A method for creating pattern instructions for an electronic patterning control of a knitting machine to enable the knitting machine to knit fabric having a desired pictorial image as part of the knitted structure, the pictorial image being created by a series of consecutive courses each having knitted stitches formed of a first yarn having a first visual characteristic interspersed with knitted stitches formed of a second yarn having a second visual characteristic, adjacent knitted stitches of the second yarn that are separated by one or more knitted stitches of the first yarn being connected by a float loop spanning said one or more knitted stitches of the first yarn.