Loopy PandaHow to Crochet the V Stitch
A crochet V stitch is (double crochet, chain 1, double crochet) in one stitch or space. Chain a multiple of 3, work a V in the 4th chain from the hook, then skip 2 chains and work a V in the next one. On later rows, work each V into the chain-1 space of the V below.
What you need
- Smooth yarn in a light colour, for example worsted (4, Medium)
- Crochet hook in the size on the yarn label
- Stitch marker
Row by row
- Know the VOne V stitch, often written
V-st, is(dc, ch 1, dc)in the same stitch or space. The chain 1 in the middle is where the V of the next row goes. - Chain a multiple of 3For this method, the foundation chain is an exact multiple of 3. To practise, chain 15.
- Row 1: first VWork a V in the 4th chain from the hook:
dc, ch 1, dcall in that chain. The 3 chains you skipped form the edge. - Row 1: across*Skip 2 chains, V in the next chain*; repeat from * until 2 chains remain after the last V. Skip 1 chain and work 1 dc in the last chain. With 15 chains you have 4 V stitches and 1 dc at the end.
- Row 2: turn
Ch 2and turn. The chain 2 counts as the first dc of the row. - Row 2: V into each VWork a V into the ch-1 space in the middle of each V of the row below. Do not work into the dc stitches themselves.
- Row 2: finish the edgeAfter the last V, work 1 dc into the top of the turning chain of the row below (on Row 2, that is the top of the 3 chains you skipped at the start of Row 1). You have 4 V stitches again.
- Repeat Row 2Repeat Row 2 until the piece is as long as you want. Each V sits exactly on top of the V below, so the columns stay straight.
Stitch count check
For this method: chain a multiple of 3 and put the first V in the 4th chain from the hook. The number of V stitches is the same on every row.
| Foundation chain | V stitches per row | Edge stitches |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 4 | turning chain + 1 dc |
| 30 | 9 | turning chain + 1 dc |
| 60 | 19 | turning chain + 1 dc |
| 3 × n | n − 1 | turning chain + 1 dc |
Quick check at the end of Row 1: after the last V there must be exactly 2 chains left, one to skip and one for the final dc. If you have more or fewer, the chain was not a multiple of 3.
V stitch in US, UK and Chinese patterns
| Pattern style | What you will see | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| US written | (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st or V-st | The V stitch on this page |
| UK written | (tr, ch 1, tr) in next st | Same stitch; UK tr = US dc |
| Chinese written | V | Not the V stitch: in Chinese shorthand V is an increase, 2 sc in one stitch |
So a Chinese pattern full of V is not a V stitch pattern. See how to read Chinese crochet patterns and US vs UK crochet terms.
V stitch blanket: how many chains?
V stitch is often used for blankets: the rows are double crochet tall and each V covers 3 chains of width. There is no fixed chain number; work it out from a swatch.
- Crochet a swatch of at least 5 V stitches and 10 rows with the yarn and hook you will use.
- Measure how many V stitches fit in 10 cm (4 in).
- Number of V = width you want in cm × V per 10 cm ÷ 10, rounded to a whole number.
- Chain 3 × (number of V + 1). Example of the arithmetic: 3 V per 10 cm and a 90 cm wide blanket gives 27 V, so chain 3 × 28 = 84.
- For blanket sizes, see standard blanket sizes; for yarn, how much yarn you need.
Variations
- No-space V: 2 dc in the same stitch with no chain between them.
- Half double crochet V: use hdc instead of dc for shorter rows.
- Treble crochet V: use tr instead of dc for taller, lacier rows.
- Some patterns use a multiple of 3 plus 1 or plus 2 chains, or add solid dc at the edges. They change the edge, not the V itself; follow the chain rule of your pattern.
Common mistakes
- Working into the dc instead of the space. From Row 2 on, every V goes into the ch-1 space of a V below.
- Forgetting the edge dc. Without the dc into the turning chain, the row loses its last stitch and the edge gets ragged. See why is my crochet getting wider.
- Skipping the wrong number of chains in Row 1. Always skip 2 between Vs. Count the V stitches against the table above.
Chart symbols on this page
Frequently asked questions
How many chains do I need for V stitch?
For the method on this page, a multiple of 3. You get one V fewer than the number of 3-chain groups: 15 chains give 4 V, 30 chains give 9 V. Other patterns add 1 or 2 chains for different edges; use your pattern's rule.
Does the turning chain count as a stitch in V stitch?
Here the chain 2 at the start of a row counts as the first dc, and the last dc of the next row goes into its top. Some patterns use a chain 3; check the notes.
Is V stitch good for a blanket?
Yes. Double crochet rows grow faster than single crochet, and the rows are easy to keep straight because each V sits in the V below. The fabric has small holes, so choose a denser stitch if you need it solid.
What is V in a Chinese crochet pattern?
In Chinese shorthand V means an increase (2 single crochet in one stitch), not the V stitch. The V stitch would be written with 长针 and chains.
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