Flat Border Technique

Hello! This tutorial will teach you how to use the Flat Alpha technique and parts of the Clean Back Alpha technique to have Flat Alpha color changes on your edges. You do not need any special materials, just the strings with which you are tying. This tutorial has been written assuming you have an understanding of the Flat Alpha and Straight Edges techniques, so if you do not, I suggest learning them. I have linked two videos below.

This is a helpful technique to use for two types of patterns - patterns that have borders or single color changes on the end, such as #48304 and #173285, so that you can tie without the back being flappy (photo 1). It is also good for changing colors row by row (rows where it is all one color until the end of the row until then it changes on the next row) (photo 2) This method is mainly used to prevent you from having to feed multiple strings through one knot.

The pattern I used for this tutorial is #79787 by @KrazyKnotz, which has examples of both single color changes and row by row changes shown below.

1. Single color change

2. Row by row color change

Flat Alpha

Straight Edges

Have your strings prepared without feeding the row's final color through. If you were able to feed it through naturally, you do not need to use this method. This method is only for if your knots are supposed to be three different colors to the end. In the photo below, I am tying into the last base string to the left with white. I have just tied one black knot and fed the green through. White has not been used in the past few knots.

Tie the string for the knot onto the base string and the string that was fed. In the first half of the knot, the green is also acting as part of the base string. However, do not tie the second half of the knot. You also do not need to worry about how low the knot looks here, you will be able to push it up. You also might not need to worry about the last color you used - the reason I am pulling the green through here is because it will be the first color I need after the white border knot.

Tie the next half of the knot, but only on the base string. The green string can go back to where it started. Once you tighten this knot, you can push it back up the string. After this is finished, you can start the next row and use the next color as if you've already fed it through in the middle of a row, feeding the first color through the second knot as normal.

Continue tying your row like normal, feeding the unused string through the pattern as necessary.

This method has similar steps to the previous, but it is still quite different. Do not skip through reading this and assume it is the same as the last method!

This is the same as the last step - have your strings prepared properly. Here, I will be tying one more black knot onto the last base string before switching to yellow on the first knot of the next row.

Tie the string for the knot onto the base and fed string. You should be feeding the string that you want to start the next row with. Only tie the first half of your knot here.

Tie the next half of your knot only on the base string, pushing the fed string to the side.

Tie your next color on in the same way that you used the previous color, using the unwanted color as a second base string for the first half of the knot and tying regularly on the second half.

Here is the second half.

Continue tying your row like normal, feeding the unused string through as necessary.

Thank you for using the Flat Edge technique! If you have any questions, please leave a comment!