2014 Geek-A-Long: Game Over

I thought a lot about what to write here. I have been downright angsty about it. It’s week 48 of the first annual Geek-A-Long, and I wanted to be pithy. I’m not often rendered speechless*, but I am unable to put into words how much this project has meant to me. Interpretive dance might get the job done, but that doesn’t translate super well to blogging. In lieu of that, let’s take a walk down the we’re-so-cool-lane.

I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve done here and I want you to be proud too. So warm up your bragging voice guys, because you have a whole lot to gloat about.

• As of posting this, GAL participants have donated nearly $700 to Child’s Play Charity. This doesn’t account for any donations that did not go through our widget, anything that will be donated during December, or the money that the L&L blanket will make at the Child’s Play Dinner Auction. That buys sick kids a pretty sweet pile of video games. In addition to cash monies, we have raised mad awareness. I hear on a daily basis about someone who found out about Child’s Play for the first time through someone knitting a square.
• I can’t measure exactly how many squares have been made. However, I know how many have shown up on Ravelry, and how many GAL patterns have been downloaded. Based on those 2 factors it’s a safe guess to say that the number is in the ballpark of 10,000-15,000. That means there are over 100,000 square inches of GAL out in the world. If we lined them all up, they would span more than two miles.
• There are over 1,000 members in the GAL Ravelry group. I think we can comfortably describe ourselves as a “community”.
• The first 2015 GAL square, which I am insanely excited about, will debut on January 4th. At that time you will be able to say that you were in the founding members group.

I’ll see you back here in a week to talk about how to put this crazy blanket together.

Child’s Play Charity

© 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 Game Over. Directions for double sided knitting AND tapestry crochet are listed in the PDF. 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). Note that the first row is a right side row.  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 53 rows in double-sided knitting.

Work 2 rows of double-sided knitting. BO.

Don’t forget to tweet or instagram them at me @Doctor_Llama or Jac @jac_attacking with the hashtag geekalong, so we can all oooh and ah together. We even have a fancy new GAL Participation Button you can put on your blog or your Geek-A-Long posts. 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
*My version of speechless is actually still full of words, but I ramble to stall for time while I frantically search for something smart to say.

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If you enjoyed this post, please consider making a donation to Child’s Play Charity. Here is a direct link to our donation page benefiting the charity. Please help us raise $1,000 this year! No contribution is too small.