Introducing the Bernat 2013 Temperature Scarf Crochet-Along (CAL) and Knit-Along (KAL)! Inspired by a concept posted by Kristen Cooper (aka Honey Nutbrown), the Temperature Scarf is a conceptual pattern that reflects the weather in a single location every day of the year.
Starting February 1st, knit or crochet along with us on the Bernat Forums as we make the Temperature Scarf, day-by-day throughout 2013!
Getting Started
- First, determine what location your scarf will depict. You can use your hometown, or anywhere else you wish you were! Different locations have different temperature ranges, so this will help you break down your personalized temperature range.
- Look up the average temperature range for your location year-round. Google and Wikipedia are good resources for this. For example, after looking up “Toronto climate” (the Design Studio’s location), I can see that the weather usually varies from -10C (14F) to 35C (95F). Wind chill and humidity play a large part in determining how it feels in Toronto, so some of us will be using the “feels like” temperature.
- Divide the temperature range into smaller sections. Each smaller temperature range will be equivalent to a different coordinating shade of yarn. You may find it necessary to split the temperature by degrees of 10, 5, or even 2. *This step is important if you’re in a temperate climate where the weather doesn’t change very much. If your area is similar to Toronto, feel free to use the breakdown provided here!
- Select a yarn and assign a color to each temperature range. As you select colors, keep in mind that depending on your region and its climate you may have long streaks of a single color. You can select colors based on the rainbow, weather maps, or just pick whatever you think would look good!
Here’s a possible color breakdown on the left in Bernat Satin. - Sit back and think about what your scarf might look like if you used these colors and these temperature ranges. Tinker as needed to achieve the desired effect.
- Get started! Sign up on the forum and let us know what your plans are. Do some research on the temperature for the days that have already passed in January and get yourself caught up to today or make a note on the temperature for when you do start. Don’t forget to check out our January sale- buy 4, get 1 free on most of Bernat’s medium-weight yarns – perfect for this project!
Materials
NOTE: The materials list here is only a guideline based on our location and temperature background. Be sure and customize your materials based on your color breakdown and climate. Also, due to the unpredictable nature of weather, you may need more of some shades. You can buy extra balls now or wait until you need them. Don’t worry about different dye-lots – it won’t make a big difference in this case.
Bernat Satin (100 g/3.5 oz, 182 m/200 yds)
Border Color: Snow (04005) 1 ball
Crimson (04705) 1 ball
Goldenrod (04609) 1 ball
Foliage (04246) 1 ball
Soft Fern (04221) 1 ball
Lagoon (04742) 1 ball
Aqua (04201) 1 ball
Teal (04203) 1 ball
Sultana (04307) 1 ball
OR Approximately 9 balls of yarn of the same basic weight in colors of your choosing. We recommend using worsted weight or thinner to ensure your scarf doesn’t end up like The Doctor’s! Sheep(ish) by Vickie Howell and Bernat Super Value are excellent options.
A pair of knitting needles or crochet hook – use the size recommended on the yarn label. I will be using size 5 mm (U.S. 8 ) for my scarf.
Instructions – Temperature Scarf – Knit
Note: In this pattern you will knit 5 rows of your border color at the beginning and end of the scarf, 2 rows each day in the appropriate temperature-based color, and 4 rows of border color in between each month:
Seed Stitch pattern: *K1. P1. Rep from * to last st. K1.
With your border color, cast on 35 stitches.
Knit 5 rows (garter st), noting 1strow is WS.
**Work 2 rows of Seed Stitch pattern every day in appropriate temperature-based color, for the duration of the month.
With border color, knit 4 rows (garter st).**
Optional: If you would prefer not to have your border color between months, simply omit this part of the pattern and continue with just knitting 2 rows of Seed Stitch per day.
Rep from ** to ** 11 times more (each month of the year).
Cast off.
Instructions – Temperature Scarf – crochet
Note: In this pattern you will crochet 4 rows in your border color at the beginning and end of the scarf, 2 rows each day in the appropriate temperature-based color, and 4 rows of border color in between each month:
With your border color, chain 26.
