C A L
It’s time to start the brand new Happily Hooked 2021 Temperature CAL! Last year’s blanket was so much fun that we decided to do another one. Our amazing Publishing Editor, Shawna Underwood, has come up with something gorgeous!
Before we begin, let’s learn a little more about the process for this project.
By: Courtney Knorr
→ WHAT EXACTLY IS A TEMPERATURE BLANKET?
A temperature blanket’s basic idea is to crochet (or knit) a row, round, or motif each day for a full calendar year. The colors used for those rows, rounds, or motifs correspond with the temperature outside.
→ HOW DO I CHOOSE MY COLORS?
Color choice is entirely up to you! Rainbow color schemes are trendy, but you can also use an ombre look if you prefer. Or maybe you just want to use whatever colors you happen to have in your stash. There literally is no right or wrong when it comes to choosing colors for your temperature blanket! Just remember that this will be a pretty big project - you’re going to have to look at it every day. Make sure you choose colors you like!
→ HOW DO I KNOW WHAT COLOR TO USE ON WHAT DAY?
Once you decide on a general color palette for your project,
you have to choose how you want to break your temperature gauge down. Think about last year - did your temperatures vary a lot? Or were they pretty consistent throughout the year? If you live in an area with many variabilities, you might want to break your temperatures down into groups of 10 degrees (0-10, 11-20, 21-30…). If you live in an area where the temperatures are pretty consistent and non- varying, you might want a smaller range, say 3-5 degrees. It all depends on your location.
Once you have your range set, assign a color to each section. Take some time to play around a little to make sure that you like your arrangement of colors. If you know your area is in the 60s for a large part of the year, make sure you choose a color you love for that section - there’s going to be a lot of it!!
→ WHAT TEMPERATURE DO I USE?
You can use whatever temperature you prefer! You can use the day’s high, low, average, or “feels like”
Temperature CAL
temperature. It’s absolutely up to you!
→ DO I HAVE TO USE CURRENT DATES? WHAT IF I WANT TO MAKE A BLANKET USING TEMPERATURES FROM PAST YEARS?
You can do either!! If you’re planning on using the temperatures for 2021, all you need to do is follow your local weather report. Jot each temp down on a sheet of paper (or create a spreadsheet on your computer) to keep track.
If you want to use past dates, there are several historical weather data sites out there. Here’s a great one:
→ HOW MUCH YARN WILL I NEED?
That’s a tough question to answer! First, you need to take a peek back into your area’s historical weather trends. If you know there are a lot of mild days, then you are going
to need more of your “mild” colors than you will of your “hot” or “cold” colors.
Our 2021 Temp CAL design encompasses motifs joined together. The best way to determine approximately how much yarn you might need is to make a motif and measure how much yarn you used. Compare that amount to your yarn label.
Temperature CAL
CLICK HERE
You should be able to get a rough estimate of how many motifs each ball or skein of yarn you buy will make.
For this project, Shawna chose to use Hobbii Rainbow 8/4 Cotton fingering weight yarn. You do not have to use that specific yarn - you can use any worsted weight yarn you prefer! If you want to try using different yarn weights to make a larger or smaller blanket, that’s also totally doable.
→ WHAT DO I DO WITH MY MOTIFS?
This project was designed to be a join-as-you-go (JAYGO) blanket. After you have made your first motif, you will fasten off and weave in your ends. There’s nothing to join yet! But for your subsequent motifs, you will be able to join those as you go so that you won’t have a pile of motifs just lying around. You absolutely do not have to JAYGO! You can join your motifs in whatever way you prefer! (There will be more about this in the pattern.)
Ready to begin?
Temperature CAL Any weight (or fiber) yarn can be used for this project. Please adjust hook size accordingly.
These sample motifs were made with various weights and hook sizes.
Square 1: Hobbii Rainbow 8/4, H (5.0mm) hook Square 2: Premier Yarns Cotton Fair, I (5.5mm) hook Square 3: Bernat Softee Baby Cotton, J (6.0mm) hook Square 4: Mainstays 100% Cotton, Furls J (6.00mm) hook (Furls hooks tend to run a little big, meaning your square will be larger and looser. You can also try a K (6.5mm) hook.)
DESIGN BY: Shawna Underwood
Temperature
YARN Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/4 Melange, fine weight #2 yarn (100% cotton; 186 yds/170 m per 1.76 oz/50 g skein) • 1-2 skein(s) Color of Choice per Temperature Range
HOOK & OTHER MATERIALS • US Size H/8 (5.0mm) crochet hook • Yarn needle
SIZES/FINISHED MEASUREMENTS Motif approx. 2.75” square – Finished blanket will be approx. 36 x 78” but will vary based on yarn choice
GAUGE Gauge is not critical for this project.
