Shells on the Beach Shawl in Hook to Hook Challenge

Shells on the Beach Shawl

I love crafting for the summer weather and so I was excited to be asked by Simply Crochet magazine to participate in their June Hook to Hook designer challenge! If you haven't encountered this before, it's a challenge where they give two designers the same yarn and project brief and feature the designs they come up with in the magazine and social media with a chance for those who leave a comment to win a copy of the magazine. I have enjoyed following the challenge on Instagram. I find it fascinating how varied the results can be. Have you seen it in the magazine or on their social media?

If you're based in the UK, leave a comment on their Instagram post before midday Wednesday 28th June 2023 to be in with a chance of winning a copy.

The yarn for Shells on the Beach Shawl

This week the pattern I created was released in their beach themed June issue. The brief was to design, create a pattern and work a sample project of "A Summer Shawl" and Shells on the Beach Shawl was what I came up with. Creating the pattern and sample was fun, I wanted the shawl to have a summer themed design as well as being suitable wearing in for warm weather and a trip to the seaside with walks along the shoreline looking for shells is a summer outing that I love. The yarn supplied, West Yorkshire Spinners' Exquisite 4ply, was absolutely beautiful, a real treat to work with. In fact, I have already suggested it for a few more design proposals I sent to magazines recently. I pictured the silky yarn as a fluid, drapey shawl worn on a sunset beach walk. The shell and chain loop stitch seemed perfect combined with a delicate border to create a pretty silhouette without extra weight or unwanted warmth.

Shells on the Beach Shawl in progress

It was fun to think that I was creating this along with another designer and wonder how their project was going. On on the day, I discovered the identity of the other designer, Hannah Barker @haebarker, who made a lovely honeycomb inspired cowl based on the same prompt and with the same yarn. Do take a look!

Shells on the Beach Shawl

Pattern: Shells on the Beach Shawl

Published in: Simply Crochet, issue 137

Yarn: West Yorkshire Spinners Exquisite 4ply

Simply Crochet Now Issue 137 is on sale in shops across the UK from Thursday 28th April. To find your nearest stockist, or purchase a digital edition of the magazine visit the Gathered website.

Do let me know if you make the shawl. I'm always so excited when I see that someone has used one of my patterns!