Temperature Afghan
Years ago, Bernat Yarns prior to rebranding themselves as Yarnspirations had a blog where they used a Yarn Temperature Gauge for making unique afghans, generally referred to as a Temperature Afghan.
I was reminded of this when Sarah, founder of Repeat Crafter Me, posted this as an idea for crocheters. I've been looking for this gauge and was unable to find it. Thanks, Sarah for the reminder!
Getting Data from the Past
If you don't know the temperatures of the past, you can find them pretty easily. I have written a blog on where to get the information plus there are 4 examples from Crochet Crowd Community Members to gawk at too! Where to Find Temperature Information.
How A Temperature Afghan Works
If you have never heard of a Temperature Afghan, it's pretty straight forward. You commit to crocheting 1 - 3 rows/rounds of your work using the temperature gauge as your colour choice each day. So you can either check your temperature outside of your home or refer to the weather network each day and crochet accordingly. If you think you are not going to crochet for a day, just take the temperature and write it down so when you pick up your project, you have that information handy.
The temperature gauge is showing 6 colours of Caron One Pound yarn.
Once you know the temperature, look at your gauge and crochet the colour that falls within the temperature readings.
The trick is not to cheat the system by falsifying a temperature because you think the colour shouldn't go where it does. The whole point is capturing the temperature as it happens making the afghan a true representation of the season you are crocheting in.
PSST... if you cannot start on the first of the month, you can start anytime, when you are done, no one is really going to know if you started on a the 1st of the month or had to delay it.
Customizing Your Temperature Gauge
In my region of the world, the chances of it hitting anything above 54 - 66 degrees is unlikely at this time of year. So what I would do is to change the temperatures to be closer to what is normal for your region.
So I would just stroke out the temperatures and redo the gauge that is closer to temperatures that are possible. For example, I would actually put my lowest temperature to be up to -20 degrees and work up increments all the way up to a maximum to 13 degrees as my highest point. Be creative, just because there are 8 increments that don't mean you have to have only 8, you can have more colours and closer temperatures.
I would also look at the yarn colours and you can change out the yarn colours too depending on what is in your collection or making something that more reflects your own personal tastes.
To help you further, I have created a downloadable PDF of the Temperature Gauge so you can make your own notes or alterations.
Thermometer Applique
I have written a pattern called the Yarn Thermometer. This pattern will show you how to make an applique that can be applied to your Temperature Afghan.
The colours you have selected for your project are to be used in the thermometer. Once you are done this applique and your project are done. Simply sew this onto the corner of the afghan.
To help you remember what the colours mean, the gauge shows the colours in order of the temperature. So when you look at the project, you can look at the thermometer and remember the temperature increments.
How Many Chains to Start Worksheet
Tips on Selecting the Right Stitch
The Afghan may be up to 365 rows. Based on single crochet using Caron One Pound with a 5 mm or H Hook, 3 days equals 1 inch of height. This means the afghan will be 121" long. If you have seen most temperature afghans, it's way too long and isn't practical.
So I attempted doing slip stitching and I know what you are thinking, 'Slip stitching' an entire afghan is crazy. But wait. You have to do 365 rows. Slip stitching with 5 mm or H Hook using Caron One Pound, you can get 8 days in just 1". This will give you an afghan that is really tight and approximately 46" long instead.
If you want texture, when you are slip stitching, use the front loop only. This will give a unique look and make the afghan have elastic look and feel to it.
If you do a lapghan size of 180 chains to start. You can create an almost square lapghan. Then you can add on a border to make it slightly bigger.
Tutorial
What Types of Projects Can You Do?
It's usually done in granny format but you can follow your own rules or designs. Here is a list of 5 patterns that are great for this. Again, be creative.
Cammi Gericke says
I am trying to figure out the gauge for this. I bought my yarn and I'm ready to start, but I did a sample of 5 rows of a granny stripe (with an H/5mm hook) with double crochet and it measured 2.5". When I did the same 5 rows with half double, it was 1.75". This means that 365 rows would be 182.5" (over 15 feet) or 127.75" (over 10.5 feet) respectively - both are much too long. How can I scale this to a more reasonable afghan size? I know I could do a row every other day but really want to do it daily...
KZ says
I'm interested in the replies you get. I just looked at a FB post from someone who's going to do it with the Moss Stitch, and I think I like that option for the look, but also overall size, since it uses single crochet/chain as its pattern. I certainly think this could be HUGE when it has 366 rows! I also want it to record each day's temperature.
Nikki says
Moss stitch in ww with an h hook is about 8 feet long. I did it in 2013. =)
Connie says
Nikki, how many stitches across did you do? I was worried it would be way too big but 8ft long is a workable size, so you did the moss stitch in WW, one row per day, 365 rows total....how wide is it...thank you!
Bonnie Hughey says
I have the same question but for the granny rectangle. This is a leap year so we will have one more day to crochet! 366
Charlotte Ledet Johnson says
I amusing a round granny square.https://getpocket.com/a/read/948038942
Marjorie L Reitz says
Good idea as I would like to start this now but would have to get the supplies...Wait until spring would give me the time to get organized.
Flavia Wolfe says
I was wondering the same thing. I am thinking of doing one of the granny square ones and a single side of the square being one day, not sure yet. I am writing down the next few days temperatures until I figure it out
Melissa Laurents Smith says
This is only done for a month. I am doing the granny rectangle and I do 2 rounds a day for 30 days for a total of 60 rounds. (I am doing it for a bed, not a throw). Hope that helps.
Leanne says
Very interesting unique concept
Deirdre Bowman says
Love the idea.... but here in sunny Oz the my colours could be a little different to yours!! Fun idea. Thanks. Keep on crafting.