Here's how I turned my emotions into a crochet blanket, and how you can too.
Every day carries a feeling. Let’s give those feelings colors.
Emotions can be light and joyful. Some feel heavy, anxious, and overwhelming. I wanted a way to honor all of it. A moment for every small win, every hard moment, every time I kept going. That’s how my mood blanket began.
From Temperature Blanket to Something More
I was originally drawn to the idea of a temperature blanket, a project that tracks daily weather through color. I loved the concept of creating something beautiful from the rhythm of time passing. I spent weeks dreaming up color palettes and stitch ideas. We all know the process: search, dream, buy yarn, repeat.
But back then, it was just me and my yarn. I hadn’t started Yarnful Mind yet. I didn’t have a blog or even an Instagram. Just quiet moments and a deep need to create something that reflected where I really was in life.
As I kept turning to crochet for calm, I found a different path. Not one of temperatures, but of feelings. My feelings. A confusing puzzle that once pulled pieces from me, but also gave me moments of warmth.
Why I Track Moods with Crochet
At the time, I was already using a mood-tracking app. I started it during a hard chapter: postpartum depression. I knew from therapy that recognizing patterns in your emotions can help build a path back to balance. I was already doing the work... so why not give it color? Emotions and colors are best friends in my head. Think of how the right color can change your mood, create a vibe.
That’s how the mood blanket was born. Each stitch became a record of my inner world. Crochet turned into a soft, slow habit that helped me check in with myself. Not to fix anything, just to notice.
Some nights I felt too tired or anxious to stitch, but even then, I thought about how the day would be represented. I tracked it. Even if it was just the color. That reflection alone became part of my healing. I’m still building a blanket of me. And learning so much along the way.
Come follow my story. I would love to inspire you to take the time to reflect on, well, you.
My Color Key
I chose 9 colors to represent different moods. Some are bright, some are muted, but all are meaningful. Choosing the colors was part of the learning. I already have ideas to refine this palette next year. Humans are complicated, and emotions don’t fit neatly into categories. But with a budget and a big idea, I started 2025 with these:
- Happy/Joyful: Yellow
- Calm: Light Blue
- Proud/Confident: Green
- Grateful: Purple
- Content/Natural: Pink
- Stressed/Anxious: Orange
- Sad/Depressed: Dark Blue
- Angry/Frustrated: Red
- Tired/Overwhelmed: Grey
What’s surprised me most is how often the “negative” colors like orange (anxiety) sit right next to green (pride). It’s like the blanket quietly reminds me: you can be anxious and proud at the same time. You can struggle and still be growing.
And honestly, that's exactly what I needed. A visual representation of growth. Growth symbolized as an adorable flower.
What This Blanket Has Taught Me
Since starting, I’ve learned that growth isn’t loud. The hard days don’t erase the good ones. Some months have been harder than others. Some days have felt unbearable. But even then, the act of pausing and naming a feeling has created space for self-compassion. Self-understanding.
I live in my head, but sometimes I have no space to understand my mind. It clouds me. Drowns me. But it also gives me strength. The strength to keep going, because I want to feel and be here. Present in the time I have with the people I love.
I’ve seen myself soften. I’ve seen myself grow, break, and grow again.
I’ve realized that healing isn’t linear. But it is visible. Changeable. Stitchable.
Want to Start Your Mood Blanket?
You don’t have to wait until January. You can start tracking moods today, next week, or just try it for a month.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- A base pattern (mine uses a personal seven-petaled flower granny square)
- A simple color key with yarns that represent your moods
- A way to track your emotions (app, calendar, journal, or notes app)
- Just 10–15 minutes a day, or catch up when you can. Give yourself grace. Some days, all we can do is make it to the end.
This project is personal. Yours doesn’t have to look like mine. It just has to feel like you.
I’ll be posting monthly reflections, updates, and encouragement right here. Whether you’re joining the mood blanket journey or just following along, I’m so glad you’re here.
Want to try a crochet pattern with a mindfulness prompt instead? Check out these free patterns.
Stitch slow, breathe deep, stay mindful.
Hey, I’m Abby!
The hands and heart behind Yarnful Mind. I’m a stay-at-home mom, wife, and longtime lover of yarn. I turn to crochet not just for creativity, but for calm. What started as a way to quiet my depressingly anxious mind has grown into something much bigger: a gentle space where I can share patterns, mindful moments, and the slow magic of making.
Stitch slow, breathe deep, stay mindful.