Temperature Blanket Pattern (Free Knitting Project + Plan)

In this blog post, you will see a temperature blanket pattern.

Plus, you will learn everything about temperature blankets and how to plan your own.

If you are looking for a fun and quick year-long project, a temperature blanket is perfect!

It might take a year, but you must only do a row or two daily.

What Is A Temperature Blanket?

The basic idea of a temperature blanket is that every day of the year, you will knit a row or two in a color you will choose based on the daily temperature.

Usually, to make things easier and for the blanket to have color coordination, most people follow a color chart

For example, if the temperature today is 13 Celcius (56F), you will go to your color chart, check out the color this temperature corresponds to, and knit a row or two in that color.

temperature blanket pattern with stripes

Do You Have To Do The Current Temperature Range This Year?

The answer is no.

You can easily do the prior year or the year of your choice; for example, I chose the last year and made charts according to last year’s information.

You don’t have to do the whole year; it’s up to you.

It can be any given time period, a month, a special year, a season, a pregnancy, an engagement period, the first six months or years of a baby’s life, the first year of a marriage, or a honeymoon.

What Is A Color Chart?

A color chart is your guide to making your own temperature blanket.

It’s a color change chart where temperatures are assigned to a specific color.

Many blankets follow a rainbow color palette, but you can design your own to fit your home decor and personal style.

Why Knit A Temperature Blanket?

A temperature blanket can be a great project for anyone who likes a large project but doesn’t have much time to devote.

And for anyone who likes a daily routine, you can add this little knitting ritual to your everyday tasks: knit one or a few rows every day for an entire year starting from January 1st to the end of the year.

Furthermore, it can be a great idea for a present for someone special or a family member.

Plus, if an entire blanket seems very intimidating, it can be a baby blanket or a temperature scarf; you can create your own temperature project.

How To Plan The Temperature Blanket Project

The first step was to collect the average temperatures for the entire year and add them to a spreadsheet.

If you decide also to do a previous year, you can find all of the daily temperatures on the Weather Underground website.

If you decide to do the current year to find the average temperature of the day, you take the lowest temperature and the highest temperature and find their average.

If numbers are not your friend, you can use this handy calculator.

I made this temperature calendar so you can easily keep track; you can download it here.

Create a color chart

To make the color guide, you need to do a temperature gauge.
This is to see how the temperatures change daily.
If there are no significant changes in the temperatures from day to day you need to assign fewer temperatures in one color.
After doing my temperature gauge, I assign two temperatures in each color.
To create the color palette, I chose corresponding yarn colors from the Paintbox Yarns Wool Mix Super Chunky Collection that will merge into a beautiful blanket from the Paintbox Yarn collection
Assigning gorgeous greys and a variety of mustards in the low temperature range of the year and vibrant pinks to the hot temperature range of the summer months.

How do you choose a stitch pattern for a knitted temperature blanket?

Choosing a stitch pattern for a knitted temperature blanket can be a fun and creative process!

Here are a few considerations to help you decide:

Variety vs. Cohesion: Decide whether you want each day’s temperature to have its own unique stitch or if you prefer a consistent stitch pattern throughout the blanket. Some people opt for a unique stitch for each day or month, while others use a single stitch pattern for the entire project.
Texture and Complexity: Consider the complexity of the stitch pattern you’re comfortable with. Intricate stitches can create beautiful textures but might be more challenging to execute, especially if you’re knitting a large blanket.
Relevance to Temperature: Some people like to choose stitch patterns that represent the temperature. For example, a lace pattern might signify warmer days, while a denser stitch could symbolize cooler temperatures.
Visual Appeal: Think about how the stitches will look together when completed. Some stitch patterns create visual interest with textures (like moss stitch or linen stitch), while others might showcase colors or gradients more prominently (like garter stitch).
Size and Scale: Remember that some stitch patterns might result in different gauges or sizes. You may want to swatch a few options to see how they’ll fit within the overall design of your blanket.
Personal Preference: Ultimately, go with a pattern that resonates with you. Whether it’s a simple garter stitch, an elaborate cable pattern, or something in between, choose a style that you’ll enjoy working on for an extended period.
Color Coordination: If you’re using different colors to represent temperatures, consider how the stitch pattern might interact with these colors. Some stitch patterns might obscure or accentuate the color changes more than others.

Experimenting with a swatch or small section of the blanket can be a good way to test how different stitch patterns look with your chosen yarn and colors.

Have fun exploring different options before committing to the entire blanket!

How do you calculate how much yarn you need for a knitted temperature blanket?