NOTES 1. Any weight yarn may be used,
sample uses #2 weight yarn for selected temperature range; please check gauge.
2. Sl st to 1st stitch of each round to join, using both loops unless noted.
3. Any weight yarn can be used, but weight #1-#4 will work best.
4. Join Motifs in preferred method; Motifs 2-4 show how sample was
SU PER FINE
1
FINE
2
LIGHT
3
MEDIUM
4
made and utilizes a JAY-GO method. 5. When joining make sure to orientate
square to continue row in same direction.
6. Blanket will consist of 28 rows with 1 row of Border; Each row will have 13 Motifs. If previous year is used and contains a leap year do 2 rows of border.
7. Designer crochets loosely, it may be necessary to go up several hook sizes to achieve correct fabric tension. If using different weight of yarn go up 1-2 hook sizes from recommended hook size.
SPECIAL STITCHES puff (puff stitch) = yo, insert hook in indicated, yo, pull up loop, yo, insert hook in same, yo, pull up loop (5 loops on hook), yo, pull through all loops
Instructions:
Motif 1 Round 1: Make magic ring, ch 1, 8 hdc in ring, do not join—8 hdc. Round 2: Working in 3rd loop, 2 hdc in each around, join to 3rd loop—16 hdc. Round 3: Ch 1, working in 3rd loop, puff in same, sc in next, *puff in next, sc in next; repeat from * around, join—8 puffs, 8 sc. Round 4: Ch 5 (counts as (dc, ch-3 sp), dc in same (corner made), ch 1, skip 1, dc in next, ch 1 skip 1, *(dc, ch 3, dc)
INTERMEDIATE
in next, ch 1, skip 1, dc in next, ch 1, skip 1; repeat from * around, join—4 corners (dc, ch-3, dc), 4 dc, 8 ch-1 sp. Fasten off, weave in ends. Block if desired.
dc in same (corner made), ch 1, skip 1, dc in next, ch 1, skip 1, place current Motif and previous Motif with RS facing together, (dc, ch 1, sl st through sl st and center ch from previous join, ch 1, dc) in next ch-3 sp, sl st to next ch-1 sp of previous Motif, dc in next of current Motif, sl st to next ch-1 sp of previous Motif, (dc, ch 1, sl st to corresponding corner of previous Motif, ch 1, dc) in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, skip 1, dc in next, ch 1, skip 1, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, skip 1, dc in next, ch 1, skip 1, join. Fasten off, weave in ends. Block if desired.
Motif 2 (used for Row 1 of Motifs) Rounds 1-3: Repeat Rounds 1-3 from Motif 1. Round 4: Ch 5 (counts as (dc, ch-3 sp), dc in same (corner made), ch 1, skip 1, dc in next, ch 1, skip 1, place current Motif and previous Motif with RS facing together, (dc, ch 1, sl st to corresponding corner of previous Motif, ch 1, dc) in next ch-3 sp, sl st to next ch-1 sp of previous Motif, dc in next of current Motif, sl st to next ch-1 sp of previous Motif, (dc, ch 1, sl st to corresponding corner of previous Motif, ch 1, dc) in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, skip 1, dc in next, ch 1, skip 1, (dc, ch 3, dc) in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, skip 1, dc in next, ch 1, skip 1, join. Fasten off, weave in ends. Block if desired.
Motif 3 (used at start of each new row) Rounds 1-3: Repeat Rounds 1-3 from Motif 1. Round 4: Ch 5 (counts as (dc, ch-3 sp),
Motif 3
Start of Motif
Motif 4 (used to join 3 or more Motifs together) Rounds 1-3: Repeat Rounds 1-3 from Motif 1. Round 4: Ch 5 (counts as (dc, ch-3 sp), dc in same (corner made), ch 1, skip
Motif 2
Start of Motif
1, dc in next, ch 1, skip 1, place current Motif and previous Motif with RS facing together, (dc, ch 1, sl st through sl st and center ch from previous join, ch 1, dc) in next ch-3 sp, sl st to next ch-1 sp of previous Motif, dc in next of current Motif, sl st to next ch-1 sp of previous Motif, (dc, ch 1, sl st through sl sts and center ch from previous join, ch 1, dc) in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, skip 1, dc in next, ch 1, skip 1, (dc, ch 1, sl st through sl st and center ch from previous join, ch 1, dc) in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, skip 1, dc in next, ch 1, skip 1, join. Fasten off, weave in ends. Block if desired.
Border Round 1: Join in any corner, ch 1 (2), [3 sc (or hdc) in corner, sc (or hdc) in
each across to next corner] 4 times, join. Round 2 (Optional Puff): Ch 1, [(sc, puff, sc) in corner, *puff in next, sc in next; repeat from * across to next corner] 4 times, join. Fasten off, weave in ends.
Motif 4