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crochet v stitch blanket, rainbow blanket

Very V blanket tutorial

Published on August 30, 2016January 10, 2023 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin15 Comments

Thank you for your lovely comments about my latest blanket off the hook…the ‘Very V’ blanket.

It really is very simple to hook, so I thought I would put together a little tutorial, as I have not done one for a while and because I have some rare time off on my own. The tutorial can be found below. You can also check out my latest free pattern The Angelece baby blanket by clicking on this link.

So, clearly this is not an original pattern. I say that from the offset because of copyright and all of that. Let’s be honest…the humble ‘v stitch’ has been around for years. But this is my tutorial in case you want to have a crack for yourself and you have never done a ‘v stitch’ and you are a visual kinda gal or guy.

Here we go!

Final measurements: 132cms x 120cms / 52″ x47″

I used Stylecraft special dk , for it’s durability, softness and price! The colorway I used:

Lipstick x 1 ball

Meadow x1 ball

Saffron x 1 ball

Violet x 1 ball

Spice x 1 ball

Lobelia x 1 ball

Storm blue x 1 ball

Cream x 3 balls

You will also need a 4mm hook and a darning needle to weave in those ends!

Of course if you are using different yarn then you may need to use the recommended hook size for your chosen yarn; and of course you can alter the finished size by hooking more or less chains to start.

Your hooking tension (we are all different) may also mean you need more or less chains to start with.

Lets start, are you ready?

Abbreviations used are below and are English terminology.

Ch = chain stitch

Chs = chains

Tr = treble stitch (double crochet in US terminology!)

St = stitch

Slst = slip stitch

Sp = space

Pattern order I used:

Row 1: Cream

Row 2: Lobelia

Row 3: Violet

Row 4: Cream

Row 5: Storm blue

Row 6: Meadow

Row 7: Cream

Row 8: Saffron

Row 9: Spice

Row 10: Cream

Row 11: Lipstick

Row 12: Indigo

Row 13: Cream

Row 14: Violet

Row 15: Storm blue

Row 16: Cream

Row 17: Meadow

Row 18: Saffron

Row 19: Cream

Row 20: Spice

Row 21: Lipstick

Row 22: Cream

NB/ the first and last row form the edging for the top and bottom of the blanket so use the colour you wish to edge the blanket in, for row 1.

Chain 175 in cream

(This gave me about a 1m 15cm /42″ length of Ch. But any odd number of Chs will work to suit the size blanket you are wishing to hook!).

2tr in 5th ch from hook,

miss a ch, 2tr in next ch

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miss a ch, 2tr in next ch

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miss a ch, 2tr in next ch

Repeat * – * across the row.

Finishing with 1tr in last ch. Change colour. As shown below, I change colour by completing half of the process for the last tr (ie/ leave two loops on the hook). Complete last part of tr in new colour as shown.

I find this makes colour changes more secure. These ends should be tied to secure further. Top tip! leave the ends long (approx. 10cms) so that weaving in is easier.

Turn. Ch3 (counts as 1tr)

2tr in the middle of set of tr’s of previous row

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Continue along the row.

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finishing with 1tr in top of 3rd ch on previous row.

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Change colour. Turn.

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And that’s it!

Top Tip!! Weave in the ends every few rows.

Repeat rows 1-22 x5 times.

Then repeat rows 1 – 13 to finish body of blanket. And if you did not adhere to the top tip above…now is the time to weave in those ends!

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I’ve gone all minimalistic for the edging because the blanket itself is simply stunning in this colourway and I did not feel like it needed something fussy to detract from its beauty.

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This is what I did.

The first and last row (in cream if you have been following this colourway) form the edging for the top and bottom of this blanket. In cream / your chosen edging colour join in the space at the bottom right of your blanket as shown.

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Ch 3 and slst into the top st of the first tr/ch3 of 1st row.

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Ch1, 2tr in same sp

2tr in next sp (the sp is the gap between the side of the first sts of each row), 2tr in next sp.

Continue along the edge until you come to the top corner. 2tr in last sp, ch 1, 1tr in same sp.

