2014 Geek-A-Long: SHIELD

Welcome to week 19 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 Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division (or the Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate, or Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law-Enforcement Division…depending on how old school you are)!

I love the new take on The Avengers. The movies are great and the spin-off, “Agents of SHIELD,” is delightful too. It’s actually relatively hard for me to talk about SHIELD right now, because I don’t want to kill you with spoilers. I thought about waiting to release this square so that a reasonable amount of time will have passed since Winter Soldier came out and I’d be able to talk about what happened. But, frankly, I have the patience of an ADHD 2 year old. And with the season finale about to drop, there is no better time to honor them.

So since I can’t talk about what I REALLY want to talk about (and Oh Em Gee you guys, go see Winter Soldier!!!) here is my 1 minute recap of the series sans any major spoilers to get you ready for the finale if you haven’t been following the show:

• Phil spent some time in Tahiti. It was a magical place.
• Gunn shows up. He’s dreamy and I’ll watch him in anything.  As this is a Whedon show, he was taken out of play by the end of the first episode.
• There was a whole thing with the Rising Tide (think really pretty wikileaks) and that’s where we get Skye, who I think is Cypher. The Rising Tide story arc carried on for awhile and then sort of just went away, which is fine with me.  Now that I’ve said that though, I’m sure it will factor prominently into the finale. ;)
• Gunn (Mike Peterson) comes back. They worry he will explode. Phil goes to find the lady he met in Tahiti. Turns out it wasn’t a very magical place after all. Mike didn’t want to explode and becomes Deathlok. Then there’s a clairvoyant who’s a real bitch and Skye get’s shot, which gaves me the feels.
• Agent McSexy (Ward) and Mei are hooking up. That’s pretty ok with me, but I really liked her for Phil.
• Phil gets some help from his old buddy for Skye and finds out just how “not magical” Tahiti really is.
• Blood of a Frost Giant.
• SPOILERS, sad about Ward, SPOILERS, curse you Whedon!, SPOILERS

If that didn’t get you all caught up, you can also check out the official episode recaps, or watch the show.

SHIELD
© Megan-Anne of Lattes & Llamas, 2014

Needles: Size US6

Yarn: Cascade 220 in 2 sharply contrasting colors.

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 shield. 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 2 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 54 rows in double-sided knitting.

Work 1 row of double-sided knitting. BO.

Don’t forget to post links to your finished squares, so we can all oooh and ah together. We even have a fancy new GAL Participation Button you can put on your blog to show your geek pride. You can grab the html out of the side bar or find it here.

If you’re having trouble with double-sided knitting, we have a how-to video here and you can find moral support in the Geek-A-Long group on Ravelry here. We’re even raffling off some sweet prizes for our members at the end of the year! You can learn more about it in the group or on the GAL Benefactors page.

~ Megan-Anne
Stan Lee is my spirit animal.

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