1st row: 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook. *Ch 1. Miss next ch. 1 sc in next ch. Rep from * to end of chain. Turn. 25 sts.
2nd row: Ch 1. 1 sc in first sc. *1 sc in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1. Rep from * to last 2 sts. 1 sc in next ch-1 sp. 1 sc in last sc. Turn.
Rep last row twice more.
**Beg working Daily pattern in temperature-based color:
1st row: Ch 1. 1 sc in first sc. *Ch 1. 1 sc in next ch-1 sp. Rep from * to last 2 sc. Ch 1. Miss next sc. 1 sc in last sc. Turn.
2nd row: Ch 1. 1 sc in first sc. *1 sc in next ch-1 sp. Ch 1. Rep from * to last 2 sts. 1 sc in next ch-1 sp. 1 sc in last sc. Turn.
Rep 1st and 2nd rows for every day of the month.
With border color, work 1st and 2nd rows twice.**
Rep from ** to ** 11 times more (each month of the year).
Fasten off.
Possible Modifications and Notes
There are lots of fun ways you can customize this project, such as:
- Show off your favorite stitch or mix up different stitches instead of following the pattern precisely. Keep in mind that some stitch patterns may result in an extremely long scarf. Do a tension swatch in your pattern to determine how long a scarf you will have at the end of 365 days.
- For a shorter scarf or cowl, do a 6-month version of the scarf, or knit fewer rows.
- Make a scarf for a friend or loved one based on the weather in a place they wish they were.
- Make a scarf for an important year, such as the year a loved one was born.
- Assign colors for other weather elements – like rain, snow, thunderstorms, etc. to get an even more complete look at your year.
- Who says you have to stick to scarves? Make a whole blanket that represents your journey through the year!
We’ll be chatting about our progress on the Bernat Forums, so drop by and share your own project!
Is this going to be the KAL/CAL for this spring? Is there not going to be a “Mystery” KAL/CAL afghan? Or will that be released later?
I too was in hopes of another mystery afghan and am wondering if there will be one this year.
I agree, this sounds quite boring and I was so looking forward to an afghan
I loved the last KAL/CAL and was looking forward to another afghan. I live in Florida so would not be much variation. Will there be another KAL/CAL this year besides the scarf.
So did we ever get an answer? Will there be a mystery afghan this year? I have no need for a scarf.
How nice is this! What a great CAL/KAL. Looking forward to joining in the fun. I am a beginner knitter so it is really nice to have a simple pattern that I can do. Many of the KAL’s I have seen and attempted to do have been so far over my head that I get lost and just give up. It is so nice to be able to participate in this one.
Thanks again.
What about all of the ends on the sides? Will that look sort of lumpy when they are all woven in?
We’ll be giving a tutorial on how to weave in your ends, it should look fine.
When?
You can get started whenever you’re ready, but our ‘official’ start date is February 1st to give everyone a chance to gather up their materials and figure out their strategies. In the meantime, we’re chatting away at the Bernat Forums.
When will this tutorial be out? Where will is be available? There are a lot of ends on my scarf already.
I am with Dorthy. Been waiting for a Mystery CAL. Just not feeling this one. I do not have time to stitch every day. Would be hard to keep up with what the temp was. Especially since it has been crazy here in Northern Illinois. We have gone 60F to 17F within a week. Hope others have fun with it tho.
Sorry I meant I am with TJ on this one*
I love this KAL/CAL! It leaves so much room for creativity.
I feel like an artist, with a palette of colors to use for my creation! I’m using Bernat Denimstyle for my scarf – all 13 colors of it!
As if I need ANOTHER project…but this looks like so much fun. Have to do it!
So for those of us in the Prairies or the North we will have a large portion of our Scarf or Blanket in Purple as -6 and below are the norm for Nov-March or longer. Do we just keep using darker shades?
It’s probably best if you modify the temperature ranges and colors to work best for you and your location. You will probably need to extend the temperature range lower than the one suggested.
