Abstract: A flat woven papermaker's forming fabric having a paper side layer and a machine side layer interconnected by pairs of weft binder yarns. Each of the binder yarn pair members in sequence interweaves with a portion of the paper side layer warp yarns in segments of the weft yarn path so as to complete an unbroken weft path in the paper side layer weave pattern, and to provide an internal paper side layer float. Each of the binder yarn pair floats interlaces with a machine side layer warp yarn so as to bind the paper and machine side layers together. To recess the binder yarns from the plane of fabric wear the interlacing point is located at or near the midpoint of an internal float in the machine side layer warp yarn. The number of paper side layer weft yarns located between each of the pairs of intrinsic weft yarns is irregular within one repeat of the overall fabric weave pattern. The location of the paper side layer internal floats also determines the interlacing locations with the machine side layer.