When working in Fair Isle, the maximum number of stitches in one color is 5: for larger numbers, the strand of nonworking yarn becomes too long. In other types of stranded knitting, the number of stitches may vary significantly. Normally, to deal with very long strands at the back of the fabric, different methods are used: floats are trapped by twisting or weaving, or ladder back jacquard technique is applied.

In this class you will learn my newly developed method of dealing with those long floats, which I call Showy Floats. I used them on the Biscornu cushion. The technique is easy and quick to learn.

Technique Requirements: knit/purl sts, experience in stranded knitting

To work a flat stranded sample, use two contrasting colors of the same yarn: the light color MC and the dark color CC. Make a slip knot using both color yarns, cast on 21 sts with long-tail CO (chose the darker CC yarn for the thumb). The slip knot is not counted and will be unraveled later.

Row 1 (WS): knit all sts with CC yarn; slide sts to the opposite side of the needle.
Row 2 (WS): purl all sts with MC.
Row 3 (RS): knit all sts with MC.
Row 4 (WS): purl all sts with MC.

Tip: have the provided chart handy; file is here.

Two contrasting color yarns, DK or worsted weight; the needles to match the yarn.