I am so excited about this project and hope you will be too! I was reading through Knit the Sky: Cultivate Your Creativity with a Playful Way of Knitting by Lea Redmond and among all the creative and whimsical projects, one idea struck me the most … knitting the sky!

Knit or Crochet the Sky

The idea is that each day you knit or crochet in the colors that most represent the sky and at the end of your project you will have a beautiful and unique record of the weather for that time period!

What I love most about this idea is that is reminds me to take the time each day to be mindful and in the moment and to look at the sky. I am loving that on those dark and gloomy days when I’m knitting up rows of gray I can look back over my previous rows of blue and have a visual reminder that the sun will come out and the skies will be bright again. I also love that color sequence will be determined by the randomness of nature, which of course is the greatest work of art of all!

Show Me Your Sky

Want to knit or crochet a sky scarf? I would love for you to share yours with me by tagging me on Instagram @petalstopicots so I can see all the beautiful color variations and weather patterns throughout the world.

I have included a basic scarf crochet and knitting pattern below if you would like to follow along with me, but feel free to use any type of pattern or project you would like and to customize it to your heart’s content … think baby blanket documenting the 9 months of pregnancy, an engagement shawl counting down to the big day, add in colored beads to mark rainy or snowy days or even special days, try fuzzy yarn for fog or sparkly yarn for snow, etc.

Check out this video from the Storey Publishing Facebook page to see how this idea evolved into a gorgeous blanket … so fun!

Basic Scarf Patterns

Here’s what you will need:

• 3 to 5 colors of lace weight yarn (how much we will end up using is really up to Mother Nature). I have chosen Jagger Spun
  in white, ice blue, and charcoal. Some additional options could be a bright or dark blue or a light gray and dark gray.
• US 3/3.25 mm or US 4/3.5 mm needles if knitting or US D/3.25 mm or E/3.5 mm hook if crocheting
• size 6/0 seed beads (optional; white beads for snow; blue beads for rain)

Split each hank of yarn into two small balls so you have 2 balls of each color. Using two strands of yarn together, each day knit or crochet 2 rows that most represent how the sky looks that day. For example, two strands for blue could indicate clear blue skies, a strand of blue and white together would represent a day with blue skies and white fluffy clouds, two strands of gray would mean a stormy day, etc. See the image below for the color combination key I am using for my scarf.

Knit Scarf Pattern

With 2 color strands representing that day’s sky, cast on 40 sts.

Row 1: With same 2 strands together, slip 1st st purlwise with yarn in front, move yarn to back and knit across.

Row 2: With same 2 strands, slip 1st st purlwise with yarn in front, move yarn to back and knit across.

Repeat these 2 rows each day switching yarn colors to represent the sky on that day, carrying the extra strands up the side as you work.

Crochet Scarf Pattern

With 2 color strands representing that day’s sky, chain 41 sts.

Row 1: With same 2 strands together, work 1 sc in second ch from hook and each ch across, turn.

Row 2: With same 2 strands, ch 1 and work 1 sc in each st across, turn.

Repeat Row 2 twice for each day switching yarn colors to represent the sky on that day, carrying the extra strands up the side as you work.

No Time to Stitch?

If you have a day (or days!) when life is just too hectic to sit down and stitch your rows, no worries at all. This is supposed to be fun, not add additional pressure to those already crazy days. You can just document the colors in a journal …

… jot down the weather in your planner, on your calendar, or even in your calendar app … or as author, Lea Redmond, suggests, snap a photo with your phone! Then when you get a chance, you can catch up on the days you missed.