My settings are as follow:
Under each variation I have typed ‘no value’ (empty field) within the box for stock.
Regarding stock status (in the menu ‘stock’) I have set this to ‘Not in Stock’ and then ‘allowing backorders’. But still: it looks like this https://skoexperten.dk/butik/casual/.
If I then mark the box ‘Manage Stock’ the products are automatically in stock – even though I set stock status till ‘Not in Stock’.
Sorry if the translation is not perfectly correct, my woocommerce is set to Danish and I cannot remember the exact terms ??