Ive completed a few stranded colorwork projects in which I had to switch position of the yarn balls every time I trapped a float: trapping a float without taking my hands off the needles was a revelation and a relief! Someday I may get to this, but as of now Ive never really purled colorwork (beyond a small swatch with short floats). The Knitters Book of YarnandThe Knitters Book of Woolby Clara Parkes 4. Aim to space the stitches across the needle more widelythan your goal gaugeremember that you will stretch the sockwhen you put it on. So for knitted fabric thats likely to come into things that may catch on floats, like fingers and toes, we musttraporcatchlong floats to anchor them to the fabric. To help shorten the floats while maintaining good tension, tack these long floats to the wrong side of the work. And you can see these steps in action here: trapping long floats carrying both yarns in your left handfromDiannaonVimeo. Try out some of these techniques in the evening with a glass of wine or whatever else relaxes you. A long float would be considered more than 5 stitches in a row of one color before changing. Weve got some handy tips on making this dream a reality. In this example, the dominant yarn is the floating yarn, while the background yarn is the working yarn. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. Colorwork without stranded floats? Its possible to trap those long floats as youre weaving in ends after the fact (and if there isnt a long end to weave in where you need to trap a float, you can take a spare bit of leftover yarn and just weave it into the wrong side of the fabric as if it were an end, trapping the floats as you go). The standard double knitting technique with two colors also creates no floats on the backside. In order to keep the tension of your sock from getting too tight, you may want to consider letting your floats go a little longer without catching them than you normally would; catching floats too frequently can make the fabric less flexible. Enjoy! Youll be better able to adjust your tension as you go along, and youll catch things that need fixing without having to work backwards too far. A yarn like Quince & Co. Chickadee is smooth and springy, because its worsted spun with three plies. If you find that your sock is still too tight, another trick isto add more stitches, especially to the leg portion. Knitting on an Airplane and Other Travel Tips for Makers, Why You Shouldn't Buy a Knitter Yarn as a Gift. Copyright2023Golden Peak Media. Whether you're brand new to colorwork knitting or have years of experience under your belt, this innovative new way to knit colorwork will transform your knitting! Traditional Fair Isle (or stranded knitting) color knitting specifies no more than two colors per row and sequences of no more than six stitches of one color. Stitches just knit spaced out along the right needle. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. This means you can get gauge for a pattern likeHearth Slippersbut still have trouble with the fit if your fabric is too inelastic. To maintain the elasticity of the fabric, use the duplicate-stitchmethod to weave in your ends on the inside of the sock(Figure 1). Holding both yarns Continental, and picking each colour off of my finger as I need them. *Membership cannot be purchased with Gift Cards. So what do I do? Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Go ahead and knit the next stitch normally. To use Marie's words, it is a game changer! Focus on one section of the fabric at a time and knead it. Also, if you need to catch floats in a bunch of rows dont catch in the same place every row. Tension will be easiest to tackle if you choose a pattern that doesn't require long floats. Ifyouretense, your knitting often shows it. Have you knit with Nature Spun before? The background color/main color is also my working yarn here, while the dominant/contrasting color is being carried across the wrong side of the work. You have done it again, Marie! Then move on to the section beside it. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. You won't have to struggle with dominant colors, floats, multiple strands or wonky tension - watch your knitting transform almost immediately! would you do one on catching floats in purl side?Im knitting a Marie Wallin pattern in pieces and Im trying to find the best way to trap the floats in purl. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Colorwork without stranded floats? Knitting In the Round 3 Ways: DPNs, Two Circulars, or Magic Loop? This means picking up the float in the back of a stitch to hold it in place and keep some tension in the floating yarn so it doesnt pull too tight or loosen up. Floats can get in the way in the finished project because they can snag and, they can mess with the tension of the knit stitches around them. But knitting colorwork can be a challenge. Some wools that are known for colorwork are very sticky wools, like Shetland wool or Lopi. When you have a pattern that calls for long floats (the strand of yarn that you carry behind the color youre knitting with at any one time), its a good idea to tack them, or trap them. In order tokeep the tensionof your sock from getting too tight, you may want to considerletting your floats go a little longer without catching them thanyou normally would; catching floats too frequently can make thefabric less flexible. Knitting In the Round 3 Ways: DPNs, Two Circulars, or Magic Loop? Strandless colorwork eliminates so many of the headaches that some knitters experience with traditional methods. I find myself hating colorwork and dreading it because of how tangled it's been getting. This was so helpful! How to Measure Your Gauge in Knittingfrom Craftsy.com, Your email address will not be published. For example, if there are 3 stitches in a row of one color, the other color will need to be carried behind it for 3 stitches. Found the internet! Please feel free to share your methods below! I have done very little colorwork but am working on a hat with some simple(ish) colorwork. