Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

A Super Clever Way to Deal with Long Floats in Colorwork Knitting

by

The STUART method for dealing with long floats in colorworkI love doing colorwork — especially stranded knitting — on cold-weather items because the floats on the back of the work add an extra layer of insulation, which I always seem to need.

But one problem with stranded colorwork is the fact that your floats on the back need to be kept relatively short (the rule that is usually quoted is no longer than five stitches between color changes, but there is some wiggle room) so as not to distort the fabric or provide lots of opportunities for catching fingers on floats as you try to put a garment on.

I typically deal with longer than normal floats by twisting the working yarn and the floating yarn together, which does tack it in but also makes a twist in the yarns, which get tangled and messy pretty quickly.

I haven’t tried it yet but I’m really intrigued by this method for dealing with long floats described by TECHKnitting, what she calls the STUART method.

STUART stands for slip, then unhook and rehook twice, which doesn’t sound like anything logical, but I promise it is. You initially catch the floating yarn by changing its position as you knit, then you go back and make the floats ladder up themselves, in a technique that is somewhat similar in look to the ladderback jacquard technique used in commercial knitting.

It sounds like a simple and really effective way to deal with long floats, and I will definitely be trying it out the next time I have some to deal with. What do you think?

[Photo via TECHKnitting.]

Comments

  1. TECHKnitting’s method sounds interesting. (All her blog posts are interesting!)

    It’s a bit different from “invisible stranding”, also called “ladderback jacquard”. Invisible stranding is a variation of double knitting. I’m currently learning invisible stranding while knitting Christmas stockings for my daughter’s kittens. I like it better than twisting the strands together, but it takes planning ahead.

Have you read?

Free Knitted Crown Pattern for Kids and Adults: A Sweet Handmade Dress-Up Idea

There’s something wonderfully charming about a knitted crown. It’s playful, useful for the dress-up basket, and just the sort of small project that gives a leftover ball of yarn a proper purpose. Much better than letting it roll around the cupboard for another three years.

This free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults combines a simple garter-stitch band with shaped triangular points. The mustard-gold colour gives it that storybook crown look, although pink, purple or woodland green would be equally lovely.

A Manageable Next Step for Beginner Knitters

The construction is the appealing part of this design. Everything is knitted flat, so you won’t need double-pointed needles or experience joining stitches in the round.

You knit the band first, then work each crown point separately over a group of 12 stitches. Paired decreases gradually narrow each triangle, giving you a small, repeatable section to concentrate on.

I’d describe this as a confident beginner knitting project. You’ll need to know how to knit, work two types of decreases, hold unused stitches and sew a simple seam. There are several yarn tails to weave in, so a little patience with finishing will help.

Three Sizes With Room to Personalise

The pattern includes three sizes, with seven, eight or nine crown points. Choose by the wearer’s head measurement rather than age, and check your gauge carefully. Yarn stretch will make a noticeable difference to the fit.

For birthdays, an embroidered initial would be a sweet finishing touch. Contrasting yarn diamonds could suggest little jewels without adding hard embellishments.

What to Know Before Casting On

This is a soft knitted crown, so expect gentle points rather than a rigid costume accessory. A springy wool or wool-blend yarn should give the shaping more support than a very drapey yarn.

The stitch calculations have been checked, but the design has not yet been sample-knitted. The accompanying image is an illustrative mockup, so the finished texture and proportions may vary with your yarn and tension.

For a small handmade birthday accessory or a cheerful addition to the dress-up box, this is an appealing idea. And if an adult needs a matching crown for supervising the royal household, the larger size has that covered too.