2026 VVCAL
Published on May 30, 2026

2026 VVCAL: Diatom 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 9 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.

Diatom Motif

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

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

Diatom - Wikipedia

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The Collecting, Cleaning, and Mounting of Diatoms

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Diatoms. They're everywhere! | Microbiology

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So, what exactly is a diatom paleontologist…? – JOIDES Resolution

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Five Fun Facts

Diatoms are microscopic, single-celled algae often called the “jewels of the sea”. They are encased in transparent, glass-like cell walls made of silica and collectively produce between 20 and 30 percent of the oxygen we breathe, making them one of the most vital ecological powerhouses on Earth.

These unicellar algae are one of the largest groups of organisms on Earth. Scientists estimate there could be as many as two million species of diatoms, and new species are discovered every year. They can be solitary or live in colonies in varied shapes like long chains, stars, or zigzags.

The open ocean is the world’s “plankton pasture,” home to the tiny drifting algae that power enormous food webs. Photosynthesizing phytoplankton like diatoms are important members of the ocean’s delicate balance. Plankton feeds small fishes, which in turn feed larger predators like fishes, seabirds, seals, and whales. We’re part of the food web, too, as communities around the globe depend on the fishes nourished by ocean plankton.

Diatoms live in glass houses. Their cell walls are made of silica, the same material in glass. The seasonal abundance of diatoms is one of the reasons there’s such rich marine life in Monterey Bay. Diatomaceous earth is made up of the silica houses that were once home to diatoms. Some deposits are thought to be nearly 13 million years old.

Diatomaceous earth is used in water filtration, insecticides, cat litter, and potting soils. Diatomaceous deposits make up 26 percent of Earth’s crust by weight. The largest diatoms are about the width of a hair.

Diatom 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
  • beg beginning
  • beg 2dccl (beg dc, dc) in st/sp indicated – when joining rnd, ss into full dc st
  • beg dc (1sc, ch1) – counts as 1 dc
  • beg dc4tog beg dc, (yoh insert hook into next st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 3 times, yoh, draw yarn through 4 lps on hook – join in full decrease to finish round
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • dc4tog (yoh insert hook into next st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 4 times, yoh, draw yarn through 5 lps on hook
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • pc popcorn 4dc in st/sp, release lp from hook, insert hook front to back through first dc, grab lp, pull through to front of work to close popcorn
  • 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, beg 2dccl, [ch2, 2dccl] 5 times, ch2, ss in beg 2dccl. [6 2dccl, 6 sp]

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Rnd 2 Beg dc in next ch-sp, [3dc in same sp, 1dc in next sp] 6 times omitting final dc on sixth rep, ss in beg dc. [24 dc]

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Rnd 3 [1sc, 1tr] in each st around, note: tr sts will make tiny treble bobbles at front of work, ss in first sc. [24 tr, 24 sc]

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Rnd 4 1sc in first sc, [ch2, 1sc in next sc] 23 times, ch2, ss in first sc. [24 sc, 24 sp]

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Rnd 5 Beg dc in next ch-sp, * 3dc in same sp, [ch2, 1sc in next sp] 3 times, ch2, 1dc in next sp, rep from * five times omitting final dc on fifth rep, ss in beg dc. [24 dc, 18 sc, 24 sp]

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Rnd 6 Beg dc4tog over first 4 sts, [ch2, 1dc in next ch-sp, ch2, sk 1 sc and 1 ch-sp, pc in next sc, ch2, sk 1 ch-sp and 1 sc, 1dc in next ch-sp, ch2, dc4tog] 6 times omitting final dc4tog on sixth rep, ss in beg dc4tog. [6 dc4tog, 6 pc, 12 dc, 24 sp]

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Rnd 7 * 3dc in dc4tog, [2sc in next ch-sp, 1sc in next st] 3 times, 2sc in next sp, rep from * 5 times, ss in first sc, cut yarn. [84 sc]

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Stitch Guide (UK Terms)

  • 2trcl 2tr 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
  • beg beginning
  • beg 2trcl (beg tr, tr) in st/sp indicated – when joining rnd, ss into full tr st
  • beg tr (1dc, ch1) – counts as 1 tr
  • beg tr4tog beg tr, (yoh insert hook into next st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 3 times, yoh, draw yarn through 4 lps on hook – join in full decrease to finish round
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • dtr double treble crochet
  • tr4tog (yoh insert hook into next st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 4 times, yoh, draw yarn through 5 lps on hook
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • pc popcorn 4tr in st/sp, release lp from hook, insert hook front to back through first tr, grab lp, pull through to front of work to close popcorn
  • 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, beg 2trcl, [ch2, 2trcl] 5 times, ch2, ss in beg 2trcl. [6 2trcl, 6 sp]

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Rnd 2 Beg tr in next ch-sp, [3tr in same sp, 1tr in next sp] 6 times omitting final tr on sixth rep, ss in beg tr. [24 tr]

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Rnd 3 [1dc, 1dtr] in each st around, note: dtr sts will make tiny double treble bobbles at front of work, ss in first dc. [24 dtr, 24 dc]

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Rnd 4 1dc in first dc, [ch2, 1dc in next dc] 23 times, ch2, ss in first dc. [24 dc, 24 sp]

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Rnd 5 Beg tr in next ch-sp, * 3tr in same sp, [ch2, 1dc in next sp] 3 times, ch2, 1tr in next sp, rep from * five times omitting final tr on fifth rep, ss in beg tr. [24 tr, 18 dc, 24 sp]

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Rnd 6 Beg tr4tog over first 4 sts, [ch2, 1tr in next ch-sp, ch2, sk 1 dc and 1 ch-sp, pc in next dc, ch2, sk 1 ch-sp and 1 dc, 1tr in next ch-sp, ch2, tr4tog] 6 times omitting final tr4tog on sixth rep, ss in beg tr4tog. [6 tr4tog, 6 pc, 12 tr, 24 sp]

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Rnd 7 * 3tr in tr4tog, [2dc in next ch-sp, 1dc in next st] 3 times, 2dc in next sp, rep from * 5 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

Coming shortly!

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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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