How to Crochet Around a Sock Cuff

Turn plain socks into fancy ones by adding a crochet cuff.

One way to jazz up plain socks is to add crochet around the cuff. Crocheted sock cuffs can be fancy or simple. Use sparkly yarns for a dressy, festive look. Pearl cotton gives an upscale look suitable for daily wear. One-hundred-percent percent cotton or merino wool socks work best for adding a crochet cuff. Socks made from natural fibers will not stretch out of shape and are less likely to fray than synthetic fibers.

Things You'll Need

• 1 pair natural fiber socks
• Pearl cotton #16 or embroidery floss
• #6 or 1.80 mm crochet hook
• Darning needle

Instructions

1. Use a slipknot to attach the pearl cotton to the crochet hook. Put the hook through a stitch or a space between stitches on the sock cuff. Bring a loop of yarn through the space -- two loops on hook -- and slide the bottom loop over the top one and off the hook. This is a slip stitch. Continue making slip stitches across the entire cuff of the sock. When you get back to where you began, chain one and turn.

2. Make a single crochet in the first slip stitch from the hook. Continue to make one single crochet in each slip stitch around the entire sock cuff. When you get back to where you began, chain one and turn.

3. Single crochet in the first single crochet from the hook. Make two single crochets in the next stitch. Make three single crochets in the next stitch. Make two single crochets in the next stitch. Make one single crochet in the next stitch. Continue this pattern -- one single crochet, two single crochet, three single crochet, two single crochet, one single crochet -- around the entire sock cuff, ending with a single crochet if possible. When you get back to where you started chain one and turn. Repeat the pattern until the decorative cuff is the desired length.

4. Finish off the cuff with a slip stitch into the stitch at the beginning of the row. Use a slip stitch instead of the chain one stitch. Fasten off the yarn and weave the loose ends into the crochet stitches by threading them into a darning needle.

Tips & Warnings

• Use metallic threads or ribbon instead of pearl cotton for an interesting and unique look.

• Test dark-colored pearl cotton for color fastness before using it on light-colored socks. Run the pearl cotton under warm water until it is soaked. Blot dry on a white towel. If you see color on the white towel the cotton is not colorfast and should be prewashed prior to use.