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Then slst into the top st of the first tr/ch3 of last row as shown. Fasten off. Repeat for the other side of the blanket.

Finally, in Lobelia (or your chosen colour) join in any st of edge with a slst.

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Slst in each st around edge of blanket. Fasten off and weave in loose ends. And that is it, you should now have one of these to snuggle under…or reluctantly gift.

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Well done if you got this far.

I really hope you have found this tutorial easy to follow. I welcome feedback, so let me know how you got on and if you want to share your picture of your finished make you can in the comment section below.

I would love to see what you have made.

xxxxx

‘Very V’…a very happy blanket.

Published on August 28, 2016 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin10 Comments

This is my latest finish.

I’ve called it the ‘Very V’ blanket, as it uses the very beautiful and very simple ‘v’ stitch throughout.

The yarn is stylecraft special dk and the colourway…

It reminds me very much of the Happy Ripple blanket I hooked a few years ago.

This blanket was a thank you gift for someone that has helped me enormously this year and each stitch, like the Happy Ripple before was hooked with love and prayer.

It makes my heart sing when I am able to gift something like this and know that it is appreciated.

I received a card in the post just this week from the owner of the Happy Ripple telling me of the enormous comfort the blanket has brought to both her and her family in the midst of heartbreak recently…

and that…

well that just blows me away.

xxxxx

Graffiti Robin…

Published on August 7, 2016August 7, 2016 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin4 Comments

There is still time to enter the yarny give-a-way here

I stumbled upon an arty robin last weekend, well I say stumbled… it was more like rode. I dusted off Bella and wheeled her out into the day light, hoiked her onto the bike rack and off we all went.

It had been way too long since the last time we had an afternoon out in the countryside together, and as we cycled our cares flew from us and we felt light. We stopped at points to play in the stream

race each other,

or just to admire the scenery and breathe out.

And then we stumbled upon this…

(You may have to lean back and squint a little)….Not everyone’s cup of tea, but talented and arty non the less, and it made us smile!

We rode on some more, and returned home fulfilled and tired. The perfect excuse to put up my feet and get out my hook.

I didn’t move until I had finished the main body of this Very V blanket, but I had been undisciplined throughout and had not woven in the ends as I had been hooking!!! Oh my, that is what I have been doing this week…Its a good job I don’t mind weaving in those ends isn’t it!

Now to border it before next Friday…

xxxxx

A Yarny Giveaway…

Published on July 31, 2016 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin29 Comments

Yes, that’s right I’m having a little yarny giveaway here at the Nest. The purpose for such frivolity I hear you ask?

Well, it is a belated celebration of my 2 year blogging anniversary; which was actually back in June. Whilst I was aware this occasion had come and gone, life was a little too hectic to mark the occasion. So, I parked the celebration temporarily and am now ready with a little yarny give-a-way.

This year has been frantic and I want to thank all of my regular readers for being patient with me along this journey and for all of your cheering on! It has really helped me and if you’re relatively new around here consider it a welcome.

So before I get to the give-a-way, I thought I would just highlight some of my favourite posts from the last 12 months.

100 patch granny

The 100 patch granny blanket…

blog post here

joining tutorial here

A hooky bake off

The world’s smallest library

A yarny little leaf pattern

Robins nest square pattern

I love a little look back, don’t you?

So Give-a-way time…cue the party poppers!!! It’s easy to enter and is open to all. The prize to covet is this…

A gorgeous hank of beautifully soft baby alpaca wool in Lichen by Louisa Harding; which has an added touch of sparkle with a fine gold metallic thread.

glorious alpaca yarn

This yarn is gorgeous, I hooked with it a while ago…remember?

lightweight glamour... — lightweight glamour…

So the entry rules are simple.

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is leave a comment below. If you are reading this on facebook then like the page and leave a comment also. Simples! Closing date for entries is 22nd August 2016.

xxxxx

South African yarniness…

Published on May 30, 2016May 30, 2016 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin6 Comments

I am soooo super excited to share this post with you. I love reading other blogs some crochet related, some not. Exploring new blogs within the community is never dull, but I also have my firm favourites which are always a good read and I look forward to their posts and what they have to say.