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. How often to catch floats when working colorwork comes down to personal preference. Please note: With the sock inside out, you can easily see both thecolor patterning from the previous rounds and the behavior ofyour floats at the same time. 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. Thanks! In this vid, I will demonstrate how to use TWO hands do two-colored knitting,. The most important thing is to consider what kind of item youre knitting, and whos going to be wearing/using it. 5: My stranded knitting history Easy Trick. Archived. Cut off the excess yarn, leaving about a 1/2-inch tail. You can always try going up a needle size, as well many people need to adjust needle size between stockinette sections and colorwork sections when using the same yarn. This is a very secure way to trap the float. Since different colors of yarn are used throughout thepatterned areas of socks (sometimes for only one round! In this example, the dominant color, carried in my left hand, is the contrasting color (blue), while the background color, carried in my right hand, is the main color (charcoal). With two hands, color work is both addictive and soothing. This always affects the knitted fabric youre creating, but it affects colorwork even more. Contains spam, fake content or potential malware, https://www.interweave.com/store/vintage-modern-knits-ebook, How to Sew Crochet Motifs to Your Clothes, 5 Things That Made Our Yarn-y Hearts Happy at Yarn Fest Loveland 2023, Floral Beaded Jewelry Patterns for Mothers Day, Unique Ways to Have Quality Yarn-Time with Mom. I found this page which shows a technique for capturing the floats & providing a nice stretch. Lopi, on the other hand, is typically woolen spun and a single ply, which means it just wont stretch as much. Overly loose stranding and a bigger gauge are preferableto short floats and tight knitting. My blue floating yarn is trapped on either side of the 6th stitch. How to keep yarn from tangling with stranded colorwork? If youre having trouble with tight colorwork you may want to try working with a different type of yarn or wool than youve used before to see if that makes a difference. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This tutorial video demonstrate. Wanting to try stranded color work or Fair Isle knitting, but feeling a little intimidated? Read morehere. The basics of colourwork knitting How to read a colourwork chart How to hold two yarns at the same time Floats and tension Joining a new colour Increases and decreases Yarn dominance Blocking Tangled yarns Weaving in ends Yarn choices in colourwork Choosing a colourwork palette The basics of colourwork knitting Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The Japanese word ajiro describes a herringbone pattern in basketry, which seems fitting for a country known for its long fishing traditions and bold graphic representations of natural elements. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. The most important thing is to consider what kind of item youre knitting, and whos going to be wearing/using it. Part Seven: Materials fromThe Principles of Knittingby June Hemmons Hiatt, On working in stranded colorwork: If the pattern repeat for your sock issmallfor example, a four-stitch repeatyou can simply increasefour stitches after the cuff and work an additional repeat. Wool will naturally relax into a smooth, even surface after blocking to improve any tight or loose spots in your knitting. Knitting inside out. (Side note: its always better to have floats that are a little long than a little short you can always draw in the slack when youre weaving in ends, but you cant make a short float longer.). "Float" is a common term for the strand of yarn that runs across the back of colorwork fabric - the strand that makes colorwork stranded. The bottom swatch will definitely block out to the 8 circumference Im aiming for, but the top swatch will likely be too small. Please note: Some knitters will have an easier time with smooth wools while others will have an easier time with sticky ones. Heres a trick I use for every round of stranded colorworkthat I knit on my socks: I flip the sock inside out, thenknit these rounds. All Rights Reserved. Whether youre working on double-pointed needles or usingthe magic-loop method, you also need to be careful when workingthe first stitch on a new needle. (Wondering what the dominant yarn is? I get this question a lot, and its a tricky one to answer. Finally, spread out your sweater and leave it to air-dry. You can see where the working yarns meet the needles: The biggestthing to remember is to be patient with yourself! If youre ready to take the plunge, click here to sign up for our newsletter & well send you a free PDF download of the Jeanette Hat & Scarf Pattern, a lovely colorwork ensemble in which both pieces are knit in the round! (Ask me how I know! I loved your tutorial on catching floats! 