Being from the Ottawa, Ontario, Canada area we have quite the diversity of temperatures also. I plan on using this CAL as a teaching project and estimate using at leat 12 colours. Many of my students want to use up their stash and I think this is a great way to do it. Might just leave 3 inches tail at beginning and end of all rows so you would have a ready made fringe!
This is a great idea! My 15 year old daughter and I plan to do this together. We have a large temperature range here in Minnesota. We plan to knit one row in the low temperature color for the day and one in the high temperature color to add a little more visual interest. Possibly even vary the stitch pattern for weather – snow, rain, etc. Am wondering if we’ll end up with 10 foot long scarves? Need to check my math again!
That’s a really cool idea, I like that, BUT this thing is already going to be crazy long.
I decided to make a blanket. My 4yo will take it w/ her to Kindergarten next year.
I live in Anchorage, Alaska. I like the colors suggested, but I would have a scarf without any orange or red in it, if I did it by temperature (we go from below zero to about 70 degrees, and not much higher.) I’m going to do it by hours of daylight, since we have so much more variety in that – 5 1/2 all the way up to 23 hours. What fun, because it will be a regular progression of colors across the year, and I’ll justifiably be able to use lots of warmer colors because we have almost 24 hours of daylight in June. I can still use blues for the darker months. I’m excited to do this!
what a neat idea!!!
That’s a great idea. Looking forward to seeing pics of your scarf as this gets going.
What a beautiful idea? I am joining the kal. Tomorrow i’am buying the yarn and I will start as soon as possible.
Glad to start a new project,
Francine
This should be fun. I have family around the country, in very different climates, and I might have to make several!
can’t wait to get started on this scarf…I’m planning to do the CAL & KAL…just ordered my Satin yarn and hope it is enough for 2 scarves for the year then I can give 1 to my sister & 1 for me…this will be so much fun
I live in a desert climate where the evening is much colder than the day (Ex. yesterday’s temp was 70º F in the morning and 38º F in the evening). Anyone have any suggestions on how best to represent this pattern? I don’t think averages would best reflect the weather conditions here. Thanks!
I live in a wonky climate too (chinooks so our high might be at 1am or 11pm). I’m going to pick a time of day and do that (for consistency’s sake). I picked 2pm, because that’s usually the warmest part of the day.
Great Idea Shelley! I was trying to decide if I was going for low temps or highs – or maybe lows in the winter and highs in the summer to show the extremes. And I think I’m gonna stash bust this project!
You could still do two rows each day, but do one row for day and one for night? The only thing is, you might want to consider separating each day with a row of border colour? Hmmm… This one’s a thinker.
I am making a knit and a crochet one. One will be for low temps, one will be high temps and then I am doing one that instead of two rows of the same color it will be one of the low and one of the high of the day. By Christmas I will have three scarves, for gifts and will use the week forecast for the last week to finish in time for Christmas.
Perhaps you could just choose to represent the lows, as that might be when you would most often wear a scarf?
I would like to make this for my nephew born just a couple pf weeks ago; i think it would make a neat first birthday gift. If i was going to make into a blanket and i am crocheting it what would be an appropriate number of stitches i need to go across?
Just hold it up and guess, no big deal. I’m making a blanket as well and it’s a bit wider than my arms outstretched I think.
How long would the average crocheted scarf following the basic instructions be?
That’s what I was wondering. I must have miscalculated, because 2 rows a day, if I do single crochet @ 4 rows per inch, my scarf will be over 16 feet long! That’s, well, kinda crazy!! Did I miss something?!
LONG! If you do it like directed, that’s almost 800 rows of stitches. That’s why I’m only doing 1 row per day and I’m making a blanket.
I’m having a problem finding the historical, day by day, weather data for various US places. Can you tell us where you found the day by day data, please?
i found the weather channel site very helpful
Hi! I found this page to help me find this out for my area. Go to this link and enter your own zip code.
http://www.weather.com/weather/monthly/48017
Hi, I posted a site farther down with a wonderful site. It is Weather Underground, wunderground.com. I give instructions on how to navigate it. Finding this info all in one place makes this project so much more fun. I don’t have to search all over and get frustrated. Hope this helps.
