Fair Isle queens

[rantinghousewife]

Thinking of knitting a fair isle jumper, want one in monochrome, so black, grey and white. Read the pattern, most of it makes sense, except for the bit where it says, strand yarn not in use loosely across wrong side of work (I understand that bit but, then) over not more than 3 sts at a time to keep fabric elastic. But then the chart shows the colour changes occur on some rows over more than 3 sts.
So what do I do with it, if I can't carry it over 3 sts? I'd really appreciate some enlightenment.

You wrap the thread you are not using around the thread you are using, every 3 stitches. (It can be 5 stitches, I think, if the yarn is fairly fine.)

That business about threading it loosely? They mean it. It always fecking well comes out too tight when I do it.

Fair Isle knitting is best done with a thread in each hand and on a round pin or double pointeds so you always only knit on the right side.
It takes a bit of practice to knit with the thread in your left hand but once you get the hang of it, it is quite easy. Then when you have more than 3 sts of one colour you slip the thread you're not using under the one you are using. You get a beautiful weave that way and the wrong side looks almost as nice as the right side.
It's easier shown than written about and I would gladly show you if you were anywhere near.
By the way, if there are more than two colours in any one row it is not true Fair Isle

Thank you both, that actually makes some sense, just looked at the pattern and I didn't notice it before but, you are right DutchOma, there are only two of each colour on any given row.
So I could knit it in the round then, that would be easier and I have converted a straight pattern into a round knitted one with no problem before, so as long as I keep in pattern that should pose no problems.