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Unpacking the "V-Stitch" 
If you're reading this, Issue #15 finally reached you despite yesterday's tornado weather AND construction going on in my house! That's my storm-whipped rose.
 
"V-Stitch" is a popular crochet stitch pattern and has a lot going for it. The classic V-Stitch combines the speed of double crochet stitches (UK: trebles), the simplicity of filet crochet (the V-stitches stack up in grid-like columns), and the charm of a shell pattern. What's not to like? 
 
I've been slow to design with this crowd pleaser because the V-stitch is so well-used that I wasn't seeing it with a fresh point of view. Also, it doesn't yell, "Breezy lacy drape!" 
 
V-stitch is a stable, durable choice for home decor projects and practical accessories, but for swing 'n sway fashion, I need the linking between stitches to have airy and flexible "hinges." Working V-sts into V-sts causes the "feet" of each 2-dc pair to clump up.
 
How the V-Stitch Became Fresh and New to Me

1. I became a "Lifter" instead of a "Rider" while making my dc stitches. The clumpy feet of the V-stitches lightened up and stopped interfering with drape! Luckily I blogged about this factor the other day, which saves space here. http://bit.ly/fpmNSX
 

2. I used an odd yarn. The sumptuous Misti Alpaca Baby Me Boo is variegated in color AND thickness! See pink photo in upper right corner. (Between you and me, I didn't know what I was going to do with this yarn until I swatched it up in the V-stitch.)
 
3. I flipped it upside down. (compare the top two photos, upper right.)

But then the V-Stitch asked me to let it fan out steadily with increases, just like shell patterns are always pestering me to do. That diagonal armhole edge of the Work@Home Vest, which is integral to the whole look, comes from allowing the V-Stitch to grow the way it wants to. (see 3rd and 4th photos at right)
 
So Let's Just Start Increasing!
Now for the Dark Side of the V-Stitch. Or, maybe I have a mental block (I've noticed that what's natural to one designer is not to another). Thanks to how the V-Stitches stack up in columns, working even (no increasing) is so easy, one could argue that beginning crocheters should start on this stitch pattern first!


If you just add a new V-Stitch to the beginning and end of a row, you've added four dc all at once, and it looks stair-stepped. In my attempt to increase evenly and symmetrically, I discovered so many choices that I had to map some (see diagramming, above).

Cotton yarn revealed larger-than-necessary holes in some of the increasing methods. This last photo shows two armhole edges of my vest. Can you see the holes along the edge of the right that are bigger, with a random look, compared to the one on the left?

I found my increase method. Since the armhole edge is a prominent feature of the Work@Home Vest, the pattern is rewritten with the more polished-looking increase method on the left. They're both equally easy to do. I might as well pick the one that looks nicer. 
 

That ol' Work@Home Vest: It'll be released next. I'm to happy to say that the pattern's now being tested in three sizes: Small, Medium, Large. Size 1X and larger would require a re-design, as would an XSmall. For over a year I've been chipping away at the part V-stitches play in the design of this vest, and how they coordinate with the raglan-constructed neckline. I love the Peaches 'n Creme cotton version as much as the fancy alpaca-bamboo and the wool versions.
 
That's it for Issue #15! If you know someone who would enjoy this kind of newsletter, please forward this to them so that they can subscribe. (Click here to subscribe: http://eepurl.com/XwQk ) If you have any comments or suggestions, please email me. Thanks!      --Vashti
Two Looks, One Pattern

Cotton Yarn, right side up


Alpaca-Bamboo, upside down

How to do the most basic V-Stitch pattern (common variations add a chain to each V, or use half-doubles instead of double crochets) Abbreviations: dc = double crochet (UK: tr), ch = chain, st = stitch
 
Chain an even number.
Row 1: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in 4th ch from hook, *skip next ch, 2 dc in next, repeat from * across. Each pair of dc is a "V-stitch." Ch 3, turn.
Row 2: Dc in space between first 2 dc (i.e., V-st in first V-st), V-st in each V-st to end. Repeat Row 2 for pattern.
 

Links I Enjoyed This Week
My local crochet guild friend, Erwin, sent me this link: someone interviewed his grandmother about the beautiful popcorn pinwheel beadspread she crocheted. It's a ten-minute Youtube video: http://bit.ly/h6UCPO


DesigningVashti News
The Eva Shrug pattern is now available in size Small-to-Medium at my site and in Ravelry. Size Large-to-XLarge will be available as soon as my pattern tester finishes her test (thank you B!).
http://bit.ly/gJHPuQ (website)
http://bit.ly/hts8Sx (Ravelry)

While I was at it, I turned Step One of the Eva Shrug into a free ribbed scarf pattern. I guess this isn't big news for newsletter subscribers since it was the subject of issue #9; but you're welcome to download a spiffed-up PDF of it here.
http://bit.ly/hh1dkK (Ravelry)

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