2018 Geek-A-Long: The Hobbit

…or, There and Back Again

Bookwyrm nominated The Hobbit to the 2018 Geek-A-Long blanket saying:

1. I feel that The Hobbit is often overshadowed by LOTR, but frankly I think it’s a better book
2. Bilbo is the “everyman” version of a hobbit, and yet he saves the day
3. There are so many great images from the book that could be used without duplicating the One Ring: Bilbo’s green front door, or Smaug, or Sting (the sword, not the singer)

We’re going to assume that she’s talking about the book and not the movies. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got plenty to say about the movies, but that’s a post for another day.

I can’t say I totally agree that The Hobbit is a better book. It’s a very different book. It’s the same world, the same writer, and even some of the same characters, but The Hobbit is to Lord of the Rings as Star Trek The Next Generation is to Star Trek The Original Series. They are just completely different. They’re both good, but I don’t know if it’s a fair comparison. I always liked LOTR better. This may be due in part to when I first read them. I was youngish, maybe 10 or 11 or so, and INCREDIBLY angsty. So, so, very angsty. Frodo basically invented angst, so it was just easy to relate to him. Coincidentally, Frodo and I also shared an abject aversion to following simple instructions. Anyhow, after reading LOTR I read The Hobbit right away and it felt goofy. Now, having read it as an adult, it doesn’t seem goofy, more satirical. 33-year-old me has a better appreciation for satire than tween me.

One thing is for sure though, when Bookwyrm pointed out how much imagery there is to draw from here she wasn’t kidding! We could do a whole blanket of Hobbit squares without breaking a sweat. You’ll see Tolkien again too on a future blanket. Spoilers. And you can snag a LOTR inspired square from 2014 here.

We went with Smaug, because dragons are awesome. And also because some of the most epic quotes in the book are about him.

“There were lots of dragons in the North in those days, and gold was probably getting scarce up there, with the dwarves flying south or getting killed, and all the general waste and destruction that dragons make going from bad to worse. There was a most specially greedy, strong and wicked worm called Smaug.” – Thorin

There is something so effectively insulting about calling something a worm. Tolkien could have gone with “monster” or “beast” or even “demon” but worm conveys so much disdain. I can see Thorin wrinkling up his Dwarvish nose when he said it, like even Smaug’s name smells bad. On a side note, I really like Thorin. I realize he’s not the hero of this tale, and it’s notably ironic that he’s calling Smaug greedy, considering he was willing to let the world burn rather than share the dragon’s treasure. Still, he had layers. Like an onion or a cake. Maybe an onion-cake? Actually, I feel like “onion-cake” really suits Thorin.

Jac drew her inspiration for this square from our favorite of the Hobbit’s many covers.

I’m not honestly sure why The Hobbit has gotten so many covers over the years. But Jac and I both agree that we like this one best. Fun fact: She has been sitting on a version of this chart for years. I don’t even remember what the original chart was for. But when we saw that The Hobbit was on the leader board we knew that it had to be this Smaug.

I knit it with the gold in the background on the right side, but now that it’s done I really like the red side. I might change my mind, but I think I’ll put it on the blanket with the red side facing out.

Whether you’re knitting, crocheting, or cross stitching this square, you can download the The Hobbit – Smaug pattern here. Instructions and charts for both knit and crochet are listed in the pattern. When you’re finished making it, don’t forget to Instagram your squares at us @lattesandllamasyarn with the hashtag #geekalong!

If you’re having trouble with double-sided knitting, we have a how-to video here and a tutorial on crochet here. Want to hang out with other people making the blanket? You can find moral support in the Geek-A-Long group on Ravelry here.

~ Megan-Anne

“I kill where I wish and none dare resist. I laid low the warriors of old and their like is not in the world today. Then I was but young and tender. Now I am old and strong, strong strong.” – Smaug

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