2026 VVCAL
Published on April 17, 2026

2026 VVCAL: Anglerfish Motif

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Hello, and a huge welcome to this week of the 2026 Vibrant Vintage Crochet-A-Long (VVCAL)! I’m so glad you’re here! I love spending this time with the VVCAL community. We are going to have so much fun relaxingly working through these motifs each week.

Attention!

If you have not yet seen the Week 3 Instruction post, please head there first and see the instructions for the version that you are working. Below, you will find the Motif pattern, in US, and UK Terms, Chart, Video, and Step by step photos.

Social Media Hashtags: #VVCAL and #CypressTextiles

PDF Version

2026 VVCAL PDF COMING SOON! – My Online Shop // Etsy // Ravelry

  • 36 hexies to mix and match
  • 3 Joining methods
  • Wide Lace Border
  • US and UK Terms included

Of course I have also created a value bundle for you COMING SOON! – 2022, 2024, and 2026 VVCALs US and UK Terms (5 PDFs) – Available on Etsy and Ravelry.

Anglerfish Motif

Find the Ravelry Page for this motif here and add your project!

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Sea Creatures: Anglerfish (Scary looking)

Enjoy a small reflection on one of this week’s featured sea creatures.

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Five Fun Facts

The source of light coming from this bulbous appendage, or “esca,” are bioluminescent bacteria. Although these provide bright flashes that entice prey to come near, they can’t illuminate on their own. In order to glow, the bacteria need some sort of cue from the anglerfish-suggesting a symbiotic relationship between the fish and microbes.

Once prey is within chomping distance, the female fish’s flexible bone structure and expandable stomach make it possible to swallow animals twice its size. In a part of the ocean that’s low on fresh food, it’s a good idea to stock up when you can.

In some species of anglerfish, the males are tiny, with simplified body features, and they live as parasites on the females. This is thought to be an adaptation to save energy, allowing the females to feed on whatever food is available. The males seem to have evolved for one purpose only: to find a female and deliver sperm.

Measuring only about a tenth of a females’ size, diminutive male anglerfish don’t have a fierce reputation. They lack a glowing esca, but are more muscular than females, letting them swim long distances to find a mate.

When anglerfish find the right match, they’re not afraid of commitment-with a single, fateful love bite, males permanently attach themselves to larger females. Monogamy isn’t really a factor in this courtship, however. Over the course of an anglerfish’s lifetime, several males can physically fuse with a female, connecting to her skin and bloodstream and losing their own eyes and organs. (Gross.)

Anglerfish Motif Pattern

Reference

Scroll for chart and video instruction.

Stitch Guide (US Terms)

Note: Scroll down for UK Terms.

  • 2dccl 2dc cluster: (yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 2 times, yoh, draw yarn through 3 lps
  • 2trcl 2tr cluster: * yoh twice, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, (yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) twice, rep from * once, yoh, draw yarn through 3 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg 2dccl (beg dc, dc) in st/sp indicated – when joining rnd, ss into full dc st
  • beg 2trcl (beg tr, 1tr) in st/sp – Counts as 1 2trcl
  • beg dc (1sc, ch1) – counts as 1 dc
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • puff st (yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp) 3 times, yoh, draw yarn through all lps
  • sc single crochet
  • sp space (ch-sp = chain space)
  • ss slip stitch
  • st stitch
  • tr treble crochet
  • yoh yarn over hook

Written Instructions & Step-by-step Photos (US Terms)

Rnd 1 MR, [1sc, ch2] 6 times, ss in first sc. [6 sc, 6 sp]

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Rnd 2 [1sc, ch2] 2 times in each of 6 ch-sps, ss in first sc. [12 sc, 12 sp]

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Rnd 3 Ss in ch-sp, [1sc in ch-sp, ch3] 12 times, ss in first sc. [12 sc, 12 sp]

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Rnd 4 Beg 2dccl in first ch-sp, [ch3, 2dccl in same sp, 2dccl in next sp] 12 times omitting final 2dccl on twelfth rep, ss in beg 2dccl. [24 2dccl, 12 sp]

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Rnd 5 Ss in ch-sp, 1sc in same sp, * [ch2, puff st] 4 times in next ch-sp, ch2, 1sc in next ch-sp, rep from * 5 times omitting final sc on fifth rep, ss in first sc. [24 puff st, 6 sc, 30 sp]

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Rnd 6 Beg 2trcl in first sc, * ch3, 2trcl in same st, sk 1 ch-sp, [ch2, 1sc in next ch-sp] 3 times, ch2, 2trcl in next sc, rep from * 5 times omitting final 2trcl on fifth rep, ss in beg 2trcl. [12 2trcl, 18 sc, 30 sp]

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Rnd 7 [5sc in next ch-sp, 2sc in next 2 sps, 1sc in next st, 2sc in next 2 sps] 6 times, ss in first sc, cut yarn. [84 sc]

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Stitch Guide (US Terms)

  • 2trcl 2trc cluster: (yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 2 times, yoh, draw yarn through 3 lps
  • 2dtrcl 2dtr cluster: * yoh twice, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, (yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) twice, rep from * once, yoh, draw yarn through 3 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg 2trcl (beg tr, tr) in st/sp indicated – when joining rnd, ss into full tr st
  • beg 2dtrcl (beg dtr, 1dtr) in st/sp – Counts as 1 2dtrcl
  • beg tr (1dc, ch1) – counts as 1 tr
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • dtr double treble crochet
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • puff st (yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp) 3 times, yoh, draw yarn through all lps
  • sp space (ch-sp = chain space)
  • ss slip stitch
  • st stitch
  • tr treble crochet
  • yoh yarn over hook

Written Instructions & Step-by-step Photos (UK Terms)

Rnd 1 MR, [1dc, ch2] 6 times, ss in first dc. [6 dc, 6 sp]

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Rnd 2 [1dc, ch2] 2 times in each of 6 ch-sps, ss in first dc. [12 dc, 12 sp]

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Rnd 3 Ss in ch-sp, [1dc in ch-sp, ch3] 12 times, ss in first dc. [12 dc, 12 sp]

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Rnd 4 Beg 2trcl in first ch-sp, [ch3, 2trcl in same sp, 2trcl in next sp] 12 times omitting final 2trcl on twelfth rep, ss in beg 2trcl. [24 2trcl, 12 sp]

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Rnd 5 Ss in ch-sp, 1dc in same sp, * [ch2, puff st] 4 times in next ch-sp, ch2, 1dc in next ch-sp, rep from * 5 times omitting final dc on fifth rep, ss in first dc. [24 puff st, 6 dc, 30 sp]

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Rnd 6 Beg 2dtrcl in first dc, * ch3, 2dtrcl in same st, sk 1 ch-sp, [ch2, 1dc in next ch-sp] 3 times, ch2, 2dtrcl in next dc, rep from * 5 times omitting final 2dtrcl on fifth rep, ss in beg 2dtrcl. [12 2dtrcl, 18 dc, 30 sp]

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Rnd 7 [5dc in next ch-sp, 2dc in next 2 sps, 1dc in next st, 2dc in next 2 sps] 6 times, ss in first dc, cut yarn. [84 dc]

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Chart

Note: Chart is meant as a visual guide to the written instruction and might not be able to stand alone due to special stitches.

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Video

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Note: Video is spoken in US Terms.

Subscribe on YouTube for more videos like this one!

Links to Weekly Instruction Posts

Quick Links to Each Week: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20

Pin the Motif!

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Thank you so much for stopping in for this week of the 2026 VVCAL!

You may also enjoy these completed CALs

Happy crafting,

Rachele C.

The Art of Crochet Blankets

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