2019 Geek-A-Long: Over the Garden Wall

“Somewhere lost in the clouded annals of history lies a place that few have seen—a mysterious place called the Unknown, where long forgotten stories are revealed to those who travel through the wood.”

The Narrator from Over the Garden Wall in Episode 1, The Old Grist Mill

Over the Garden Wall is the greatest animated mini-series that you’ve probably never heard of, and I’m here to change that. The show is on my short list of things that get me primed for autumn and Halloween.

• Pumpkin Spiced Lattes
• Crunching Leaves
• Chunky Sweaters and Cardigans
• Over the Garden Wall
• Hand-Knit Socks
• Boots
• Tiny Pumpkins

However, Over the Garden Wall, which is currently available for streaming on Hulu, isn’t a traditional Halloween movie. It’s quirky and sinister at the same time, almost as if Tim Burton and Hayao Miyazaki banded together to create a beautiful 2D cartoon with a subdued color palette done in a vignette style.

It follows two half-brothers, Greg and Wirt, who are polar opposites in nearly every sense. Teen-aged Wirt is overly cautious and a worrier while Greg is a carefree and goofy younger kid. With the help of a talking bluebird named Beatrice, the two must find their way back home after getting lost in the woods. It’s a simple premise, but there is a lot of mystery involved, like how exactly they got lost or the enigmatic “Beast” that stalks the woods and taunts the strange Woodsman that they keep encountering. Just when you think you understand what’s happening, a new turn in the road appears. It definitely gives you fairy tale vibes and makes for a great family movie night with pizza, even though the cartoon can easily be a metaphor for death and venturing through limbo.

The best part about the show, other than a handful of catchy songs that are carefully integrated into the plot like “Potatoes and Molasses” or the fact that Elijah Wood voiced Wirt and Christopher Lloyd voiced the Woodsman, is that it’s short and sweet. You can enjoy the entire mini-series in two hours. With the plot being well planned and tightly woven, each episode is under twelve minutes. You have no excuses, go watch it.

And that’s a rock fact.

Whether you’re knitting, crocheting, or cross stitching this square, you can download the Over the Garden Wall 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! Want to hang out with other people making the blanket? You can find moral support in the Geek-A-Long group on Ravelry here.

~Jac

I had considered going into the metaphor about limbo and death, but that would make this post spoiler city and I really want you to go watch this show.

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