Crochet Book Blanket: A Great Temperature Blanket Alternative
I first stumbled across the idea of a crochet book blanket on Pinterest, and I was immediately intrigued. I had been toying with the idea of starting a temperature blanket in the new year, but the thought of tracking something more personal – like the books I read – sounded so much more exciting and meaningful. Plus, as a book lover, it felt like the perfect way to combine my two favorite hobbies into one creative project.
A book blanket is just that – a creative way to track your reading throughout the year, kind of like a temperature blanket, but with a bookish twist. Whether you’re an audiobook aficionado, a Kindle devotee, or someone who lives for flipping through physical pages, this project lets you celebrate your reading adventures while making something beautiful and meaningful.
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What is a Crochet Book Blanket?
A crochet book blanket is a year-long project where you use crochet to represent the books you’ve read. Think of it as a temperature blanket, but instead of tracking the weather, you’re documenting your reading habits. Each square, row, or stitch pattern can symbolize something about a book you’ve finished – its genre, cover color, length, or even your rating.
What makes a book blanket so special is how personal it feels. By the end of the year, you’ll have a cozy, colorful snapshot of your reading journey that you can cuddle up with. Plus, it’s a fantastic conversation starter for fellow bookworms and crocheters alike.
Planning Your Crochet Book Blanket
Before you start, it’s worth taking some time to plan your project. Here are a few key things to consider:
Choosing A Style For Your Crochet Book Blanket
First, decide what kind of book blanket you want to make. Do you want it to feature individual squares for each book? Or would you prefer a row-based design that tracks your reading progress daily? The options are endless, and I’ll share some design ideas later to inspire you.
When I started planning my book blanket, I even considered doing it in Tunisian crochet. It’s been a while since I did a Tunisian Crochet project and with so many beautiful Tunisian stitch patterns to choose from, I was very tempted.
Picking Yarn For Your Crochet Book Blanket
The yarn you choose will set the tone for your blanket. For a project like this, I recommend using DK or worsted weight yarn, as they’re versatile and work well for blankets. Plus, you’ll want a yarn with lots of color options to match book covers or track details.
Here are some yarn recommendations:
- Heatherly Worsted: This worsted-weight yarn offers a stunning pastel palette, perfect for soft and dreamy blankets. They’re also available in pre-selected color packs which is handy for those who have a hard time picking colors.
- Swish DK: A luxurious DK-weight yarn that’s soft and washable, making it ideal for blankets.
Design Ideas for Your Book Blanket
One of the best things about a book blanket is how flexible and customizable it can be. Here are some design ideas to get your creativity flowing:
1. Square Matching the Book Cover
This is the method I’ll be using for my book blanket. Each book I read will inspire a square, with colors that match the book’s cover. To get a head start, I made a practice square based on a book I read last year, Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee. It was such a quick, fun holiday read, and the colorful cover really inspired me.
For the square, I used Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4, which is a great option due to its incredibly diverse color range. While I’m not sure if this will be the yarn I’ll use for my entire blanket, it’s definitely worth considering. The square design is based on the HDC block stitch, and I used pink, blue, and red to reflect the book’s cover. I would have liked to include some yellow, but I didn’t have any on hand at the time, so stocking up on a wide range of colors is definitely on my to-do list before diving into the full project.
2. Info Squares
For a more structured approach, you can create info squares where each round represents a different aspect of the book:
- Round 1: Length of the book (e.g., purple for under 100 pages, pink for 101-200 pages).
- Round 3: Genre (e.g., orange for fantasy, blue for sci-fi).
- Round 4: Format (e.g., white for audiobook, red for physical book, yellow for an ebook).
To try out this idea, I made a practice square inspired by The Phoenix Keeper, a book I read last year. I again used Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 because of its vibrant color range. The design is based on a simple granny square, and I chose colors to represent the book’s details: green for its length (just over 450 pages) orange for its fantasy genre and red for the physical book format. It was such a fun way to experiment with the info square concept, and I’d love to try this version of a book blanket another year.