How long is this scarf going to be!? I estimate it could be 32 feet long! Yikes!
WOW! Maybe I didn’t miscalculate. I did it at small rows of single crochet @ 4 rows per inch, and got over 16 feet. I’d rather do double crochet, but that WOULD be over 32 feet long!!
I went to the Bernat Satin yarn page, where the specs are listed, and it shows 18 sts – 24 rows = 4″ (10 cm). That means that there will be about 6 rows (or 3 days if you do double rows) per inch. Quick math is 365 days / 3 days per inch = 121.667 inches or just over 10 feet. That is pretty long for a scarf but maybe it’s reallllly cold where you are! lol
Decided this sounds like fun- am going to do one with a black border color and change stitch type according to weather conditions
What might be cute for a state with a prominent hunting season, like deer season in many northern states, is to do those days in a camo color or blaze orange, especially if the scarf is a gift for an avid outdoorsman or outdoorswoman. Would be a nice personal touch.
What a good idea! Much more hubby-friendly, too.
Since the next few months are cold thought I would just purchase my “cool colors” till the weather changes.
Do we knit any of the border color around the edges, or do we just knit the entire row with the color for the day?
The pattern doesn’t require you to knit the border color around the edges, but that could look very neat and tie the whole thing together! If you decide to do that make sure you buy enough of the border as you’ll be using extra.
I love this idea. I’m starting mine on my hubby’s birthday! I’m excited to see how it turns out.
I have been knitting a temperature throw since last April (my birthday month). I cast on 78 to make a shawl instead of a scarf. At the end of 6 months, It was about 65″. Then I thought if I would knit the low temperatures, too. I could knit the 4 strips together and make a throw. So I have one section for the high temperatures from April to September, one section for the high tempeatures from October to March. one section for the low temperatures from October to March, and one section for the low temperatures from April to September. I knitted a 8 row border on each and 4 rows in between the months in gray. I am knitting 2 rows each day for the high and low temperatures. I also knitted 4 rows in a varigated yarn for the solstice days in each quarter.
When I am finished, I am going to pick up stitches and knit 8 rows in gray between the sections and knit it together by using the 3 needle bindoff. I may do an applied i-cord edging in black all the way around the throw. I weave the ends in about once a week. I am also using a different stitch pattern in each section. This has been a fun project and interesting project to work on. I am using different colors for every 5 degrees, so far the lowest temp has been 22 and the highest 107.
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Be sure to go to the Bernat Forum discussion, so you can get to know all the others who are making this project! We are helping each other plan our scarves right now.
http://www.bernat.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=257&sid=38b1ba03523a768df9fc5f14da72e231
Why not add a few stitches and knit this scarf in the round? That would take care of all the ends as they would be in the inside of the scarf.
That’s a good idea! If you used sport weight yarn, then the scarf wouldn’t be too bulky.
What an interesting concept! I work with college students and preschoolers. This would be a fun class project to incorporate into our science curriculum!
I am looking forward to doing this project. Love knitting scarfs. First time doing a project with a group,
Fantastic game – I’ll be joining in!
Is this really going to be over 700 rows? won’t that be too long for a scarf?
Make a blanket.
That’s what I’m doing.
I was wondering should i knit the 2 rows everyay according to everyday,s weather , as this winter we had some +11 degres as well as -20
Hi Louise,
Yes, you should knit according to every day’s weather – seeing the big differences between days is part of the fun!
With the temperature today and the -49 with the windchill they are forecasting for tomorrow (and below normal temps for the rest of the week), I need wool that is frosted.
I know I am looking forward to making this wonderful scarf!! I am also making a granny square afghan with a new square everyday
I can not wait to have the two of these items finished to represent my 2013!! Thank you for the wonderful idea.
I’ve never participated in a KAL but this is just too fun to miss. I’m going to knit one for my home town in Michigan. Been living out of state for over fifteen years, so it will be fun to have something that reminds me of home.
I have my wool and am starting my scarf on Feb 7, my birthday! I plan to do two rows of Tunisian crochet each Thursday as I want to be able to wear it.