Calculating the amount of yarn needed for a knitted temperature blanket can depend on several factors:

Size of the Blanket: Determine the size you want the blanket to be. For example, a typical throw blanket might measure around 50 inches by 60 inches, but this can vary based on personal preference.
Gauge: The gauge of your knitting (how many stitches and rows per inch) and the weight of the yarn will significantly impact the amount of yarn needed. This can vary greatly among different stitch patterns and individual knitters.
Yarn Weight: The weight of the yarn you’re using is crucial. Different weights (fingering, DK yarn, worsted weight yarn, bulky, etc.) will cover different areas in a single stitch. Heavier yarns cover more area, so they’ll require less yardage.
Color Changes: If you’re changing colors to represent a range of temperatures, calculate the yardage needed for each color based (or shades) on the frequency of temperature changes in your chosen time frame (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.).

To estimate the yardage needed:

Determine the yardage/meterage per ball/skein of the yarn you plan to use.
Calculate the number of stitches per row and rows per inch using your chosen stitch pattern and yarn weight. This helps estimate how much yarn is used for a given area.
Multiply the number of stitches per row by the number of rows per inch to get the number of stitches per square inch.
Multiply the stitches per square inch by the total number of square inches in your desired blanket size.
Divide this by the yarn’s stitches per yard/meter to estimate the total yardage/meterage needed.

Remember, it’s always better to have more yarn than you need, especially if you’re working with multiple colors or if your gauge slightly differs from the estimation.

It’s also a good idea to check the yarn label for information on yardage/meterage per skein/ball to assist in your calculations.

How many stitches do you cast on for a temperature blanket?

The number of stitches you’ll cast on for a temperature blanket depends on a few factors:

Gauge: The gauge of your knitting (how many stitches per inch) will determine how wide your blanket will be with a certain number of stitches.
Desired Width: Consider how wide you want your blanket to be. Typical blanket widths vary based on personal preference, but a common width for a throw blanket might be around 45-55 inches.

To calculate the number of stitches to cast on:

Gauge: Knit a gauge swatch in your chosen stitch pattern with the yarn and needles you plan to use. Measure how many stitches per inch you’re getting. For example, if you’re getting 4 stitches per inch:
Desired Width: Let’s say you want a 50-inch wide blanket: Number of stitches = Gauge (stitches per inch) x Desired Width (in inches) Number of stitches = 4 stitches per inch x 50 inches = 200 stitches

Remember, this is just an estimation.

Your gauge might differ slightly, so it’s always a good idea to knit a swatch, measure your gauge accurately, and adjust your cast-on number accordingly to achieve the desired width for your temperature blanket.

Free Temperature Blanket Knitting Pattern

Skill Level – Easy (Advanced beginner)

You can purchase this pattern and all associated PDFs in my shop here.

PDFs included:

Pattern Instructions
Temperature Blanket Information
Yarn Color Chart (Temperature Gauge)
Monthly Color Charts (Jan-Dec)
Temperature Chart Printables

Notes

To make my temperature blanket, I decided to choose a chevron stitch pattern.
You will need circular needles to accommodate the number of stitches and weight of the blanket as you knit.
This is knit flat (back and forth), not in the round.
You can cast on using the long tail method or the thumb method.
The super bulky yarn/super chunky yarn you need for this blanket can be any fiber of your choice, from acrylic to blends to wool yarn.
The yarn I used was super chunky, so the throw blanket I created only had around 3-4 months of the year.
You could use a lighter yarn weight to get all 12 months of the year in the stripes – a worsted or bulky weight yarn.

Copyright Info

Please do not copy, sell, redistribute, or republish this pattern.
If you wish to share this pattern, link to the pattern page only.
You may sell items produced using this pattern.
In all product listings, please credit Handy Little Me (Louise Bollanos) as the designer.
Do NOT use the copyrighted photos for your product listing.
For the copyright T&C, please read my Terms of Use.

The Supplies You Need

Yarn

Paintbox Yarns Wool Mix Super Chunky Collection
Substitute yarn suggestion: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick
Total yardage needed for the blanket = Around 1,620 yds.
Super Bulky/Super Chunky/18-20 Ply.
Yarn Weight Guide (+ Conversion Chart)

Needles

1 2 mm (US 17) 100 cm/40″ circular knitting needles
*Please note that you will knit back and forth on the circular needles; you will not be joining in the round.*
The circular needles help to take the weight of the blanket as there are many stitches, and it gets heavy as it grows!

Notions

Size Information

Gauge

10 x 10 cm /4 x 4 inches = 8 sts and 12 rows measured in pattern.

Size

This blanket was knit as a throw blanket size.

You can cast on more stitches (in multiples of 15) to widen your blanket and knit more rows for a longer length.

