2026 VVCAL
Published on June 19, 2026

2026 VVCAL: Squarespot Motif

written by

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 12 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.

Squarespot Motif

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

–

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

Squarespot Anthias - Georgia Aquarium

–

Squarespot Anthias (Pseudanthias pleurotaenia) · iNaturalist

–

–

Fun Facts

By day, these brilliantly colored fish gather in small groups just above the edges of steep reef slopes. Here, strong currents provide a steady supply of the tiny, drifting animal plankton on which they feed. By night, or when larger predators threaten, squarespots seek shelter among the nooks and crannies of the reef.

Only males sport the bright, square spots on their sides that give this fish its common name. Squarespots are most common at depths of around 100 feet (30 m) or more. There in the dim light their spots seem to glow, warning rival males and catching the eye of females.

In some places unscrupulous collectors use cyanide, bleach and other chemicals to catch reef fishes for the pet trade. These poisons can kill fishes, corals and other reef life. Fishermen in the South Pacific and Southeast Asia often dynamite reefs to kill fishes for food. The blast stuns the fishes, which then float to the surface where they can be easily scooped up. But the explosions destroy the reefs and kill many more animals than just those taken for food.

In addition to the bright spots on their sides, males perform acrobatic swimming displays to mark their territories and attract mates. All squarespots start life as females. As they grow, some change into males.

Squarespot Motif Pattern

Reference

Scroll for chart and video instruction.

Stitch Guide (US Terms)

Note: Scroll down for UK Terms.

  • 3trpc 3 treble popcorn: 3tr in st/sp indicated, remove lp from hook, insert hook front to back through first tr, grab lp, pull to front of work to close 3trpc
  • beg beginning
  • beg 3trpc beginning 3 treble popcorn: (beg tr, 2tr) in st/sp, remove lp from hook, insert hook front to back through beg tr, grab lp, pull lp to front of work to close beg 3trpc
  • 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
  • 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, 9sc, ss in first sc. [9 sc]

–

Rnd 2 Beg 3trpc, [ch2, 1tr in same st, ch2, 3trpc in next st] 8 times, ch2, 1tr in same st, ch2, ss in beg 3trpc. [9 3trpc, 9 tr, 18 sp]

–

Rnd 3 [1sc in next ch-sp, ch3] 18 times, ss in first sc. [18 sc, 18 sp]

–

Rnd 4 Ss in ch-sp, 1sc in same sp, * ch3, (2dc, ch1, 2dc) in next sp, [ch3, 1sc in next sp] 2 times, rep from * 5 times omitting final sc on fifth rep, ss in first sc. [24 dc, 12 sc, 24 sp]

–

Rnd 5 Ss in ch-sp, beg dc in same sp, [1dc in same sp, (2dc, ch1, 2dc) in ch-1 sp, ch2 in next sp, 3dc in next sp, 1dc in next sp] 6 times omitting final dc on sixth rep, ss in beg dc. [66 dc, 6 sp]

–

Rnd 6 [3sc, 3sc in ch-1 sp, 8sc] 6 times, ss in first sc, cut yarn. [84 sc]

–

–

Stitch Guide (UK Terms)

  • 3dtrpc 3 double treble popcorn: 3dtr in st/sp indicated, remove lp from hook, insert hook front to back through first dtr, grab lp, pull to front of work to close 3dtrpc
  • beg beginning
  • beg 3dtrpc beginning 3 double treble popcorn: (beg dtr, 2dtr) in st/sp, remove lp from hook, insert hook front to back through beg dtr, grab lp, pull lp to front of work to close beg 3dtrpc
  • 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
  • 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, 9dc, ss in first dc. [9 dc]

–

Rnd 2 Beg 3dtrpc, [ch2, 1dtr in same st, ch2, 3dtrpc in next st] 8 times, ch2, 1dtr in same st, ch2, ss in beg 3dtrpc. [9 3dtrpc, 9 dtr, 18 sp]

–

Rnd 3 [1dc in next ch-sp, ch3] 18 times, ss in first dc. [18 dc, 18 sp]

–

Rnd 4 Ss in ch-sp, 1dc in same sp, * ch3, (2tr, ch1, 2tr) in next sp, [ch3, 1dc in next sp] 2 times, rep from * 5 times omitting final dc on fifth rep, ss in first dc. [24 tr, 12 dc, 24 sp]

–

Rnd 5 Ss in ch-sp, beg tr in same sp, [1tr in same sp, (2tr, ch1, 2tr) in ch-1 sp, ch2 in next sp, 3tr in next sp, 1tr in next sp] 6 times omitting final tr on sixth rep, ss in beg tr. [66 tr, 6 sp]

–

Rnd 6 [3dc, 3dc in ch-1 sp, 8dc] 6 times, ss in first dc, cut yarn. [84 dc]

–

–

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.

–

Video

Coming shortly!

–

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!

–

–

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

Support My Work

You’re supporting by just being here! You can read my blog (Start Here!), like and comment on socials, and message me for a chat. All of this supports my work free of charge!

  • Affiliate links – Shopping through my links supports me at no additional cost to you as I get a small commission through my affiliates. Jimmy Beans Wool // WoolWarehouse // Amazon.com
  • Buy my pattern book – I wrote a super neat crochet blanket pattern book, published under Penguin Random House. You can buy it here!
  • Browse my self-published patterns – I have over a hundred patterns on Etsy and Ravelry
  • Creative Art Blanket Course – Check it out on Podia

Where to Find Me

Most Popular Free Crochet Patterns