I am practicing my Tunisian crochet stitches as I have never done them before and will be an expert by this time next year!
I am also going to put embroidery marks to illustrate snow, thunder, sun, etc.
Thanks for the great idea!
I LOVE this idea!!! However, now that I’ve been inspired – I’m going to tweak the idea a bit… not sure if I can do the CAL if I change the project… I’m thinking of doing a 25th Anniversary Afghan for my husband – we celebrated in October 2012, so I went to accuweather.com to get the archived temps, and will go forward to October 2013. I can’t decide between making a ripple pattern or 7-row granny squares – one for each week, one color for each day… Decisions… decisions.. THANKS for a great concept!
What a sweet idea, Audrey! You absolutely can still participate in the KAL/CAL if you’re making an afghan instead of a scarf. We’ve got people participating who are doing shawls, afghans, cowls, scarves and more, so you’ll be in good company!
Awesome! Thanks! The idea floating through my head made it difficult to sleep last night… but… I think I’ve got it laid out now! Gonna do 1 granny square for each week – 1 row for each day… then put them together in a 7 x 8 grid — I’ll have 4 extra squares – don’t know what I’m going to do with those yet.
Make pillow(s) with those extra squares!
ripples, my favorite pattern for afghans, such a great idea to celebrate a wonderful milestone.
A ripple pattern would be so cute.
This is a great idea! I even charted out a 2012 scarf using each day’s high temperature just to see what it would look like. However — has anyone actually made one of these? As described above, the scarf would be 784 rows. Using sock yarn, at 9 rows per inch, the scarf would be 84 inches long. Using worsted weight, at 5.5 rows per inch, it would be 142 inches long! Maybe I’ll just do one row per day.
I am so excitd to try this, now that I get the concept!! Off to research my month!
Hi, This scarf sounds like such fun. At first I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to find info on the weather. But, without too much trouble, I found a great site that I would like to share. It is Weather underground, wunderground.com. On the first page you put in your location. On the next page that comes up go down to the area in blue marked Forecast. On the right hand side you will see an area that says view calendar. Click that and you can get copies of each month with the weather info for each day. There are buttons for previous and next months plus for 2011 and 2014. I printed up all of 2012 and will make a scarf with this info. I’m also going to start one for 2013 at the same time. I think for 2013 I will add to the scarf once a week. I already have a lot of projects going and think that I can fit in a few minutes once a week for an ongoing project. Can’t wait to get started.
I just went to JoAnn right next door to my work
, and I bought the thermometer above in Vickie Howell Sheep-ish!!! They only sold one of the Bernat Satin colors, the Crimson, and the others just did not match, sorry, Bernat, but I am extatic!!! My co-worker is going to pick up her old dusty knitting needles and join me as I have just inspired her with my bag of colorful yarn and my bright smile all over my face!!! I am so excited…it is like I am reborn, AGAIN!!! Thanks Bernat KAL!!! I am ready to start recording January temps, as I live in Michigan and this will be one colorful scarf/shawl!!! Christine
I’m so glad you are enjoying the idea! And you are inspiring your friend to join as well. Fun!
This sounds like great fun! Can’t wait to figure out what colors to use since I’m in FL – just had almost 2 weeks of low 80′s so guess I had better divide by 2′s or 3′s. Dividing colors by 5′s would make a rather boring scarf. Thanks to the creative person who came up with this idea. Jane
I for one am looking forward to this. It sounds like a great idea, especially if using gradients of cool or warm colors. I’m thinking of blues for the lower temperatures, greens for the mild temps, and yellows for the warmer temperatures.
If you have a difficult time checking the temperatures daily, I found “this nice site with short, yet detailed information to help you find what you need on Wunderground. If the CAL is going too slow for me, I may decide to make a scarf based on the temperatures from last year.
The link didn’t work at first…
http://mapawatt.com/2009/09/12/temperature-history/
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This sounds like a lot of fun! I have decided to make an afghan/throw as well. I have the pattern picked out, I just need to figure out the color scheme. I think I’m going to start with today’s weather too, since NC is in the teens. We rarely get that cold.
Great idea I love it. It should be so much fun.