Length = 60 inches / 152 cm
Width = 60 inches / 152 cm

Abbreviations / Knitting Abbreviations List

CO – Cast on
Cont – Continue
K – Knit
K2tog – Knit the next two stitches together (to decrease)
KFB – Knit into the front and back of the stitch (to increase)
Rep – Repeat
RS – Right side
SSK – Slip slip knit (to decrease)
St(s) – Stitch(es)
WS – Wrong side

Temperature Blanket Pattern Instructions

This stitch pattern is worked in a multiple of 15 stitches.

Cast on 90 sts using the longtail method.

Row 1 (RS): *K2tog, K4, KFB, K1, KFB, K4, SSK – rep from * to end.

Row 2 (WS): Knit

Rep rows 1 and 2, changing the colors of your yarn as you work in stripes according to your temperature information.

When your blanket measures around 60 inches in length, cast off.

Weave in all loose ends with a yarn needle.

What Is The Best Stitch For A Temperature Blanket?

The “best” stitch for a temperature blanket can vary depending on personal preference and the effect you want to achieve.

Here are a few popular options:

Garter Stitch: Simple and reversible, the garter stitch creates a textured fabric with ridges on both sides. It’s easy to knit and can produce a lovely, squishy blanket.
Stockinette Stitch: This classic stitch pattern creates smooth, V-shaped columns on the right side and a flat, bumpy texture on the wrong side. Keep in mind that stockinette tends to curl at the edges, so you might want to add a border to prevent that.
Moss or Seed Stitch: This stitch alternates between knit and purl stitches in a checkerboard pattern. It’s textured and lies flat, making it a good choice for temperature blankets if you want a bit more visual interest.
Cables: If you’re up for a challenge and want an intricate, textured look, cables can be a stunning choice. They create twisting patterns that add depth and dimension to the blanket.
Lace Stitches: For representing temperature changes in a more delicate way, lace stitches can be a beautiful option. They create airy, openwork patterns that can symbolize different temperature ranges.

Ultimately, the best stitch for your temperature blanket is one that you enjoy knitting, and that fits your skill level.

Some people even opt to change the stitch pattern according to the season or temperature range, making the blanket a reflection of their knitting journey through the year.

Experimenting with swatches or small sections can help you decide which stitch pattern you like best before committing to the entire blanket.

What Is The Best Yarn For A Temperature Blanket?

The choice of yarn for a temperature blanket can depend on various factors including personal preference, budget, climate, and the desired effect.

Here are some considerations when choosing yarn:

Fiber Content: Yarn can be made from various materials such as wool, cotton, acrylic, alpaca, etc. Each fiber has its own characteristics. Wool can be warm, insulating, and great for colder climates, while cotton is breathable and more suitable for warmer regions.
Weight: Yarn comes in different weights (fingering, sport, worsted, bulky, etc.). The weight can impact the feel and look of your blanket. Bulky yarns will create a faster knit and a thicker, warmer blanket, while lighter weights can create a more delicate feel.
Durability: Consider how much wear and tear your blanket might endure. If it’s meant to be a cozy keepsake, a softer, less durable yarn might be acceptable. However, if it’s intended for regular use, durability becomes more important.
Color Options: If you plan to use different colors to represent temperature ranges, choose a yarn line that offers a wide range of colors. Some yarn brands have specific colorways designed for temperature blankets.
Allergies and Sensitivities: Be mindful of any allergies or sensitivities. Some people may be sensitive to wool or other fibers, so choose yarn that suits your needs.

Commonly used yarns for temperature blankets include acrylic yarns because they are budget-friendly, come in a wide range of colors, and are machine washable.

Cotton yarns are popular for their breathability, making them suitable for warmer climates.

Ultimately, the best yarn for your temperature blanket depends on your preferences, the intended use of the blanket, and the climate in which you live.

Sampling different yarns through swatches can help you decide which one suits your project best.

Tips And Tricks For a Successful Temperature Blanket!

If you are knitting a row on a daily basis it’s a good idea to set a reminder to do your rows.
Plus, if you fall a little bit behind, there is no reason to give up or get discouraged; you can easily catch up or continue where you are. It’s your blanket.
Keep track of your project, take notes, and snap photos; you can even post them on social media!
Take a look at this post and check out more temperature blanket patterns for inspiration, including crochet patterns – 20 Temperature Blanket Patterns (The Ultimate Guide)

More Free Patterns

You can view more free blanket patterns here…

Share your work with us…

I love seeing your finished projects on social media.

If you enjoyed making the blanket, I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @handylittleme.

If you are on Facebook, stop over to the handylittleme Facebook group and share a photo.

You can also find us on Ravelry and Pinterest.

I’d love to see your work.

Happy Knitting!