Hello you magnificent humans, and welcome to the 2024 Geek-A-Long! First imagined in the Winter of 2013, the Geek-A-Long (GAL) was born from unrestrained idealism and way too much coffee. The idea was ridiculous: Release a new pattern every week all year, based on pop-culture nerdiness. At the end of the year, we would join 48 double-sided squares together to make a massive blanket. Our Fandom Opus would be sent to the Child’s Play Charity Dinner Auction in Seattle, and the proceeds of the sale would go towards providing video games and other entertainment to children in hospitals and domestic violence shelters.

When Megan-Anne cast on that first square, she had no idea what the GAL would turn into. Seven years, seven blankets, and nearly 300 squares later, the Geek-A-Long has grown far beyond us. The community has grown each year and based on our square download statistics there are GAL knitters in every corner of the world. Your generosity is astounding. The GAL community has raised over $10,000 for Child’s play with individual donations and proceeds raised from the sale of the auctioned blankets.

We wanted to do something to make 2020 memorable. Admittedly, that decision was made in 2019, and 2020 doesn’t need help standing out. Still, we wanted to shake things up. When Megan-Anne finished knitting that first blanket in 2014, we never imagined we’d still be making them in 2020. We are blown away by how much love and support the project has gotten and couldn’t have predicted it. We want you to see Eight Bit, On Board, and now this sweater for what they are: a love letter from us to the entire GAL community.

The Natural 20 Sweater was designed as an extra special gift for the Child’s Play Charity Auction in 2023 when they celebrated their 20th anniversary. I’m thrilled to share it with the world now as the 2024 Geek-A-Long project:
5/26/24 – Theme Announcement
6/2/24 – Project Sheet and Swatch
6/9/24 – Steek Tutorial
6/16/24 – Clue 1
6/30/24 – Clue 2
7/14/24 – Clue 3
7/28/24 – Clue 4
8/11/24 – Clue 5
8/25/24 – Clue 6

Yarn
Sport or DK weight yarn in 2 sharply contrasting colors. Sample is knit in Lattes & Llamas Geek-A-Long Yarn (100 grams/ 328 yards/ 296 meters) in Ouroboros (pale green) for CC and Evergreen Moonbeam (dark green) for MC.

CC: 990(1125, 1250, 1350) 1475(1575, 1700, 1800) 1925(2025, 2150, 2250) yards
MC: 1100(1250, 1375, 1500) 1625(1750, 1875, 2000) 2125(2250, 2375, 2500) yards

Note that yardage is estimated, includes the yardage required for knitting the swatch, and may vary depending on yarn used, gauge variations, or modifications.

When choosing your yarn, make sure MC contrasts strongly with CC. We recommend taking a photograph of the yarns together and then filtering it to black and white to see if they contrast strongly enough.

Needles
US 5.0 / 3.75 mm and US 6 / 4.00 mm 40” circular needles or size needed to obtain gauge. Note that the majority of the sweater will be worked in the round and if working the smallest/largest sizes you may wish to choose a different length of circular needle to best accommodate your sweater size. The sleeves will also be worked in the round and can be worked on your body needles using a magic loop technique, or you can substitute DPNs or 10” circular needles at your preference.

Notions
Stitch Markers; Tapestry Needle; Tape Measure; Waste yarn for holding sts (we recommend using waste yarn in a different color than your sweater for holding sts).
Optional: Fabric for lining the inside of the sweater’s pockets if desired.
Optional: Buttons (size and quantity are up to you, but ½”- ¾” buttons and 8-10 total buttons are recommended if you choose to use buttons. The sample was worked without the use of buttons, but instructions will be included for working button holes if desired. The gauge swatch calls for 4-5 buttons, however these are also optional.
Steek Specific Notions: Waste yarn; fusible interfacing tape (we recommend “Heat-n-Bond Soft Stretch); 3 yards ½” double fold bias tape in a color that compliments or matches your sweater colors.

Gauge
24 sts and 30 rows = 4” / 10 cm in stranded colorwork, knit in the round with larger sized needles and blocked. See gauge swatch directions on page 4.

Sizing
Size 1(2, 3, 4) 5(6, 7, 8) 9(10, 11, 12) has a 33(36.5, 40, 43) 46.5(50, 53, 56.5) 60(63, 66.5, 70) inch bust circumference, blocked. Note that this represents the measurements of the actual sweater, and you should choose a size that incorporates your desired amount of ease. Length of the body of the sweater and sleeves are customizable.