How funny! I saw a pattern like this on Rav and thought it’d be a neat idea. I’m charting the weather here in Texas for a blanket to send my parents, the weather in Brisbane for a blanket for a fellow, and the weather in Ohio to give me a little bit of Home.
I live in Central Texas and our temp can veri from one day to the next. We were 80 on Christmas and just the next day the high was in the 40′s. Looks like I am going to have to buy all 8 colors. Hahahaha. But I am game.
Check my math. If you do 2 rows a day for a year that’s 730 rows +5 border rows each end, 740 rows, then 4 rows of border between each month, 44 rows. That’s 784 rows. On the Bernat satin label it suggests a gauge of 24 rows = 4 inches, 6 rows per inch. The scarf would be almost 11 feet long without fringe. Isn’t that a little long maybe?
This sounds like a fun project. Not sure I have time for yet another KAL/CAL – already have three going. But really, how long does it take to knit two rows once you catch up with the Jan. weather?
Right I am in a holding pattern cash wise, in the process of house buying, selling property in 1 area to buy in another, once I am all move in to my new home I plan on making a throw/afghan for my first year in new home. Where I live in New England we have a wide temp range during a year. Looking forward to doing this.
Side note I may go with browns or beige instead of white as a border as I feel it will blend and flow better and not be as stark of a contrast.
Will we be notfied as to when the tutorial on weaving in the ends will be available?
where is the pattern for the pictured bags with the flowers in them? they look beautiful – I’d love to make those
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A best source for the weather data is weather.gov. Then select where you live. Next, under the climate tab, find the CF6 form, select the location, then the timeframe which can be the most recent or archived, then click GO. You will get temperatures, both high and low, precipitation amounts, and weather type, among other things. I added white yarn for snow, hot pink for icy conditions, and black for thunderstorms/tornadoes for the state where I live. Thanks for a fun idea!
I wonder if you could do a granny square for each mo. Then put them together to make a blanket?
have broken finger with pins in it right now. I figure I can keep a temperature diary and when I can hold a hook again I’ll catching up.
Try the looms, not much to hold
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I started a ripple afghan with this in shades of blues, greens, yellow and white. I can’t believe how much variation there is already (16-62 degrees!) It makes me so much more aware of the temps, and I look forward to adding each day’s row. Thank you so much for this inspiration!
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When is the tutorial for weaving in the ends going to be available?
I plan to use the temperature wherever I am at 8:30 in the morning..Not exactly “right” but that’s the way I’m doing it. (We are going to Florida at the end of next month so I’ll use the temperature there)
I’m doing well with the Temperature scarf . I love to knit one row every day and see what will become of it.
I will put everything on my blog at the end of the month for you to see.
See ya then,
I’m going to use Tunisian crochet & make my project approx. 3 feet wide by however long, using the high temps here. My plan is to frame the project and give it to the City Council. It should make an interesting conversation piece for wherever they decide to put it.
How is everybody breaking down temps? By 2or 5 degrees?
Also great resource is the weather channel, which will give you temps in your location, and you can go “back in time” really easy
I LOVE this idea. I live in Fairbanks, Alaska so this will be a piece to talk about for years and years to come. I just bought 12 colors of yarn and now I’m trying to plan out how I’m going to do this and if I’ll crochet or knit. I think I’m going to go back and start with Jan 1st. http://www.almanac.com will tell you what the temp was in your area on any given day.
i understand there are variations of this scarf being done, including sunset/sunrise and one in reference to the sky. i was wondering if there was any information out there on the colors and such for those, like the details supplied here for the temperature scarf? i would appreciate any/all information on them too.
thanks in advance!
This would be nice worked in twelve blocks, one for each month. Each day could be one row of hdc, sc on the returning row, and then any day you have rain or snow, work some bobbles or popcorn in with the hdc!
If you get behind on keeping track of the temps, you can always check weather.com, because they have the whole month of temps for your zip code.
You know, I honestly wasn’t going to make this at first. But then you went and made a Tom Baker reference and I just couldn’t help myself. I’ve made a replica of one of his scarves before too!