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How to Start Your Own Temperature Blanket: A Simple Guide


If you’ve been scrolling through crafting forums or social media, you may have come across the idea of a temperature blanket. I had heard about them for awhile, but it wasn’t until a sweet friend of mine introduced me to the concept that I seriously considered making one. At first, the project seemed overwhelming—after all, it’s a big commitment! But this year, I decided to give it a try, focusing on the school year instead of a full calendar year. I started in August and plan to keep crocheting until May. Who knows? By then, I may decide to keep going. 

If you’re curious about creating your own temperature blanket, I’ve got you covered with all the basics!

What Is a Temperature Blanket?

A temperature blanket is a knit or crochet project that preserves time by recording daily temperatures through colors. Each day, you crochet or knit a row of your blanket using a yarn color that corresponds to that day’s temperature.
Normally, these blankets track an entire year, but you can customize the timeframe to match your needs. For instance, you could create one for a school year, a baby’s first year, or any other meaningful period. I would aim for at least six months to ensure the blanket has a nice length, but you can make it shorter or longer depending on your preference.

The beauty of a temperature blanket is its flexibility. From the stitch you choose to the colors you use, it’s entirely customizable. It’s your chance to create something meaningful and personal.

My Simple Pattern

For my blanket, I kept things basic:

  • Foundation Chain: I started with 186 chains.
  • Stitch: I used a double crochet stitch, which gives a nice texture and makes steady progress.
  • Daily Process: Each day, I add one row of double crochet using the color that matches the day’s temperature.

After just three months, it’s already the perfect lap blanket, which is great as the weather cools down. I can’t wait to see how it grows by spring!

How to Track Temperatures

Keeping up with daily temperatures might seem in intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! I use AccuWeather to check the high temperature for each day and jot it down in a notebook. Life gets busy, so I don’t crochet every day, and that’s okay. Right now, I’m about two weeks behind—but guess what? It’s totally fine! Work at your own pace and enjoy the process.

Choosing Colors and Charting Temperatures

One of the fun parts of making a temperature blanket is selecting your colors and deciding how to divide the temperature ranges. I live in Oklahoma, where it doesn’t get extremely cold, but summers can be super hot. I divided my chart into 10-degree increments and picked nine colors to keep it simple.

Chart

0°-24°F

36°-45°F

46°-55°F

56°-65°

66°-75°

76°-85°

86°-95°

96° and up

How to Choose Your Colors

When deciding on colors, start with a theme or inspiration. I found inspiration from @lindamydlak on Instagram and used her palette as a guide. Then, I headed to the store and picked out colors that made me happy. I aimed for a mix of cooler tones for cold temperatures and brighter hues for warmer days.

For my blanket, I used “I Love This Yarn” from Hobby Lobby. My color choices were:

  • Ocean
  • Peach
  • Amethyst
  • Yellow
  • Hot Orchid
  • Turquoise
  • Keylime
  • Mango
  • Hot Rose

Tips for Picking Colors

  • Make it personal: Choose colors that bring you joy and reflect you.
  • Balance your palette: Cooler tones work well for winter, while vibrant colors bring summer to life.
  • Consider your climate: If you live somewhere with extreme temperatures, you might want to assign different shades to reflect the most common ranges.

Lessons Learned from My Blanket

After a summer of using mango repeatedly (thanks to countless 85°F+ days in Oklahoma), I started to wonder if I should have picked a less dominant color for those temperatures. But that’s part of the fun—your blanket will reflect the unique weather patterns where you live.

Now that winter is here, I’m excited to incorporate more colors from my palette and watch my blanket evolve. There’s something so satisfying about switching to a new yarn color and seeing how it transforms the blanket.

Why Start a Temperature Blanket?

Creating a temperature blanket is a joyful way to celebrate a special time while enjoying your passion for crafting. Whether you're tracking a the year, milestones, or simply taking on a creative challenge, this project offers meaningful and personal keepsake. 

So grab your yarn, choose your colors, and start creating! And don't stress if life gets in the way-this is your project, your pace, and your masterpiece. 

Free Printable: Pattern and Color Swatch Card

To help you get started on your own temperature blanket, I’ve created a FREE printable that includes my pattern and the swatch card I use to keep track of my yarn colors.

Download it now and make planning your project a breeze!

Pattern and Chart

Happy crocheting (or knitting)!

Let’s Connect!

I’d love to hear about your temperature blanket journey! If you have questions or want to share your progress, feel free to comment below or email me at Wildfieldslearning@gmail.com



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