V-Stitched Hats and Fingerless Gloves

Most of my posts are inspired by  particular projects (sweater, baby blanket, shawl, etc), nature,  passion for a particular color, holidays, gifts for loved ones, favorite fashions, amigurumi and dolls, or attractive designs.  However, this time  I was drawn to exploring the creative pieces that I could develop with a particular stitch, namely-the V-stitch. The V-stitch is a simple pattern stitch that creates a fabric of interlocking V stitches.  While is is great for creating a lacy afghan, scarf or shawl, the crocheter can produce many interesting hats and fingerless gloves as well.
The V-Stitch is usually worked with a DC-CH1-DC.  However some of the patterns may be worked with 2 DC's in one stitch without crocheting a chain between them.  Projects using with the V-stitch may worked in solid colors, varigated yarns, or alternating rows of different colors. There are many sources for directions to produce the v stitch.  I found "V Double Crochet Stitch Tutorial" from Dream a Little Bigger to be clear and helpful.

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The V-stitch is ideal for chrocheting an open-weave beanie for a newborn baby or young infant.  I just mailed off my first batch of 25 hats to Yale New Haven Childlife Program.   Many of the hats in my package followed the "V-Stitch Newborn Beanie" by Olga Poltava that can be located as a free pattern download through Ravelry. The beanie is crocheted from the crown down. As you proceed to develop the beanie, crochet the V-Stitch into the Ch1 space or in the space between stitches.  Crochet a circle for a 3.5 inch crown. Then stop increasing and crochet the rest of the beanie.  A beanie for a newborn will measure 13 inches in circumference and 5 inches in height.  Sometimes I like to add a contrast row of single crochet around the bottom.  You can also add a crocheted bow, flower, or heart. For specific directions. please consult the pattern.

The BubbleGum Beanie Crochet Pattern from Daisy Cottage Designs really showcases the V-Stitch design.  By using different colors the V-Stitch shines.The pattern comes in 3 sizes including baby, child,and teen/adult. This hat is started with a crochected band that fits the circumference of the head.  After you sew the short ends together, pickup and crochet a row of single crochet in the same color as the band. There are many color design possibilities.  For my hat in a child size pattern, I chose to alternate dark brown rows with single rows of flecked worsted. I chose a wheat colored store bought pom-pom for my decoration.  The designer displayed one hat with alternating rwo of white and gold and a lower band of sherbert pink.  A white faux pompom graced the top of the beanie. Another attractive beanie showed four different colored striped alternating with white.  The band was the same color as one of the stripe colors. Again, the designer topped off the beanie with a faux-fur pompom.  See:  https://daisycottagedesigns.net/slouchy-beanie-crochet-pattern.

The V-Stitch Winter Beanie can be cozy as well as sophisticated.  My color choices were limited by the fact that I wanted to make a hat to match a pair of fingerless gloves that I will present later in this article.  I fell in love with  the design that was featured in light frosty blue with a band of white at the bottom of the hat.  A white flower with a jewellike button was the perfect accent.  Another color scheme used by the designer featured a black cap with a grey lower band.The flower was grey like the band. My hat was made with a heathery light sage worsted with a black lower band.  I did not have enough black for the flower, and so I made mine from the sage.  A pearl button with a silver filegree border brought out the colors in the hat. I really like the way the light heathery sage brought out the V-stotch pattern.  The hat is started from the crown and crocheted down   For specific directions, search http://overtheappletree.blogspot.com/2015/11/v-stitch-winter-beanie.html

Fingerless gloves have always been a favorite fashion accessory for me.  The V-stitch is perfect for making a comforfortable as well as an attractive glove. These gloves are crocheted in a flat panel that is sewed together at the end.  The pattern calls for a multiple of 2 plus 3 more stitches for the first double crochet.  Although the pattern calls for an initial chain of 25, I found 27 or 29 to be more comfortable for my larger hand.  The V-stitches are made so that stitches for each succeeding row falls in the center of the preceding row.  When the glove is long enough.  Fold in half and crochet from the top down about one inch to sew together the top part of the glove.  Continue crocheting on one side to make the thumb hole before joining both sides again.  Then single crochet 2 rows around the top and bottom of the glove for a neater appearance. Make two gloves.  Make sure that the thumb hole of each glove is facing the thumb hole of the other glove.  This especially  important if you sew a button accent to the top of each glove.  To locate the pattern, search on Ravelry for V-Stitch Fingerless Gloves by Tea Time Crochet.  This is a free pattern download.

The second pattern, Valerie's Fingerless Gloves by the Lavender Chair, begins with a crocheted band of half double crocheted stitches.  Once the band is complete, sew the short ends together. Stitch into the circular band to made a row of single crochet stitches. Several rows of V-Stitches make up the hand.  A horizontal thumb hole is constructed by skipping 8 stitches in the row before completing the row with V stitches.  Another V stitch row and 2 rows of single crochet complete the glove.  For specific directions, see http://thelavenderchair.com/valeries-fingerless-gloves-crochet-pattern.  The glove shown in the picture below was crocheted from a worsted weight yarn , Deborah Norville, Everyday by Premier Yarns.  This is a lighter weight worsted, and so the glove appears to be more lacy and delicate

I remade the glove with a heavier worsted, Red heart Super Saver, to get a sturdier and slightly larger glove.  I also made a change to the thumb hole.  Instead of a horizontal opening, I made a vertical slit after the fifth row of V-stitches by reversing my crochet to go in the opposite direction to make a thumb hole with three rows.  Then I joined the row and made two more rows of V-Stitch.  I completed the glove with two rows of single crochet.  I leave it to you my readers as to which glove you like best.

The final glove is my own design. I created the glove as I went along, and so the directions in this article will be general guidelines.  As soon as I perfect the the pattern, I will post it in my blog and on Ravelry.  For this design, I began with the cuff by chaining 28 and joining with a slip stich.  Then I croched 6 rows with half double crochet stitches.  The first line of the hand contained 13 V-stitches separated by one skip stitch.  After 4 rows I reversed stitching to begin the thumb hole and worked with an open panel without joining for 3 rows.  Then I joined to create the upper cuff with 5 rows of half double crochet.  I decreased one stitch at the joining spot so that the glove curved in slightly at the fingers for a more exact fit.  I am still playing with this pattern and may add another v stitch row before the upper cuff in the finished pattern.This pattern is ideal for adding additional colors in alternate rows.

The V-Stitch is an ideal stitch for crocheters to create accessories, it is playful, easy to execute, and shows up contrasting colors.  It is great for a beginner who wants to vary his/ her crocheted designs. I still have a multicolored col and multicolored fingerless gloves in the works. In a previous article, I adapted a V-Stitched Baby Afghan Pattern  by Maria
from Dinki Dots.  For more information refer back to :  http://www.lilcreates.com/lillians-blog/v-stitched-crocheted-baby-blanket  What are your experiences with the V-stitch.  Please share your work and suggestions.