Stranding Floats vs Catching Floats
In stranded knitting, "stranding" means letting the unused colour float across the back without catching; "catching" means twisting the unused colour around the working yarn at intervals. Knowing when to do which is the difference between snaggy and smooth stranded fabric.
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When to strand without catching
For floats of 5 stitches or fewer in worsted, 7 or fewer in fingering. Short floats lie flat against the wrong side and do not snag. Catching short floats often produces visible "ghost" stitches that are more distracting than the floats would have been.
When to catch
For floats over 5 stitches in worsted, 7 in fingering, 10 in lace weight. Catch in the middle of the long float, not at the edge. Stagger catches across rows so they do not stack vertically.
In partnership Tools and supplies that make this technique easier.
Tension considerations
Even short floats need slack — never pull the float tight or the fabric puckers. Spread the stitches on the right needle to the previous row's width before working each new stitch with a colour change.
Project-specific rules
Mittens: catch every 4 stitches as a default (the inside of a mitten is high-friction). Sweaters: standard 5-stitch rule. Hats: standard 5-stitch rule. Lace stranded: catch less frequently to preserve the open lace structure.
Abbreviation reference
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| MC | main colour |
| CC | contrast colour |
Tips
- Strand floats of 5 or fewer stitches; catch longer ones.
- Stagger catches across rows.
- Mittens benefit from more frequent catching than sweaters.
In depth
The strand-vs-catch decision is one of the most-discussed details in stranded colourwork. The general rule (5-stitch threshold) covers most projects, but garments with high friction inside (mittens, gloves) benefit from more frequent catching, while projects where the back will not be visible (lined sweaters) can get away with fewer catches.