Thorofare Temperature Blanket
* A temperature blanket uses a series of yarn colors associated with temperature ranges to knit or crochet a record of the temperature through a set period of time. *
When I began to think about my 2020 temperature blanket, I was intrigued by the idea of motifs instead of rows. After 365 days of linen stitch during 2019, I was certainly up for a change. I was looking for a rustic pattern that would go well with the City Tweed DK I had my heart set on for the year. This blanket is the result and I couldn’t be happier!
The Name
I knew I wanted to name this pattern after a historic cabin. The vibe it gives reminds me of something you would see draped over a chair by a cabin fireplace. It has an heirloom quality about it that is timeless. However, the search for historic Wyoming cabins lead me down a rabbit hole of Yellowstone National Park (YNP) history, and eventually to an article on Historic Backcountry Cabins on the National Park Service website.
In the early days of YNP, Army patrols sought refuge in small cabins built throughout the park. There are four of these cabins still in use today: Thorofare Patrol Cabin, Fox Creek Patrol Cabin, Harebell Patrol Cabin, and Buffalo Lake. All seemingly good names for a blanket; yet, the one that caught my attention was the Thorofare Cabin.
The Thorofare is the most isolated destination in the lower 48 states. Traversing the Thorofare requires days on horseback or afoot through YNP and into the Teton Wilderness. The area is riddled with grizzlies and the terrain is a challenge for even the most experienced backpacker. If this description peaks your wanderlust, check out this article by Leslie Tribble. Or if, like me, you’d rather just read a little more about it, check out this Casper Star Tribune article.
The definition of Thorofare also struck me as satisfyingly perfect when considering this blanket.
““A path forming a route between two places.” ”
In this blanket, the temperature is tracked from the beginning of the year until the end - a route between two places. Plus, the back and forth rows of hexagons reminds me of the switchbacks described by those who have experienced the Thorofare trail.
Getting Started
Finding inspiration for the vibe of your blanket and making the important decisions like color and layout can sometimes be a little challenging when you decide to delve into the world of temperature blankets. But never fear! I’ve outlined all the decisions and temperature blanket advice using my 2019 blanket. Click the button below to organize all the in’s and out’s of your blanket.
It is also important to remember that this blanket does not have to represent temperature. I personally prefer temperature because it is measurable and my scientific brain likes that, but there are a variety of ways to track a year without the weather being involved. Here are a few ideas:
Travel
Good deeds
Self care
Mood
Reading time
Monetary Spending
Family time
Exercise
Water consumption
Eating habits/cravings
Colors
If you’ve read my Designing the Perfect Temperature Blanket blog, you know all about my advice on color choices, but I want to stress again how important choosing color can be to the overall project. It is important to remember that any and all of your colors may get paired next to each other in this blanket, so all of your colors need to work cohesively.
In this particular blanket design, one hexagon is generally touching six others. Each corner is paired with two other hexagons. When the rows work up, you’ll potentially have today’s color touching a color from last month and it will all start to blend together into a unique abstract mosaic. Don’t expect perfect stripes or gradual shifts. Mother Nature doesn’t work that way.
Both my 2019 and my 2020 temperature blanket patterns are simple. It’s the color combination and yarn choice that make them stand out. I am ALWAYS willing to talk colors, so if you have questions or need help, please let me know. I would be tickled to help.
Layout
I’ve whipped up two templates for throw sized blankets with 366 and 365 days. I found it helpful to write in the dates for each day of the year inside the hexagons and color in each hexagon as completed. You may also find it helpful to have a place to keep notes about your blanket and a space to log your temperatures. That’s why I made the Tracking Blanket Notebook! Grab a copy with the button below.
Although I am working my blanket in a diagonal, that is certainly not the only option. Here are a few other ideas:
Diagonal from top to bottom
Diagonal from bottom to top
Horizontal from top to bottom
Horizontal from bottom to top
Vertical from left to right
Vertical from right to left
Starting from the center and working outward
Starting from the corners and working inward
Dividing into seasonal clusters
Just keep in mind that the more ornate you choose to design your blanket, the more attention you will need to pay when piecing the hexagons together. I still managed to bumble the order in my diagonal rows in the first month.
Leap years: 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024, 2028, 2032, 2036, 2040, 2044, etc.
For more template options, including a seasonal shawl and 40 week pregnancy blanket, as well as non-temperature/tracking blanket sizes in lovey, stroller, receiving, toddler, swaddle, lapghan, throw, twin, queen, and king, check out the PDF in my pattern shop using button below.
My Design
I began this blanket on January 1st, 2020 and will end on December 31st, 2020. The hexagons are worked into shape using a join-as-you-go granny style. Each hexagon represents one day. I have chosen to arrange the hexagons in a back and forth diagonal pattern starting at the top left corner and ending at the bottom right corner.
I use the color associated with the high temperature each day. The temperature ranges and colors are:
<19°F - Orca
20-29°F - Porpoise
30-39°F - Jacquard
40-49°F - Kelp
50-59°F - Artichoke
60-69°F - Snowshoe
70-79°F - Plum Wine
80-89°F - Brocade
90>°F - Obsidian
The Pattern
Materials
4,182 yds DK (3) weight yarn
I used:
34 balls of We Crochet City Tweed DK
Colors: Orca, Porpoise, Jacquard, Kelp, Artichoke, Snowshoe, Plum Wine, Brocade, Obsidian
4 mm - G Crochet Hook (or hook needed to achieve gauge)
Tapestry Needle
Scissors
For the hexagon pattern and instructions on joining, click the button below.
