2014 Geek-A-Long: Air Nomads

Welcome to week thirteen of the 2014 Geek-A-Long, a mystery blanket knit-along (or crochet-along for you rebels out there)! If you’re new to the GAL craziness, check out the Geek-A-Long FAQ page for more details and information. Then, meet us back here when you’re ready. For the seasoned pros, let’s talk about the MCATs.

You thought I was going to say Air Nomads, didn’t you? Well, it would’ve said that if Megan-Anne were writing this post, but she’s otherwise occupied.

You see, each week I pull out all of the squares leading up to the new release, photograph them, and then upload the pictures to her post. However, during the middle of my photo session this week, she emerged from the office in search of more coffee and I asked her if she had the chance to write the Air Nomad post yet.

She said, “I caaaaaan’t. I’m probably never going to be a doctor. Tests are stupid. The MCATs are stupid. Why can’t I score higher than a 32?” Then, she threw herself onto the floor.

“I take it the practice test didn’t go as well as you hoped.”

“No, it didn’t.”

“Does that mean you’re not going to write the post?”

“No, I’m not. They’re just lucky I’m three months ahead of them or else they wouldn’t get a square at all this week.”

She’s just being dramatic, guys. All of the color charts are made, so I would’ve at least posted that. Although, I will say that she hasn’t been this bad since the 4th grade when they gave her the part of ‘Munchkin Coroner’ in the elementary school production of the Wizard of Oz. She wanted to be Dorothy, but they made her wear a mustache and a men’s suit instead. You would’ve thought the world had ended. The tantrum she had thrown at home had looked eerily similar to this:

And that’s why I’m writing the post this week — out of love for my sister, who is working really hard to get into Med School. You know, so that she can buy me that house on the shore one day. (She had drunkenly promised this to me when she got into Drexel’s Pre-Med program. There are no take-backsies, Megan-Anne.)

Anyway, we should probably talk about the Air Nomads from Avatar: The Last Airbender. As Megan-Anne said when she introduced the Fire Nation square, which you can find here, Avatar is one of those rare shows cartoon shows that you can enjoy whether you are 13 or 30. It even spawned an equally good and critically acclaimed sequel, The Legend of Korra. But I’ll wait to go on about Korra until we release the pattern for the Water Tribe symbol.

Avatar the Last Airbender and Harry Potter are the only two franchises to rate four squares. For the blanket we are knitting for Child’s Play’s annual silent auction, we decided to make the background a light grey with all four of the Avatar squares. It pulls them together cohesively.

Air Nomads

© Megan-Anne of Lattes & Llamas, 2014

Needles: Size US6

Yarn: Cascade 220 in two sharply contrasting colors. Half a ball of each is plenty for each square.

Gauge: 10 sts over 13 rows = 2″ x 2″ square. Final square is 45 sts by 57 rows.  Please note that in the written pattern I instruct you to knit the rows above and below the active color chart.  These rows are shown on the chart as solid color rows above and below the design.

Download PDF of the color chart Air Nomads.

Cast on 45 sts for each side of knitting (with two strands held together CO 45, for a total of 90 sts on needle).

Work 4 rows of double sided knitting (knit the facing sts and purl the back sts across).  The first row is a wrong side row, so knit with the color you want in the foreground and purl the color you want in the background. You may choose to work the opposite color for the first stitch of each row (I do this), which will keep the edges closed. Alternately, you may choose to knit them without doing this and seam the sides when putting the blanket together. There is no “right” way to do this. It is really just what you are more comfortable with.

Follow color chart over next 49 rows in double sided knitting.

Work 4 rows of double sided knitting. BO.

Don’t forget to post links to your finished squares, so we can all ooh and ah together and if you’re having trouble with double-knitting, we have a how-to video on the subject. You can find it here. There is also a Geek-A-Long group on Ravelry where we have prizes! ::insert eyebrow wiggle here:: As always, please hop on over to Child’s Play and show them your love*!

~ Jac
Yes or no, is it okay to squirt my sister in the face with water the same way I punish the cats for getting on the table?

*”Love” in this instance means donating money to benefit sick children.