This week we're giving away a copy of Beyond Knit and Purl, a new book by Kate Atherley. You might recognize her as the designer of the Crest of the Wave scarf from our November issue, or maybe you've been lucky enough to take a class from her. I asked her to tell us a bit about the book...take it away, Kate! Beyond Knit and Purl is the book that takes you from being confident about knitting to being a confident knitter. I've been teaching knitting for 10 years, and I’ve found that there's a hole in the knitting literature. We teach you how to hold your yarn and needles, we show you how to knit and purl, and then we send you into a yarn shop and expect you to be able to choose a pattern and yarn and successfully knit it. My book helps you cross this gap: you'll learn how to choose a pattern and read it, with tips on making sure the pattern will be appropriate to your skill level. I talk about how to find an appropriate yarn, how and why to swatch (and when not to).  I demystify the language used in patterns, and charts. I clearly explain what skills are needed for different types of projects and what the appropriate next steps are for newer knitters. You'll also find lessons on specific techniques, such as increasing and decreasing, working in the round, socks, cables, lace and colourwork. These lessons explain key facts with lots of helpful photos and diagrams, and provide projects so you can practice. (Great news: Kate offered to share one of these projects with us. I'll be posting her directions for a cabled cup cosy tomorrow!) For your chance to win, leave ONE comment telling us which knitting technique you'd love to master. The contest is open to Canadian residents only. Contest will run until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, February 5, 2012; I'll post a winner here on Monday, February 6. Good luck!