One of those firm favourites is written by Joey over at littleblackdogsa who recently celebrated her 4th fantastic year of blogging with a give-a-way. Here comes the exciting bit…

I WON! Yes….. I won!

I received an email a few weeks ago from Joey letting me know I had won, right in the middle of a ‘research and specialist inquiry’ lecture. Which incidentally was soooo tediously uninteresting, that when I read the email congratulating me on my win, I was so surprised that a rather loud gasp escaped into the classroom….ooops! Needless to say I did not listen to the rest of the lecture, but instead ruminated what I may hook with the yarn I had won.

I have waited very patiently since, and then just yesterday I came home to a wonderful parcel which had made it’s way from South Africa…Isn’t this yarn simply stunning.

simply gorgeous

it is super soft

I can’t wait to hook with this yarn and create a beautiful something or other….I’m still undecided as to what to hook, but I will be blogging about whatever it is for sure.

So if you have a spare couple of moments and want a really good read, pop over to South Africa and visit Joey.

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH JOEY!

xxxxx

Crowning glory

Published on May 15, 2016 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin4 Comments

It seems that I am busier than ever before which makes any spare time very precious. So as the sun has chosen to shine for a brief couple of days (Seriously…this could be the sum total of the British summer time!!!) I have chosen to spend my time outdoors and make the most of it.

WP_20160505_17_10_01_Pro — Dining al fresco in the garden

The warmth of the sunshine has caused an explosion of foliage and weeds! So I cleared a patch of rogue nettles in the growing garden and rediscovered a little hosta…

WP_20160508_17_47_48_Pro — Can you see it at the back…it is tiny!

Mr. R dug up the blackberry and raspberry bushes which quite frankly were looking very ugly. I have pondered their removal for some time, but sometimes you just have to cut your losses. Their fruit bearing has been lousy and that’s a polite way of putting it!

WP_20160508_17_48_04_Pro — So we have a blank canvas of a flower bed which is going to include Jasmine

Talking of losses, we lost our last chicken this week…sad news! We have decided not to replace them, so the chicken run has been dismantled and we are deciding what to do with this space.

I also made a return to bluebell wood, and was met with this utter spectacle…

And I just had to stop the car to photograph the present crowning glory of the British countryside…

Fields of just WOW!!

All this colour led me to the garden centre

in pursuit of summer annuals for my kitchen window box

a sweet pea tipee

and a little bit of something yummy…

lettuce and spring onions

so not much crochet time, but I did get half an hour in this morning

Have a great week.

xxxxx

Linen cherry baby bar blanket

Published on April 30, 2016April 30, 2016 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin8 Comments

I have had such a lovely slow Saturday; a stark contrast from recent weekends which have been so hectic with essays and research.

I’ve played with colour ways finally deciding upon this colour way I’ve called ‘cherry stripe’. The yarn being Drops Paris 100% cotton in:

green

rusty red

light old pink

dark beige

off white and

moss green

Then I hit you tube to learn a new stitch and opted for ‘linen stitch’. It is actually a very simple double crochet (single crochet), chain stitch combo. I like it because it hooks quickly, is economical with yardage, gives a lovely solid reversible fabric and is just perfect for my new baby blanket design…’Linen cherry baby bar blanket’.

So, that’s a sneeky peek, I’m off to hook some more.

xxxxx

Saturday…

Published on April 2, 2016April 2, 2016 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin4 Comments

The Robins nest squares are blocking…

The artfully simple angled scarf is finished.

And the neighbour just dropped these round…

perfect.

xxxxx

waiting…walking and a wooly dilemma…

Published on April 1, 2016April 1, 2016 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin8 Comments

As I have been waiting extremely patiently for the postman to bring me a yarn shaped parcel; walking has featured as a daily pass time since the weather has been so cheery.

We have stomped over fields in the sunshine,

rambled down pathways

and climbed over gates.

