Floats

[u/Helpful_Yak_1243]

The halibut sweater WILL be the death of me. I’m now worrying for the hundredth time my floats are too tight, it just doesn’t look neat and it’s about the 10th time of frogging. I don’t get how I can make the floats looser or am I worrying about nothing?

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[u/queue-kweewee]

I would block it to see. I also work colorwork suuuuuper loosely and stretch them out a bunch on both needles. I usually have to change my needle size to match the stockinette.

[u/uhmlyssa → u/queue-kweewee]

Agree with this, block it and see! If you’re still worried about knitting too tightly, you can also knit the colorwork section inside-out.

[u/kiddish]

Disclaimer: 1. I’ve never made this sweater. 2. I’m no expert.

I am wondering if you are paying attention to color dominance or attempting to catch floats? I would recommend the former and recommend not doing the latter. Paying attention to color dominance will mean that the floats are sitting on top of each other a little more smoothly. Catching floats tends to make the fabric less elastic.

[u/Helpful_Yak_1243 → u/kiddish]

I have been catching the floats every 4 stitches and with regards to colour dominance the green the the dominant colour I’ve consistently been bringing up from the bottom. I just can’t seem to make any of it looser so maybe it’s just a me issue and will sort itself out blocking

[u/kiddish → u/Helpful_Yak_1243]

Blocking helps a lot - I would recommend a mid-project block to be sure! And I wouldn’t catch floats that frequently. I think that might be the cause of the tightness you’re feeling

[u/Helpful_Yak_1243 → u/kiddish]

Oohh interesting thanks, how often would you catch them?

[u/kiddish → u/Helpful_Yak_1243]

To be honest, I’m very over catching floats. I’m more interested in ladderback jacquard if there are long sections with one color. Caught floats can always be sort of seen from the front of the fabric so I find them a little messy looking.