Crochet Temperature Projects

Disclaimer: This post is copied from my crochet blog: Crafted With Care {Blog}

Back in February, I finally got excited about trying a temperature blanket project. Things changed a bit after I completed that first square based on January 2022, but I have actually completed couple temperature projects this year and wanted to document them here.

After I made my first linen stitch square, I decided I needed to loosen my stitch/guage and went up to a bigger hook. I had already stitched in all the ends of my first square, so there was no undoing it. I went back to Michaels to get more purple tweed yarn and learned that their whole line of tweeds I was using was being discontinued!!! I bought up everything they had there in the store, and decided I better re-think my project and figure out a way to do my project, making sure I had enough of each color of yarn to complete it, since I had no way of getting more--even online.

(As you can see, there are a lot of ends to weave in and hide, just in one square! Every time you change yarn colors or run out of a color you're using, you have 2 ends to weave in.)

Since the weather is so unpredictable, I decided to make my temperature blanket based on a year that had already happened! I decided to use the temperatures of the year 2020. It had been a particularly tough year for our family, but was also Jeremy's and my 20th wedding anniversary year. So, I decided it would be a great year to have something beautiful to remember it by. 

I did a lot of math to figure out the temperature ranges that would represent my 9 colors and allow me to use the daily high temperatures and not use up all my yarn. Whew! While I wouldn't call my color palette the traditional rainbow colored temperature blanket choices, I did generally use cooler colors for colder temperatures and warmer colors for warmer temperatures with grays, creams, and tans mixed in to pull it together. And I had one yarn that is available at multiple stores that I knew I wouldn't run out of, so that became my connector yarn for connecting each square and bordering the blanket, as well as my most common temperature range 66-72 degrees. 

My final overall temperature range/color/yarn chart:

Below is one month's square's pattern. Each date's high temperature and the yarn color for the temperature range it fell in. I created one of these for each of the 12 months before I began the 2020 blanket. To make each square, you start in the center and work out, so rows get longer/bigger and require more yarn as the square grows. 

Each square was 32 rounds, regardless of how many days were in the month. So, if a month only had 28 days, it would have 4 rounds of the neutral connector color around the outside to make it 32 rounds total. Therefore, all the squares were the same size and able to be connected in the end.

It was so satisfying to see each square complete its own pattern and turn into 12 beautifully different months!

I so enjoyed working this pattern that it took me less than a month to complete the entire blanket, stitch all 12 squares together, create a large border around the whole thing, and stitch in literally more than 1,000 ends! It was a true joy to work up!

I find it so difficult to get good photos of blankets, so I just basically tossed it on the couch and took a couple snapshots with my phone. If these photos were advertisement for sale, I would've had to done a better job. But, I don't think anyone would pay what it cost me to make this blanket, so I won't be trying to sell any!

 When I completed the blanket, I had enough yarn left to make another. So, I decided to make temperature PILLOWS based on 2021--one square/month for each side of a pillow!

When I finished the pillows, I had enough yarn left to make a basket to hold the blanket! 

 It's not based on temperature, but uses all the same yarns, and it all looks so nice in our living room.

(The painting was done by my paternal grandfather, who passed away when I was only 3 months old. It is a real honor to have some of his paintings in our home, and I treasure them.)

These were such fulfilling, therapeutic projects for me, and I truly loved making them for our home.

I've made a few of these little rainbow tote bags, and I've decided to try writing up my first pattern design to see if I can sell it.

I'm doing a photo tutorial, so I'm busy taking detail photos of every step of the process of how to do entrelac crochet.

Last week, when I took the kids to school to do their drive-through drop-off/pick-up of school/personal items, my yarn bowls that the STEM club printed on their 3-D printer were in with the kids' things.  I'm loving them! 

Last month our mother-daughter lamp in the living room died. Jeremy got me this new one. I use it so I can see to crochet while the overhead chandelier is off so everyone else can see the tv.

Crocheting and Subbing

I started a Virus Shawl this week and had quite a bit of time to work on it while I was subbing the past couple days.  Sometimes there is a lot for me to do while subbing, and sometimes I have quite a bit of downtime. I've been wanting to make a virus shawl for years and just never have.  It's such an easy pattern and turns out so beautifully.  It's called the virus pattern because it grows and spreads in little cells. I love this yarn I bought simply because it was on sale.

Recent crochet

It's been a while since I've posted any crochet.  Here are a few things I've made over the past couple months.

I made these "Hello Darling Headbands" while working on a custom order for a lady who is growing her hair back after chemo.  She needed them smaller than usual.  The turquoise was for practice, and the purple/grey one turned out bigger than she needed with the color switching pattern I used.  The one with cream and greys turned out the right size.

I also made this Celtic Winters Ear Warmer in her custom size.

I made these "Stevie Mittens" for Sylvia after I made a pair in black for her to give one of her friends as a Christmas gift.  I found these on the floor after I asked Sylvia to try them on for me, so I can only assume she doesn't care to have them.  I will either sell them or wear them myself when my current mittens wear out.  I love the pattern and this soft cream yarn.

I made these little Personal Pouches, and I think they're really cute.  Handy for carrying in your purse  that doesn't have enough pockets to hold those loose random things you don't want falling out!  They're about 4" to 5" square.

 

I actually finished this early last fall, but never got a good photo of it.  This is the Tessera Bag by Outstanding Crochet, and it is my favorite item I've ever crocheted.  I don't even know how many hours I have in this, and I didn't do that great a job at it, but I really love it.  It is my Bible bag.

I made this Coffee Bean stitch slouchy beanie/mittens/infinity scarf set just because I like working with Scarfie yarn.

I saw the designer working up this Spindle Shell Beanie pattern in one of the Facebook crochet groups I'm in, and I was SO excited to make it.  I didn't get chosen to be a tester, but I bought the pattern the day it was released, and made one up quickly.  

This was not the right yarn to use, and it worked up pretty funky looking--and not a good kind of funky, according to my kids. 

I tried a second one in this yarn, and really don't love how the spindles turned out either.  I think this yarn is too soft.  I guess I will have to try a cheaper, rougher yarn. 

I still think it's a cool pattern, and it is fun to work on.

I've been carrying my grey Macie Bag that I made last year, and I get tons of compliments on it.  I decided to make up another in a random bulky yarn I had sitting around.  I think it will be cuter for summer in this color.  It's a fun pattern to do, and I really should make more.

Last week, I had the opportunity to help test a new pattern.  It was for the designer "beech twine," and it was her first ever pattern.  I really enjoyed the Instagram testers group chat we had going.  All the ladies were sweet and I think we helped get the Oaka Ear Warmer Pattern ready for launch!  I think it's a great pattern--really cute and easy to make too.

One of my favorite crochet designers, A Crocheted Simplicity, released this great pattern for her "My Love" design for free for it's first day.  The pattern includes a beanie, a slouchy hat, AND a messy bun hat version!  I made both the slouchy and the beanie for Annah, thinking she would choose one...but she wanted both!

Slouchy

Beanie

So, I'm not doing great with keeping up with my Etsy shop or my crochet social media, but I am always making several somethings!