Mastering Special Stitches: V Stitch and Shell Stitch Techniques

Special Stitches

The following special stitches are essential for enhancing your crochet projects:

V Stitch

The V stitch consists of: (1dc, ch3, 1dc) worked in the same stitch.

Shell Stitch

The shell stitch is created by working 5dc in the ch3 space.

Getting Started

Begin by making 31 chain stitches.

Row Instructions

1st Row (RS)

1dc in 4th ch from hook (skipped 3 chs count as 1st dc), 1dc in each ch until end of row, turn [29 sts];

2nd Row (WS)

Ch2 (counts as a dc here and throughout), 1dc in next 4 sts, *sk 1 st, (1dc, ch3, 1dc) in the next st, sk 1 st, 1dc in next 5 sts*, repeat from * to * across to the end of the row, turn, [3 V stitches, 26 sts];

3rd Row

Ch2, 1dc in next 2 sts, *sk 2 sts, FPdc in next st, 5dc in ch3 sp, FPdc in next st, sk 2 sts, 1dc in next st*, repeat from * to * across the row to last 2 sts, 1dc in last 2 sts, turn, [3 shells, 29 sts];

4th Row

Ch2, 1dc in next 2 sts, sk 1 st, 1dc in next 5 sts, *sk 1 st, (1dc, ch3, 1dc) in next st, sk 1 st, 1dc in next 5 sts*, repeat from * to * across the row to last 4 sts, sk 1 st, 1 dc in last 3 sts, turn, [2 V sts, 25 sts];

5th Row

Ch2, 1dc in next 2sts, sk 2 sts, 1dc in next st, *sk 2 sts, FPdc in next st, 5dc in ch3 sp, FPdc in next st, sk 2 sts, 1dc in next st*, repeat from * to * across the row to last 5 sts, sk 2sts, 1dc in last 3 sts, turn, [2 shells, 23 sts];

6th Row

Ch2, 1dc in next 2 sts, (1dc, ch3, 1dc) in next st, *sk 1 st, 1dc in next 5 sts, sk 1 st, (1dc, ch3, 1dc) in next st*, repeat from * to * across the row to last 3 sts, 1dc in last 3 sts, turn, [3 V sts, 21 sts];

7th Row

Ch2, 1dc in next 2 sts, FPdc in next st, 5dc in ch3 sp, FPdc in next st, *sk 2 sts, 1dc in next st, sk 2 sts, FPdc in next st, 5dc in ch3 sp, FPdc in next st*, repeat from * to * across the row to last 3 sts, 1dc in last 3 sts, turn, [3 shells, 29 sts].

Final Step

Repeat rows 4-7 once more to complete your project.