How do I deal with long floats?
When knitting fairisle, long floats on the back of your knitting can snag and make finishing difficult. Explore practical ways to manage, secure, hide, or avoid long floats when working with color.
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What You’ll Learn
- Ways to secure long floats as you knit
- How to tack down floats after knitting
- When modifying a stitch pattern can reduce floats
- When Intarsia may be a better choice than Fair Isle
- How slip and tuck can add color without long floats
- Ways to use a lining to completely hide floats
Featured video
From the Learning Library: 10 Ways to Manage Floats
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Try It
Choose one long-float technique and test it on a small swatch. Compare the front and back of the fabric and check whether the technique affects the appearance or stretch of your knitting.
Sue’s Tip
Don't let long floats keep you from using a stitch pattern you love. There isn't one "right" solution. Consider the project, experiment with the options, and choose the method that gives you the fabric and finish you want.
