Stitch patterns that torque the knitted fabric into waves or zigzags by virtue of the stresses created by strategically placed increases and decreases have long fascinated me. I enjoy playing around with them and really figuring out how they work. Can they be improved? Can you change just one aspect or 2 or 3? What if you did this? Or that? Or??

Here’s my latest endeavor: an updated Tilting Blocks pattern that I have renamed Torqued Blocks after undertaking quite a bit of sample knitting experimentation. Sharp eyes will note that I have eliminated the garter stitch blocks as they have never struck me as very elegant. Nevertheless, my substitution still results in a nearly reversible fabric as you can see from the two sides next to each other in the close-up photo. Likewise, this fabric lays flat, no worries about taming curling at the edges. I have also offset the top and bottom halves of the pattern and added a feature to really get some distinction between the individual blocks. If you are interested in my process in developing this pattern, I invite you to check out my blog post at:

https://lizzieknitzz.com/2019/07/11/design-inspiration-pa...

This shawl is suitable for intermediate or advanced knitters who are comfortable with knitting lace and reading charted lace patterns. Pattern is given in written and charted formats.

Finished wrap measures 18” wide by 74” long after blocking.

Yarn recommendations: Fingering weight yarn in solid or only very slightly tonal hues, three alternating colors are shown. More colors or just one or two would also work. Self-striping, variegated or speckled yarns are not appropriate; the pattern will be muddled.

Materials:

1. Yarn (all fingering weight): ca. 200 g total or ca. 840 yards. As shown: Malabrigo Mechita in: 057 English Rose: 60 g or 252 yds (pink), 889 Musas: 66 g or 277 yds (purple), and 416 Indiecita: 60 g or 252 yds (green)
2. Size 5 (US) circular needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)
3. Stitch markers.
4. Tapestry needle

Gauge is not super important as long as it’s nice and open, but here’s what I got:
19 ST and 36 rows = 4 inches in the blocked lace pattern given using US 5 (3.75 mm).