For those of you still thinking about crocheting a temperature afghan, but hesitating because the final product would fit a king size bed, here’s a smaller more manageable alternative.
I wanted to make a temperature afghan from the moment I heard of the idea, but didn’t want an afghan that would fit a king size bed. I wanted something that would be nice to snuggle under on the couch while reading a book on a cold winter day. When I first heard of the temperature afghan I was making an entrelac afghan and that inspired my version of a temperature afghan.
I am using the techniques found here. Whenever I start an entrelac afghan, I always have to go back and re-watch the video to make the first square. I know the technique, but never have the right number of chains to make.
READ THRU INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE STARTING AFGHAN!
Keeping in mind that the initial square that you make will be the bottom left corner of the afghan, add squares to only two sides of the square. Tie off and join yarn (using technique in video) to the bottom of the afghan and make squares working up the project. Continue this process changing colors as needed for temperatures.
I was having trouble doing the math as to how many squares wide and high the afghan would be needed to make it a perfect rectangle. I was overthinking the problem and with the help of sister and brother-in-law we have come to the following instructions.
The afghan needs to be 57 squares high and 38 squares wide.
Also, with the following exceptions, crochet six squares per day.
The following days only crochet FIVE squares per day:
- January 1st & 15th
- February 1st, 10th & 20th
- March 1st & 15th
- April 1st, 10th & 20th
- May 1st & 15th
- June 1st, 10th & 20th
- July 1st & 15th
- August 1st, 10th & 20th
- September 1st & 15th
- October 1st, 10th & 20th
- November 1st & 15th
- December 1st, 10th & 20th
I’ve been watching various Facebook groups and blogs and there are many different way of choosing what temperature of the day to use. Here are a few that I found:
- Using the actual temperature at some point during the day (usually sometime between noon and 2 pm)
- Using either the actual high or forecasted high of the day
- Using either the actual low or forecasted low of the day
- And the one I’m using,
- January thru March 20 (spring equinox), the LOW forecasted temperature of the day,
- March 20 thru June 120 (summer solstice), the AVERAGE forecasted temperature of the day
- June 21 thru September 22 (fall equinox), the forecasted HIGH of the day
- September 23 thru end of the year, the LOW forecasted temperature of the day,
I chose the temperature variation so that I could utilize the most colors possible.
After the afghan is done, it will need a boarder to finish it off, I have not even given what I’m going to do a thought yet. Probably just a single or half double crochet row or two.
This is what it looks like after day one
This is what it looks like after day seven
And here are the colors I'm using
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Here is an update, day 27.
Sweet Pea wouldn't leave the area, she was feeling very jealous, couldn't figure out why the blanket was getting all the attention. I was trying to get the bottom edge to stop curling. This will resolve itself at the end of the year, when I add a boarder and wash the blanket.
