The easy way to wrap floats (Fair Isle knitting)
Today, I’ll show you a quick and easy way to wrap floats when knitting Fair Isle.
Actually, before explaining myself further, I’d like to explain what floats are, especially, for those knitters who aren’t familiar with the term yet: Floats are the strands that show at the back of the fabric (the wrong side of the work) in any Fair Isle pattern.
And why should we trap or wrap the floats?
First, after my tutorial “How to Knit Your First Fair Isle Pattern”, I was asked by many little Woollies the best method for dealing with floats.
Second, because it’s necessary!
When we work several stitches in one color, we need to wrap the floats (to prevent long and loose strands at the back of the work).
However, there is more than one way to do it…
When I started to knit, I learned the “One Twist” method, which is fine, but after many twists, the yarns can become annoyingly tangled.
Nowadays, I prefer the “Hitching” method, which you can do with one hand, or easier still, with both hands, (if you’re used to knitting the English and Continental styles interchangeably).
In my opinion, the Hitching method is quicker and feels more intuitive than the One Twist method.
Anyway, in the video tutorial, I’ll show you both, while we knit an easy four-row repeat Fair Isle pattern, ideal for beginners 🙂
Without further ado, grab your needles and some yarn in two colors, and let’s knit something pretty!
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N.B.:
The odd rows are knit rows and form the right side of the work.
The even rows are purl rows.
The darker color (“North Sea”) is for the background (Color D).
The lighter color (“Pearl White”) is for the Chevron lines (Color L).
Abbreviations
CO: Cast on
RS: Right side of the work
st: Stitch
KL: Knit with the color of the flowers, the light color; for example, K3L means knit three stitches with color L
KD: Knit with the color of the background, the dark color; for example, K1D means knit one stitch with color D
PL: Purl with the color of the flowers, the light color; for example, P1L means purl three stitches with color L
PD: Purl with the color of the background, the dark color; for example, P1D means purl one stitch with color D
BO: Bind off
The easy way to wrap floats (+ 1 Easy Fair Isle knitting pattern)
With color D, CO multiples of 6 + 1; i.e.: 6 * 3 = 18 + 1 = 19 stitches.
Row 1 (RS): *K1L, K5D*. Repeat from * to *, to last st, ending with K1L
Row 2: *P1D, P1L, P3D, P1L*. Repeat from * to *, to last st, ending with P1D
Row 3: *K2D, K1L, K1D, K1L, K1D*. Repeat from * to *, to last st, ending with K1D
Row 4: *P3D, K1L, P2D*. Repeat from * to *, to last st, ending with P1D.
These four rows create the pattern. Repeat them until the desired length is reached.
When finished, BO knitwise with color D after row 4 (RS).
This is the other side of the work:
Do you prefer to follow a chart? Then, please read this first:
Each square represents a stitch.
The color given in each square is the color you need to work that stitch with (dark or light).
The first row of the chart shows the first right-side row and is worked from right to left.
The second row of the chart shows the second and wrong-side row and is worked from left to right.
The repeat is shown between red lines (in the written instructions is shown between asterisks * *).
Enjoy the video tutorial:
The Easy Way to Wrap Floats (Fair Isle Knitting Technique)
Thank you for watching 🙂
Hugs, and happy knitting, and don’t forget to share the love!
Carolina – So Woolly
