Sunday 23 December 2018

Temperature Blankets - A guide to making them & free crochet pattern...

Inspired by all the amazing photos on Instagram and Pinterest, I had wanted to make a temperature blanket for some time.  So I thought I would share my blanket progress with you, including lots of tips and tricks.  If you would like to make one too, this is how you do it.  



The idea is simple.  Every day, use the local weather stations highest temperature of that day, to choose your crochet colours.  This will result in a gorgeous blanket by the end of the year.  You just allocate which colours you will use for a range of temperatures and crochet 1 row each day corresponding to that days temperature.  I used Stylecraft Special DK for my blanket, but you can use any yarn you like.  Depending on where you live you may need to adjust how many colours and what temperatures you will need...

For my blanket I chose 10 colours to represent the warmer days...


...and 10 colours to represent the cooler days.


It is so exciting to watch your blanket develope.  Many people choose to start on the 1st of January and continue until the end of the year.  You can of course start at any time, so if you miss January 1st, don't worry. Just start your blanket and continue for 365 days.  As of course there are so many days in a year, this could make for one humongous blanket, so I decided to go with a very simple linen stitch pattern. 


Click here to join the CAL group...




Temperature Blanket


 Abbreviations

US Terms
sc - single crochet
sc3tog - single crochet 3 together
sl st - slip stitch
ch - chain
sp - space
sk - skip


Materials

DK yarn in chosen colours
4mm (G) hook
Darning needle
Scissors


Make your foundation chain as wide as you would like your blanket, 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 last sp, turn.

Row 3 Repeat row 2 until you have completed 365 days




Changing colours:

Take either the highest or lowest temperature of the day to choose your colour and work 1 row each day.  You may have 2 or more days with the same colour, so you will just turn and start your next row.  If you are changing colour pull the new colour through as you finish the final stitch of previous row.




How to finish off your blanket without weaving in all those ends...


Adding a Fringe

Adding a fringe along the sides of your blanket is a great way to avoid sewing in all those ends.  Simply cut strands of yarn twice the length you would like your fringe.  Fold a strand of yarn in half to make a loop and then using a crochet hook, pull the loop through the end of one of your rows.  Gather any extra ends pulling them through the loop of yarn to make your fringe.  Check out this link to see Olives and Pickles fringed temperature blanket...

Blanket Fringing by Olives & Pickles



Bias Binding border


Another way to avoid the colossal task of weaving in all those ends, is to add a bias binding border.  If you are handy with a sewing machine this is a great option.  Check out the guide below, this is for quilts but the theory is the same for blankets.

Jaybird Quilts Perfect Binding Tutorial



Encapsulated Crochet Border


Another way to avoid all those ends is to crochet an edging that folds over, hiding your tails under the crochet.  This is the method that I will be using.  I have created a Linen Stitch encapsulated edging for this project.


Using chosen border colour, join with sl st to any sp at top or bottom of blanket

Round 1 Continue around your blanket in Linen Stitch, [sc, ch1] in each sp, in corners [sc, ch2, sc, ch1], join with sl st to sc, turn.

Round 2 [sc, ch1] in each sp, in corners [3sc, ch1], join with sl st to sc, turn.

Repeat round 2 until border is desired width.

If you were vigilant in weaving in all your ends as you went along you can fasten off here and weave in those last few ends.  If not then continue as follows...

Round 1 [sc, ch1] in each sp, in corners [sc3tog, ch1], join with sl st, turn.

Repeat round 1 until you have crocheted as many decrease rounds as you did increase rounds, fasten off.  Fold your border in half and trapping all those ends inside, using a darning needle and yarn in your border colour, sew the edging down to the back of the blanket.




Pin it for later...




Why not join my Facebook Group to share your progress.  I would love to see all your lovely pictures, or use the hashtag #lullabylodge on Instagram.  Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on any posts...

Happy hooking...
Catherine
x






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36 comments:

  1. These look so good I’d love to join in, but I only know one stitch ��! How much of each colour would you buy? I guess you have stash but I’d need to buy all the colours - maybe I should do a fabric version, I could do that from stash!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Benta, you wouldn't need to buy all the colours at once as the warm colours wouldn't be needed until summer. You could also use less colours and use each colour to represent a wider temperature range. Of course a patchwork version would also be lovely...

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    2. I think I have another plan ... I have a loom - if I get it warped over Christmas I could use embroidery threads - I have them in loads of colours - I’ll end up with a scarf!

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  2. Oh what lovely colors you have picked. I can't wait to see the progress on your blanket. :)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you. The hard part for me will be having to wait every day to add a new row, I can be rather impatient...

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  3. Not good for Australians. Temperatures get higher here!!

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    Replies
    1. Yes of course! As explained above you may need to adjust the temps depending on where you live...

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  4. How big will your blanket be? I'm trying to figure out how wide it would have to be to "match" the length... 365 rows for "highs" or if doing highs and lows... double that!