We have wandered through woodlands and I have admired the dappled sunshine dancing on the ground. In the evenings I have been hooking this…

a light weight artfully simple angled scarf (designed by the very talented Tamara over at Moogly) in a 4 ply Sirdar country style yarn. The colour is 0392….meh! I do so dislike it when a colour just has a number and not a name. It is a beautiful old pastel pink, which now I have started, I cant put down.

Still waiting…we have visited orchards

and walled gardens

and stumbled across these little guys (very cute indeed).

Finally, a yarn shaped parcel arrived and a dilemma.

Well, I just couldn’t resist this gorgeous wool alpaca blend in (0519) or charcoal grey.

Nor this beautiful compilation of cotton. So, now I have the Robins nest squares to finish, my artfully simple angled scarf and new yarn screaming “hook me, hook me!” What a fabulously fantastic woolly dilemma to be in. xxxxx

Robin’s nest square

Published on March 2, 2016March 23, 2016 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin7 Comments

How can x2 part completed quilts just get mislaid???? That is the question I am pondering this week. Several years ago I started on two lovely quilts and I cant find them anywhere. However I did find this…

A square I hooked several years ago… along with my scribbled notes on the pattern. So I hooked up a new one and thought I’d share.

As always I’m using English crochet terminology.

Ch – chain

Slst – slip stitch

dc – double crochet

tr – treble crochet

ch3 – counts as a treble unless otherwise stated.

I’m using drops muskat cotton

and I’m using the colours listed below

red

old pink

white

vanilla yellow

dark orange

sky blue

apple green

and a 4mm crochet hook. This lovely yarny square measures 7″ x 7″ or 18cm x 18cm once blocked. To download a pdf version click here, otherwise full instructions are below.

So here goes…

ch2, join with ss to form a tiny ring

Row 1: ch3,

11tr into ring,

join blue yarn and slst into 3rd ch

(12tr in total).

Row 2: ch3,

1tr in same space, ch1

2tr in next st, ch1

2tr in next st, ch1, repeat * * x10 times,

slst into 3rd ch

(12 clusters of 2tr).

Row 3: join white yarn in any ch space, ch3,

2tr in same sp, ch1

3tr in next ch space, ch1

repeat * * x10 times

join with slst in ch3

(12 clusters of 3tr).

Row 4: join green yarn in any space and ch3,

3tr in same sp, ch1

4tr in next space, ch1,

repeat * * x10 times, join with slst in ch3

(12 clusters of 4tr)

Row 5: join yellow yarn in any space and ch3,

4tr in same sp, ch1

5tr in next space, ch1,

repeat * * x10 times, join with slst in ch3

(12 clusters of 5tr)

Row 6: join pink yarn to any space and ch3,

5tr in same sp, ch1,

6tr in next sp, ch1,

repeat * * x10 times, join with ss in ch3

(12 clusters of 6tr)

Row 7: join red yarn in any space, ch3,

5tr in same space,

ch3,

6tr in same space (corner made),

*6tr in next space, 6tr in next space,

6tr in next space, ch3,

6tr in same space (2nd corner made),*

repeat * x2 times*

6tr in next space, 6tr in next space, join with slst in beginning ch3. Do not fasten off.

Row 8: ch3,

1tr in next 5sts,

*6tr in ch3 sp,

ch2

6tr in same space (corner made),

1tr in next 5sts,

dc in next space (indicated by needle)

1tr in next 5sts,

dc in next space, 1tr in next 5sts,

dc in next space, 1tr in next 5sts*,

repeat * * x2times

6tr in ch3 space, ch2, 6tr in same space (corner made)

1tr in next 5sts, dc in next space,

1tr in next 5 sts, dc in next space,

1tr in next 5 sts,

slst to beginning 3rd ch to finish.

Weave in ends.

Pin out to block… this is really worth the extra effort. I just pinned this square to a clean towel,

then spritz with water and leave to dry.

blocking really makes the the world of difference…

A very versatile yarny square.

Happy hooking

xxxxx

‘Robins nest square’ designed by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin.wordpress.com…….March 2016