By Nicki Byrnes
May 1, 2023
I was beyond excited when Simply Crochet asked me to participate in their Hook to Hook Challenge. It is a contest they feature in their magazine where they challenge two crochet designers to come up with a design, no guidance or limitations other than they must use the same yarn and write a pattern for the object they requested. For their May issue, they wanted a sock pattern for the summer. The yarn provided was Socks Yeah! in Citrine and Ruby, which I LOVED and immediately felt inspired.
Socks are a great crochet project for the summer, when temperatures rise but you still want to make something wearable. It’s hard to be in a sweater or scarf frame of mind when it’s warm out, seeing as how you won’t be able to wear them for months and you overheat if you work on them outside. Small projects like socks are ideal because they can fit in your hands or bag without weighing you down or heating you up!
Thinking about the timing of the magazine and the reader, I decided to make a pattern that felt light, whimsical, and had a summery vibe. After creating the mood board below, I designed my pair to be airy and breathable for warmer months, reminiscent of daisies blooming throughout the summer, and quick to make so they can be completed during a road trip or weekend at the beach. They feature a pattern repeat of half double crochet and skipped stitches, with 3-D puff stitch flowers adorning the outside of the leg. They’re topped off with a classic heel and cuff, like a trendy pair of tube socks.
I love the color combination, breathable stitch pattern, sweet little flowers that provide dimension in a practical and wearable way, and perfect fit. I’m pleased with how they turned out and look forward to making more pairs. Crochet socks were not on my radar before – I had only made a pair of slippers once with chunky yarn. But now my mind is thinking of endless design options to add flair to my wardrobe through unique socks you can’t find anywhere else.
So, who was the winner of the design challenge? According to the rules, that would be the design whose Instagram post had the most likes. Was that mine? No, it was not. I do have significantly less followers than my talented competitor does (not that I’m making excuses or anything!). I still consider myself a winner for all the wonderful comments and likes my design received on the post, the relationship I gained with the magazine, and the awesome experience. Thank you, Simply Crochet, for giving me this opportunity!
See my Summer Daisy Socks over on Instagram.
nickibyrnescrochet.com 