to go to a smaller hook- like a H. If your square is smaller than this, you will want to go to a larger hook- like a J. Because this is a big project, it’s important to make sure your gauge is correct, you don’t want your blanket to come out too big or too little!

Once your gauge swatch is complete you are ready to begin! Now you need to decide what size blanket you’d like to make. What size blanket you want to make will determine how many chains you need to make to start your blanket. Here is a little chart to help you out-

Lapghan size- 168 chains

Throw size- 210 chains

Twin size- 242 chains

Full size- 292 chains

Queen size- 315 chains

King size- 371 chains

No matter what size you are making the basic pattern is the same. It’s the same as the gauge swatch we made, but you will change the number of chains to fit the pattern you are making. For example, if you are making the Throw size this is what your pattern will look like:

Row 1- chain 210, single crochet in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across. (209 stitches)

Row 2-365 chain 1, turn, single crochet in each single crochet across. (209 stiches)

How easy is that? This is a great project for anyone just starting out with crochet because it gives you lots of practice on basic stitches. If you want to mix things up a little bit from doing all single crochet stitches there are a few things that you can do.

On the first day of every month make your row from half double crochet instead of single crochet. You can also do a double crochet for special days in the year and holidays. Some examples of special days might be birthdays and anniversaries, or any other day that has a special meaning for your family. Holidays to include are New Years Day, Valentines Day, Leap Day (if it applies during the year you are working with), St. Patrick’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Halloween, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

So now that we know the pattern, here are the color charts for the different temperatures. We have two color charts for you based on which brand of yarn you like to use. We have charts for both Red Heart Super Saver and Vanna’s Choice yarns.

Here is the chart for Red Heart Super Saver:

Here is the chart for Vanna’s Choice:

If you’re new to crochet, you can view a video tutorial on our YouTube channel that will help you get all the basics you need to get started. You can find that video by clicking here.

Now, you don’t even have to make a blanket for 2017 if you don’t want to! There’s a great online resource that you can use that will give you the temperature for any year that you’d like! You don’t even have to start it on January 1! This is a great way to capture a special year for your family. It could be the first year of your marriage, or the first year in your children’s lives. You can find the website to make your own custom temperature blanket by clicking here.

It’s a very simple to use site, you simply select the country you live in, if you want your temps in Fahrenheit or Celsius, and the starting date. To give you an idea of what it looks like, this is the custom pattern I made starting on the date my oldest child was born.

How cool is that? It’s such a unique way to capture a meaningful year. The site will even create a PDF pattern that you can download for FREE!

Well now you know everything you need to know to make a temperature blanket! We can’t wait to see what you make! 

~ Kara