New Lunar year, new Moon project!
I choose a year-long knitting project: a temperature blanketโฆ with a twist.
What is a Temperature Blanket?
The basic idea is to knit a row (or some rows) daily to make a blanket. And do it for an entire year with colors corresponding to the daily temperature. A temperature blanket project typically starts with creating a color palette based on the climate of your local area. But the lack of temperature variance here in California makes me think twice before starting a project like this. I like the idea, tho!
So, what to do?
My answer: A Moon Temperature Blanket
Yes! Letโs make the temperature blanket linked to the moon phases!
Everyone sees the same phases of the Moon. People north and south of the equator see the Moon in the same stage as you at home, even they would see the Moon from different angles. And that’s amazing!
Plan the Perfect Moon Temperature Blanket
A Moon temperature blanket will be like a chronicle of a Lunar year in yarn. You start with the Moon phases and assign a color to each phase (let’s call it the phase legend), and you knit a row on your blanket to represent each day in its given color.
When planning your phase legend, I recommend using all eight Moon phases to have eight colors. But you can use as many colors as you like. Or choose a fade between the moon phases, or use just the four main Moon phases.
Tracking the Moon
Keeping track of the Moon phases throughout the year is crucial but easy.
You can check on your phone, in a calendar, or consult a website. If you want to plan, you can write on your planner or in the note app on your phone.
Picking yarn
It’s not just about the colors. You have to consider a yarn that is easy to source and a fiber content that you will be happy to use all year.
I recommend working with acrylic fibers (accessible, colorful, low-priced, and machine washable). Still, you can also consider cotton (same pro as acrylic, but it can be heavy, and the color will fade) or wool (superwash only, please, and it can be pricey).
About the yarn weight, DK or fingering for small blankets (Moon child, anyone?) and worsted and bulky for afghans, throw, or queen blankets.
Finally, colors. Temperature blankets used a rainbow color palette, from cool to warm colors. And I love this idea for the Moon, a cool color for the New Moon and a warm color for the Full Moon.
But really, build a color palette around what you love the most. It can be related to what makes you feel the Moon or just a color fade/palette you love.
No right or wrong answers exist when choosing the colors for your Moon Temperature blanket.
Pattern
If the goal is to let your colors stand out, choose a simple stitch to knit: garter stitch, stockinette, herringbone, seed stitch, and wave stitch are simple but beautiful.
If the goal is texture, you can mix things up by picking a different stitch for every full/new Moon or every phase.
Whatever you choose, start by making a gauge swatch and reading the yarn’s label suggestions. Then select the finished dimensions of your blankets.
Simple math will do the rest!
2023 Moon Temperature Blanket
If you are a moon lover, I invite you to start your 2023 Moon temperature blanket with me!
Letโs make it together and support each other in staying motivated by posting about it online, using the hashtag #moontempblanket2023 and sharing your progress with me on IG throughout the year.
I hope youโll consider starting your Moon temperature blanket with me this year. Tell me, have you ever knit a temperature blanket before?