Tilting Lace and Blocks

Tilting Lace and Blocks Socks by Phyll Lagerman

What is Being Made

Tilting Lace and Blocks is a cuff-to-toe knitted sock pattern designed by Phyll Lagerman. This intermediate-level sock features a distinctive lace and block pattern that creates a visually striking tilting effect, particularly when worked in self-striping yarn with shorter color repeats. The pattern is equally beautiful when knit in solid or hand-dyed yarns, offering versatility for different yarn choices and personal preferences.

Pattern Characteristics and Design

The sock pattern is described as fast, fun, and easily memorized, making it accessible for knitters who have progressed beyond beginner level. The combination of lace elements and block sections creates an engaging visual rhythm throughout the sock. The pattern's design takes advantage of self-striping yarn properties to enhance the tilting optical effect, though the pattern remains visually interesting in non-striping yarns as well.

Techniques Used

• Cuff-to-toe construction: The sock is worked from the cuff down to the toe in a single continuous piece
• Circular knitting: The pattern uses the round method, worked on double pointed needles
• Long tail cast on: The cast-on method specified for beginning the leg
• Latvian Twist: An optional decorative twist technique that can be incorporated immediately after casting on
• Stockinette stitch: The base stitch used for gauge measurement and primary fabric construction

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

While the PDF excerpt does not provide the complete stitch-by-stitch breakdown, the pattern incorporates lace stitches combined with block sections to create the tilting visual effect. The gauge is established at 8 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch, which serves as the foundation for proper fit and sizing.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

• Yarn: Approximately 350 yards of sock or fingering weight yarn (4-ply). The sample shown was knit in Plymouth Sockotta
• Needles: Set of US 2 and US 1 1/2 double pointed needles, or the size needed to obtain the specified gauge of 8 stitches per inch
• Additional supplies: Long tail cast-on method required; the pattern uses the yarn tail as a marker for the beginning of round

Construction Details

The leg section begins with a cast-on of 60 stitches using the long tail cast-on method. After casting on, knitters have the option to work a Latvian Twist if desired, with instructions provided in the pattern. The stitches are then divided evenly onto double pointed needles in groups of 20, 20, and 20 stitches before joining into the round for circular knitting. The pattern uses a specific needle numbering system where needle 1 is designated as the needle immediately to the left of the tail, with the tail serving as the round marker.

Skill Level and Suitability

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters who are comfortable with basic sock construction and circular knitting techniques. The easily memorized stitch pattern allows knitters to work efficiently once the pattern repeat is established, making it an enjoyable project for those looking to expand their sock-knitting skills.