2. If you stop here and look at your float, youll see that its caught in the space between the stitch you just knit and the previous stitch. Ill be using myHearth Slippersto demonstrate in the photos, as this pattern involves a very long float the first time you work Chart C. Im working the Large size, and the float is carried across 21 stitches. Required fields are marked *. If you've been wishing for a better way, this is it. An inelastic fabric will not stretch to allow your heel to passthrough or pull in to gently hug your leg. Tryfollowing the pattern for the next size up, decreasing stitch countsfor the cuff and heel to fit. UFO to WIP: Can This Crochet or Knitting Project Be Saved? Crafty Confessions: Do You Make a Gauge Swatch? The pattern can be found in Vintage Modern Knits, heres a direct link to the book: https://www.interweave.com/store/vintage-modern-knits-ebook. my first fair isle project , last project and I'm making another rainbow one with variegated ribbing. Happy Monday, everyone! Heres a birds eye view to help you visualize the difference between normal (right side out) circular knitting and inside out circular knitting. moon sprites & icelandic wool month at tolt, Float is a common term for the strand of yarn that runs across the back of colorwork fabric the strand that makes colorwork, So, if Im knitting a piece that has long floats, how often should I trap them? It may take some trial and error to get the hang of it, but Ive seen this method yield results for several people. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. When carrying both yarns in the left hand, you may need to use your thumb to hold the floating yarn (blue) out of the way. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. Simply pick up loose bars of yarn in the order they belong (according to your chart), and youll be back in business. making sure no floats are longer than 1 or something similar). There are a few reasons for this, but the big one is thatcolorwork fabric by its very nature is less elastic than normal stockinette. ), Ondifferent yarn types: There are a multitude of techniques used to carry two strands of yarn across a row of knitting. Because strandedcolorwork does not have the same stretch capacity as plain stockinetteknitting, you have a real problem. Please confirm you want to block this member. The color that isn't being worked is carried at the back, making a float, before being worked again. Feel free to post questions in the comments, orshare other tips or methods you know of! Are there any other pages/videos showing this technique? The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. Privacy Policy. The color changes in Fair Isle are close together. In reality, there are a few different methods, but Ill be demonstrating what I think is the most common below. As a result, there are no limitations as to how many stitches a given color block can be wide (a common problem with stranded knitting). When working a stranded pattern, you never want to carry the non-working yarn across the back of the work for more than about 5 stitches, or whatever constitutes about a inch at your gauge. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. too short? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Tips, Tricks and Treatsfrom Eunny Jang, On gauge: Knit.fm episode 6: More Yarn[podcast] Fortunately, there are tricks to create a moreelastic fabric and a successful sock fit. That said, it is important to remember to catch those floats overlong stretches of more than six stitches where a color isnt used(Photo 4 above). If you happen to know both styles of knitting (I do know both because I learned to knit English-style and then converted to Continental-style), work one strand in your right hand to throw and one strand in your left hand to pick. That being said, if a rule doesnt jive with your personal preferences, thats perfectly fine! Ive made it pretty clear to the knitting world that when it comes to colorwork, floats and I are incompatible. Don. Here is a nice tutorial from Jimmy Beans Wool on how to catch floats. The two-handed method is great because the two yarns do not get tangled. If you dont, its a good bet that youll pull the non-working yarn a little too tight, causing puckering problems. Then you finish with 4 rows of garter stitch. Its a lot to read through, but I hope you find it helpful and please let me know if you still have questions about this topic by the end. Next, measure the circumference of your knitting while stretchingit out as much as possible. This is a very secure way to trap the float. Theres a big difference between a knitted bag youll sew a lining into and a pair of mittens or socks. If theres one thing Ive learned from my students, its that knitters are all over the map as far as which method works best for them. not stretched out), theres no indication of whether or not your knitting will be stretchy. The Knitting Man's Tiny Shorts, How to knit stranded colorwork NO FLOATS METHOD - in just 3 minutes - colourwork fairisle techniques tutorial Teaching and g. So Im sorry Im not the most helpful person for that! Stretch your damp sock gently in severaldirections to even out stitches and floats. The guidance suggested catching the floats (the stitches youre carrying of one colour behind the colour youre working with) every [], [] After that I got to start on the yoke and the colourwork. Firstly:what is a float, and why would I need to trap it? User account menu. The last step is towet-blockyour socks. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Socks fit our legs and feet through a combination of shapingand negative ease. Archived post. 1 bitcoin to inr in 2014, licking county court records search, strategies to avoid reliance on fast and junk food,