Crafting Climate Change: The Artful Revolution of Temperature Blankets

In a world filled with complex climate data and overwhelming statistics, a unique form of ‘craftivism’ has emerged, weaving together climate science and creative expression into a tangible form of data visualization. Enter the ‘temperature blanket’ - a hands-on representation of climate change that breaks free from traditional graphs. Imagine crocheting or knitting a blanket or scarf, but with a twist. Temperature blankets express the impact of climate change by turning abstract information into a visually captivating pieces. It’s a crafty way to tell a climate story, connecting the small details with the big picture of climate science.

These blankets bring a unique approach to visual storytelling and combat information fatigue, as crafters take on the role of climate documentarians. By creating physical records of each year through daily temperatures and noteworthy weather events (2). Some crafters make annual temperature blankets every few years, while others diligently make new ones year after year to capture the slight changes in annual temperature (2). The shared goal is to document micro-weather changes in a given area, often in 5- or 10-degree increments (4). The data, ranging from freezing cold (around -30° F) to scorching hot (anywhere from 100° to 121° F), is collected through a basic pattern and a color-coded key to track daily temperature. These blankets offer a personal touch to the technical subject of climate change, and encourages people to literally touch and engage with climate data (4, 5). By visually representing changing seasons, they provide a unique perspective when comparing current year data to previous years (3).

In 2020, a tweet by British author Josie George went viral, showcasing a temperature scarf she knitted - a testament to the growing popularity of temperature blankets (5).

I decided that this year, every day, I would knit a row on a scarf to mark the corresponding daily temperature/weather of my town. It felt like a good way to engage with the changing climate and with the changing year. A way to notice and not look away. Here's January then. pic.twitter.com/XQ9scIMX5c

— Josie George (@porridgebrain) February 2, 2020

When you look at these blankets, it hits you - warm days are getting even hotter and happening more often, while cold days are getting warmer and shorter (4). As a form of both data and art, they turn confusing data into something everyone can understand, while also subtly sending a political message to climate skeptics through a handmade project (7). These blankets show how art can be a powerful tool for climate engagement and activism (6).

Two tapestries from The Tempestry, showing change in annual temperatures of 1875 and 2018 (4).

Some crafters have taken it a step further, documenting global records of climate data with ‘global warming blankets’. These serve as a creative way to visualize long-term data, offering visual snapshot of annual climate cycles based on data collect by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) (8). The Tempestry Project, a cool combination of ‘temperature’ and ‘tapestry’, kicked off this project in 2017 during the Trump presidency (3). With climate deniers making their way into the White House and scrubbing out any mention of climate change (9), scientists worried their data might disappear from public view. The creators of the Tempestry Project shared those concerns, sparking their mission to create a physical record of climate data that’s much harder to get rid of compared to digital information (3).

Tempestry Project original tapestries showing annual daily high temperatures for Chicago ranging from 1900 (left) to 2022 (right).

Temperature blankets step up as a creative and impactful response to the harsh realities of climate change. Beyond being a form of data visualizations, these blankets, in the hands of crafters, become powerful tools for connecting with climate issues, offering a physical link to the changing world around us. While we grapple with the challenges of climate change, the ‘cozy revolution’ sparked by these blankets might just inspire a broader for the art and acknowledgement of climate change (3). Whether it’s global warming blanket or individual projects, these crafted pieces of data act as tangible reminders of our evolving world. Through the slow and deliberate act of crafting, climate change transforms from an abstract concept into a deeply personal and visually striking narrative (2). Temperature blankets encourage us to touch, feel, and reflect on the climate crisis, sparking a gentle revolution in how we can alternatively approach visualizing environmental issues.

References:

1. Neuzil, Mark and McNamara, Amelia (2022) ‘Teaching to the image: helping stu- dent journalists visualize environmental stories in a climate change world’ Journal- ism Education 11(1) pp 7-12 (https://journalism-education.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/teaching-to-the-image.pdf).

2.  Onion, Rebecca. “Quilters and Knitters Are Mapping Climate Change.” Grist, 7 Apr. 2021 (https://grist.org/climate/quilters-and-knitters-are-mapping-climate-change/).

3. Coles, Donyae. “Temperature Blankets and Chronicling Climate Change – These Projects Are Helping Track Change.” The Red Ferret Journal, The Red Ferret Journal, 11 Feb. 2020 (https://www.redferret.net/temperature-blankets-and-chronicling-climate-change-these-projects-are-helping-track-change/).

4. Daher, Nadine. “How Knitting Enthusiasts Are Using Their Craft to Visualize Climate Change.” , Smithsonian Institution, 19 Feb. 2020 (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/knitting-enthusiasts-are-using-their-craft-visualize-climate-change-180974231/ ).

5. D’Sa, Premila. “Well, Here’s a Clever and Cosy Way to Track Climate Change.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 13 Feb. 2020, (https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/temperature-knitting-blankets-climate-change_ca_5e450c22c5b671eafe1ee092).

6. Ebert, Grace. “People Are Knitting, Crocheting, and Weaving Tangible Records of Temperature Changes.” Colossal, 15 Apr. 2020, (https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2020/02/weather-blankets-climate-crisis/).

7.  Hutton, Rachel. “Twin Cities Crafters Reflect Climate Change with ‘temperature’ Blankets and Scarves.” Star Tribune, 21 Feb. 2019, (https://www.startribune.com/twin-cities-crafters-reflect-climate-change-with-temperature-blankets-and-scarves/506106022/?refresh=true).

8. Highwood, Ellie. “#climatechangecrochet – the Global Warming Blanket.” Elliehighwood, 6 June 2022, (https://elliehighwood.com/2017/06/12/climatechangecrochet-the-global-warming-blanket/).

9. Waldman, Scott. “Trump Officials Deleting Mentions of ‘climate Change’ from ... - Science.” Science, 8 July 2019, (https://www.science.org/content/article/trump-officials-deleting-mentions-climate-change-us-geological-survey-press-releases).