All the details on how to make a daily crochet temperature blanket, including how many stitches to crochet and what yarn to use!

Making a crocheted temperature blanket is so easy! It uses one simple crochet stitch, and the end result is unique and beautiful!

Temperature blanket piled up in basket.

In 2024, I saw several social media accounts post about their temperature blankets, including one of my old high school friends, Liz.

Even though it was already mid-January (which meant I was already behind!), I became obsessed with the idea and knew I wanted to tackle this fun project. So I dove in and got started!

While this is a bit of a departure from food and recipes, I thought it would be fun to share all the details you need to know if you want to make a temperature blanket of your own.

Temperature Blanket: The Basics

For a crocheted temperature blanket:

  • one row is crocheted for each day of the year
  • the color of yarn used for each row reflects the high temperature for that day
  • the rows are crocheted using a single crochet stitch
Crocheting gray yarn on temperature blanket in doctor's office.

There are several details you can vary depending on how you want your temperature blanket to turn out.

  • the number of stitches is entirely up to you; I made my blanket using 230 single crochets in each row
  • the size of crochet hook can also be varied; I use a size K/6.5mm hook (I crochet medium-tight); this is my favorite style of crochet hook
  • a different color (outside of the colors used for the temperatures – more on that below) can be used at the end of each month to identify each separate month
  • a border can be added to the blanket after it is finished (I haven’t added a border to the blanket shown below, but I plan to add it now that the blanket is finished)
Crocheted temperature blanket laid out on carpet.

Temperature Blanket: The Yarn

It is best to first identify the temperature ranges you want to use, which will depend on where you live. I live in a climate with four distinct seasons, so I used the following temperature ranges:

  • <19° F
  • 20-29° F
  • 30-39° F
  • 40-49° F
  • 50-59° F
  • 60-60° F
  • 70-79° F
  • 80-89° F
  • 90-99° F
  • 100° F and higher
Cardboard cutout with labels for yarn and temperatures.

Then, decide which color of yarn to assign to each temperature range. Many different brands/varieties of yarn will work for this blanket.

I followed the inspiration from many Instagram accounts and used Lion Brand Heartland yarn. I purchased from JoAnn fabrics, because there were often discount codes, and I have a store semi-close to me for easy pickup.

I used about 25 to 27 skeins of the Lion Brand Heartland yarn for one temperature blanket.

I assigned the following colors for each temperature range, using cooler colors for lower temperatures and increasing the warmth of the color as the temperature increased:

  • <19° F: Wolf Trap
  • 20-29° F: Voyageurs
  • 30-39° F: Carlsbad Cavern
  • 40-49° F: Petrified Forest
  • 50-59° F: Haleakala
  • 60-60° F: Bryce Canyon
  • 70-79° F: Gateway Arch
  • 80-89° F: Yosemite
  • 90-99° F: Redwood
  • 100° F and higher: Badlands
  • Monthly divider: White Sands
Colored yarn in rows for temperature blanket.

I used this very handy yarn ball winder to wind each skein into a yarn “cake.” It was a lifesaver because the yarn unwinds seamlessly while crocheting (and it was actually kind of fun to use).

Temperature Blanket: How to Get Started

  1. Crochet a chain of 230 stitches (or however many stitches you are using for your blanket). Use the yarn color that will be used for the first row (January 1).
  2. Single crochet down the length of the chain.
  3. If you are using the same color for January 2, on the last single crochet add an additional single crochet, flip the blanket, and single crochet down the entire row for day #2 (going through both loops).
  4. Repeat this process, only changing it up when you need to use a different color based on the temperature. Always add an additional single crochet on the last stitch before flipping and starting a new row.
  5. To tie in a new color, I used the method shown in this YouTube tutorial.

The picture below shows where the first stitch of each new row should go when you flip the blanket.

Crocheting first stitch in second row of temperature blanket.

Temperature Blanket: Additional Details

Despite my best efforts, I inevitably got a bit behind throughout the year, especially because in late February, I decided to start a second temperature blanket, which meant I had a lot of catching up to do!

I made two temperature blankets in 2024. One for the temperature where I live in southwest Idaho and a second blanket for the temperature of a small town in Switzerland where my grandmother grew up.

Mel holding crocheted temperature blanket.
Idaho Blanket
Mel holding crocheted temperature blanket.
Switzerland Blanket

To keep track of the weather, I made a simple spreadsheet with the days of each month, and I wrote the temperature in for each day. If I got too far behind, I used this website to look up past daily temperatures.

I kept the spreadsheet and a pen tucked into my crochet basket so I could easily mark off each day when the row was finished.

I became known as the “crochet lady” because I took my crochet blankets everywhere from wrestling tournaments to doctor’s offices to road trips. That is until they got too big to take anywhere conveniently.

Crocheting green stripes on temperature blanket.
Temperature blanket stuffed into pink bag.

I will always have fond memories of the year I tackled two temperature blankets, because it made me sit down more often in the evenings, and when I did, my kids often gathered around me and we had the best talks and laughs. (I also got through a lot of audiobooks!)

Lots of you also made temperature crochet blankets (I know, because you sent me pictures of your creations on Instagram!). So many different color variations; I love them all!

If you have any questions about making a temperature blanket, leave them below!

Happy crocheting!