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    1. Hi Gayle, I made up a swatch and 10 rows was coming out at around 5 cm using DK and a 4mm hook. So I estimate at 365 days the blanket will be around 180 cm which is single bed sized. I am planning on chaining the width of my sons bed to make my foundation chain. Hope that helps...

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  5. Im in! im so in! i never see posts like this till its too late to join in and forget about them until its too late... again! i LOVE it! it sounds fun!!! im like you a little impatient but i have a few other blankets to work on too ^_^ # crocheter's life! im on Instagram and Facebook too, The Lazy Crazy Crochetr! im definatly going to follow you!
    i cant wait to get started!! im going to go dig through my yarn! (ive got a rainbow of colors too :D )

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    1. So lovely to have you join in, can't wait to see the blankets progress...

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  6. I love temperature blankets! I'm currently on my second one, started on the 1st June 2018, when my first one finished. My first one turned out crazy long and had quite a limited colour range (I'll post a link at the end) so this year I've given myself more colours and am working in a 5 sided spiral pattern for something a little different ��

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BjfNji7lQlv/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=arq7ee9rr767

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    1. Wow that must be the longest blanket I have ever seen, how fabulous! I look forward to seeing your spiral blanket...

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  7. Would love to join in. going to try this sounds like fun!

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    1. Thank you, so lovely to have another joining in...

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  8. Searching in and out and high and low, for a print out of this pattern, I can not crochet and sit in front of my laptop at same time. Anxious to start a Temperature Blanket. Been crocheting since grade school and like to make for my granddaughter! Thanks in Advance

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry Kelly, at the present time I do not have a PDF version for this pattern. I have found a pattern on Ravelry for a dish cloth. This pattern is printable all you would need to do is adjust the starting chain for your blanket...

      https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/woven-linen-stitch-dishcloth

      Regards
      Catherine

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  9. Would love to do this but I'm having a hard time finding this yarn where it's not $12 to ship. Where do you get your yarn from..I'm from Michigan

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    Replies
    1. I usually get my yarn from The wool Warehouse, I'm in the Uk. They do ship internationally and I think they have reasonable shipping costs. You can have a look there or alternatively you could substitute yarn for similar colours... https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/delivery-information
      Best regards
      Catherine

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    2. Thank you so much

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  10. I'm so excited to find this! I've been wanting to do this for a couple of years and 2019 is it! But trying to find a nice color chart has been brutal. But this chart is AMAZING (AND the pattern looks nice too). Of course, I have to add a color at each end since the temperatures in Indiana (US) is so broad lol. It'll be fun to see it at the end of the year!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much and it's great to have more people joining in. Be sure to head on over to the Facebook Group page where everyone will be sharing their photos...

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  11. I've never done a C/KAL and to be honest never seen a temperature blanket before. I was initially stumped wondering if it would be too overwhelming trying to get the colours organised because I'm on a yarn diet but kept on coming back to it! I totally love the concept and that the colour usage is decided by an external source... totally brilliant. Anyway, I bit the bullet and rummaged through my stash and have enough colours to work! Not sure I'll have enough wool of each but I'm hoping it'll all work out - maybe I won't have many days in certain temps and I'll come through! Yay! So excited... thanks for the inspiration!

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    Replies
    1. Yarn diet! I never heard anyone use that term before, I love it. Welcome to the CAL Angie it's great to have you and I look forward to seeing your blanket develope...

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  12. If you want to be really daring, do the half in the lies and half in the high temps. Left half - low temps, right half - high temps. Would have a wider color range.

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    Replies
    1. That's a really clever idea, definitely something to think about for next time...

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  13. I would love to join! I haven't done a CAL in so long...I ABSOLUTLEY LOVE the colors you've chosen & think mine will end up being somewhat similar. I look forward to get it started :~) as well as share & see everyone's progress!

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    1. That's great! Don't forget to join the Facebook group...

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  14. I would love to join in! I haven't been in a CAL in a long time! I ABSOLUTLEY love the colors you have chosen & have a feeling that mine will be similar. Being in the U.S. We do not have the yarn you are going to be using but, I will certainly make my list ASAP as I'm trying to get back into crocheting & designing my own patterns so I can open my own Etsy Shop hoping to supplement my income as I'm unfortunately disabled due. To many health issues I've had. And I'll only be 40 this coming Nov.

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    1. Welcome, be sure to share your progress over in the Facebook group.

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  15. So I am travelling this month and again in Nov/Dec. it's interstate but there is still a difference in temperature. What would you do... follow the temperature of where you are, or keep track of and work "home" temperatures?
    Any opinions appreciated!

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    Replies
    1. I had this question asked over in the Facebook group and the ladies over their chose to use the temperature of where they were...

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  16. Hello, Do you know how many chain stitches you used to begin with? I'm trying to decide how wide to make it so it looks proportional! :)

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    1. Sorry I don't count the chains, I just make the starting chain as wide as I want my blanket to be. The length will fit a standard bed, so I would make it as wide as a single or double...

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