3. Star Rating Squares
If you’re someone who loves rating the books you read, this method is a great way to reflect that in your blanket. One of the big advantages of this approach is its simplicity and cohesiveness. Since you’ll only be working with five colors to represent your star ratings, the overall look of your blanket will be more unified, making it easier to plan and visually pleasing. Keep things simple by assigning a single color to each star rating. For example:
- 5 stars = red
- 4 stars = yellow
- 3 stars = green
This limited color palette ensures your blanket has a clean and cohesive appearance, while still telling the story of your reading year. For this design, my FREE Amber Plaid Throw Pattern would make a perfect pattern to use. Its simple herringbone HDC squares allow for a clean, geometric look that’s both beginner-friendly and versatile.
4. Row Per Day: Pages or Minutes Read
If you love the concept of a temperature blanket, this design might be for you. Instead of tracking daily temperatures, you’ll track the number of pages read or minutes listened to each day. This method works especially well if you read or listen to books consistently and want to capture your daily habits in your blanket.
To implement this, assign a color to represent different ranges. For example:
- 0-20 pages = blue
- 21-40 pages = green
- 41-60 pages = yellow
Each day, you’ll crochet one row in the color that corresponds to the number of pages (or minutes you’ve logged if you’re an audiobook listener). Over time, your blanket will grow into a beautiful representation of your daily reading journey. This design is not only visually striking but also a fun way to hold yourself accountable for regular reading.
5. Stitch-Based on Genre
This design idea is perfect if you want to add texture and variety to your blanket. Pair colors with stitch patterns to represent genres. For example:
- Single crochet = fantasy
- Popcorn stitch = sci-fi
- Half Double Crochet = romance
To make it even more personalized, you can combine the genre’s stitch with the book’s cover color for each square or row. For instance, a fantasy book with a blue cover could be represented with single crochet stitches in blue. This approach adds an extra layer of creativity to your project and gives each square or row a unique look. As your blanket grows, the mix of textures and colors will tell a rich and varied story of your reading year.
6. Rows Based on Length or Chapters
If you prefer a row-based design, this idea is a fun way to track the length or chapter count of the books you read. Assign a specific number of rows to represent the book’s length, such as:
- Under 100 pages = 1 row
- 101-200 pages = 2 rows
- 201-300 = 3 rows
Alternatively, you could track the number of chapters instead of pages, which works well for audiobooks where chapter counts are often more relevant. Pair these rows with colors that represent the book’s genre or cover for a cohesive design. For example, a mystery novel with 12 chapters could be represented with 12 rows in a dark purple yarn. This method creates a visually appealing design while giving each book’s contribution to the blanket a distinct presence.
Tips For Success
A year-long project can feel daunting, but with a little planning, you’ll stay on track and enjoy the process. Here are my top tips:
- Keep a Reading Log: Use a journal or app (I use GoodReads) to track the details of each book you read. This will make it easier to crochet your squares or rows later.
- Dedicate Time Regularly: Set aside time each week to work on your blanket so you don’t fall behind.
- Choose Yarn You Love: Pick yarns and colors that make you happy to keep the project enjoyable.
More Inspiration For Your Crochet Book Blanket
If you’re looking for more ideas, many of the designs from my temperature blanket pattern round up could translate well to a book blanket. For example, stripe-based designs from temperature blankets can be easily adapted to represent aspects of your reading, such as pages read or chapters completed. You could also use the same daily row approach but swap weather data for reading stats.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match techniques. Combine elements like stitch patterns and color palettes to reflect different aspects of your books. You could even incorporate specialty yarns, like sparkly or textured options, to highlight particularly special reads.
If you’re a visual planner, sketching out your design ahead of time might help. Or, keep it spontaneous and let your blanket grow organically with your reading habits. The key is to make it your own and enjoy the process.
Make 2025 A Year Of Crochet And Books
A crochet book blanket is a wonderful way to combine two hobbies and create something truly personal. Whether you go for colorful squares, row-based designs, or textured stitches, the possibilities are endless. I can’t wait to see how my own blanket comes together this year, and I hope you’ll join me in this creative journey.
If you’re planning your own book blanket, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram with your progress. And don’t forget to check out my recommended yarns for the perfect palette. Let’s make 2025 the year of crochet and books!
