Going Straight - the technical aspects

Now it's time to reveal a little bit more about the tutorials included and methods of construction. (for Victoria who left a comment on the last past - this was the next thing on my list to talk about!)

So 'Going Straight' - all knit on straight needles, using short rows for shaping and kitchener for finishing. You don't have to use kitchener, you could use a 3-needle bind off or something else, heck you could even cast on regularly and seam to finish if you wanted, but there is more than enough information included to make even the shiest of knitters go for the grafting with ease.

For the tutorials, we have:-

Provisional Cast-on

1. Creating a crochet (chain) provisional cast-on.

2. Removing the chain safely and preparing for grafting.

Short Rows

1. Creating a short row with the wrap and turn method.

2. Picking up and working the wrap

3. Variations on technique, i.e. different ways on picking up and working the wrap to create decorative effects.

Kitchener

1. Stocking stitch kitchener

2. Reverse stocking stitch kitchener

3. Ridge high (RS) Garter stitch kitchener

4. Ridge low (WS) Garter stitch kitchener

5. Grafting across St.St to Garter stitch in the same row (i.e how to minimise the half stitch jog for a perfect finish)

6. Grafting across Garter to St.St in the same row

7. Grafting across Rev St.St to St.St in the same row

8. Grafting across short rows - how to combine kitchener and working the wrap

There are over 60 full colour photos for the tutorial sections alone, and those stars that have proof read for me have agreed that they are clear and well laid out. Now, the book is aimed at intermediate knitters basically because of the techniques involved, but that doesn't mean that an adventurous beginner can't have a stab at the patterns - short rows and the prov cast-on aren't difficult, and the grafting has a much worse bark than it's bite.

To the best of my knowledge, indepth tutorials for these grafts (other than the regular St.St) haven't appeared in print before. I could be wrong on this as I haven't read every knitting book in circulation (!) but I've only found a small hand-full of books with the right instructions for, say, Garter stitch graft, and even these only had at best an illustration. I've often wondered why this is, why kitchener hasn't been explored much before, and can only conclude it's because many folk find it a bit intimidating. Hmm... well, I aim to demystify it!

In terms of the provisional cast-on and short row methods included - I did consider adding further tutorials but the methods chosen best suit the patterns and Hats. The crochet/chain cast-on can work as a regular cast-on and that is called upon in a few of the patterns. The other methods of short rows didn't work, I found through test knitting, as quite often after creating the wrap you dive straight into a stitch pattern which makes other methods difficult or messy - the wrap and turn method is by far the best for these patterns. So, I could have added further tutorials on these techniques, but it would have been confusing about which was best to use and ultimately used up a lot of space when they weren't needed.

Not long now.....
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