Special Stitches in Crochet

Special Stitches
V-Stitch: [dc, ch 2, dc] in the same stitch or space indicated.
Row Instructions
1st Row
Sk 1 ch, sc in each of the next 2 ch, *ch 3, sk 3 ch, v-stitch in the next ch, ch 3, sk 3 ch, sc in each of the next 3 ch, rep from * to last 9 ch, ch 3, sk 3 ch, v-stitch in the next ch, ch 3, sk 3 ch, sc in each of the last 2 ch, turn;
2nd Row
Ch 1, sc in the first sc, ch 4, *5 dc in the ch-2 sp of v-stitch, ch 4, sc in the center sc of 3-sc group, ch 4, rep from * to last v-stitch, 5 dc in ch-2 sp of last v-stitch, ch 4, sc in the last sc, turn;
3rd Row
Ch 7, *sc in each dc of 5-dc group, ch 7, rep from * to last 5-dc group, sc in each dc of 5-dc group, ch 3, dtr in last sc, turn;
4th Row
Ch 3, dc in the same dtr, ch 3, *sk sc, sc in each of the next 3 sc, ch 3, v-stitch in the fourth ch of ch-7 sp, ch 3, rep from * to last 5-sc group, sk sc, sc in each of the next 3 sc, ch 3, 2 dc in sp of beg ch-7, turn;
5th Row
Ch 3, 2 dc in the first dc, *ch 4, sc in the center of 3-sc group, ch 4, 5 dc in ch-2 sp of v-stitch, rep from * to last 3-sc group, ch 4, sc in center of 3-sc group, ch 4, 3 dc in the top of beg ch-3, turn;
6th Row
Ch 1, sc in the first dc, sc in each of the next 2 dc, *ch 7, sc in each of the next 5 dc, rep from * across, ch 7, sc in each of the next 2 dc, sc in the top of beg ch-3, turn;
7th Row
Ch 1, sc in the first sc, sc in the next sc, *ch 3, v-stitch in the fourth ch of ch-7 sp, ch 3, sk sc, sc in each of the next 3 sc, rep from * to last ch-7 sp, ch 3, v-stitch in the fourth ch of last ch-7 sp, ch 3, sk sc, sc in each of the last 2 sc, turn;
8th Row
Ch 1, sc in the first sc, *ch 4, 5 dc in ch-2 sp of v-stitch, ch 4, sc in the center of 3-sc group, rep from * to last v-stitch, ch 4, 5 dc in ch-2 sp of last v-stitch, ch 4, sc in the last sc.
Repeat 3rd-8th rows.
How many chains does this pattern call for and what size hook? Thank you for your reply in advance.