2026 VVCAL
Published on July 18, 2026

2026 VVCAL: Mantis Shrimp 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 16 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.

Mantis Shrimp 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.

Odontodactylus scyllarus - Wikipedia

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Peacock Mantis Shrimp - Georgia Aquarium

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The Mantis Shrimp Is the Ocean's Coolest Predator | The Inertia

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Fun Facts

Mantis shrimp are actually not shrimp, but ancient crustaceans (stomatopods) that have been around for over 400 million years. Known for their dazzling neon colors and aggressive personalities, they can deliver a punch so powerful it accelerates like a .22 caliber bullet.

There are over 450 species of mantis shrimp, all a variety of different colours. They average a length of 10 cm, with some growing around 30 cm long. There are two main types of hunting for mantis shrimp: spearing and smashing. Smashing mantis shrimp have calcified forelimbs that they use to administer a powerful strike to both predators and prey. Spearing mantis shrimp have sharp forelimbs they use to pierce predators and prey.  

The diet of mantis shrimp differs, depending on their hunting style. The mantis shrimp who spear their prey typically eat softer creatures, such as worms, squid, and fish. Mantis shrimp who club their prey eat harder creatures, such as clams, snails, and smaller crustaceans.  

The mantis shrimp is highly intelligent. They exhibit complex social behaviour, with ritualised fighting and protective activities. With a great capacity to learn and retain knowledge, mantis shrimp can recognise and interact with other shrimp. Their eyes are also thought to be the most complex in the animal kingdom, with great colour and depth perception, as well as polarisation sensitivity, making these creatures’ brains more efficient.

Mantis shrimp are abundant, eaten in several cuisines across the world. Populations are especially dense off the coast of Japan and Vietnam. There are no great threats to the mantis shrimp; however, in Hawaii, mantis shrimp have grown to unnaturally large sizes in the contaminated water of artificial waterways.  

Mantis Shrimp 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 pc beginning popcorn: (beg dc, 3dc) in st/sp, release lp from hook, insert hook front to back through beg dc, grab lp, pull through to front of work to close popcorn
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • 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
  • 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
  • yoh yarn over hook

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

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

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Rnd 2 [puff st in next st, ch2] 6 times, ss in first puff st. [6 puff st, 6 sp]

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Rnd 3 [Puff st in next ch-sp, ch2, puff st in same sp, ch2] 6 times, ss in first puff st. [12 puff st, 12 sp]

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Rnd 4 Beg dc in first ch-sp, [3dc in same sp, ch1, 1dc in next sp] 12 times omitting final dc on sixth rep, ss in beg dc. [48 dc, 12 sp]

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Rnd 5 Ss in next 3 sts, [1sc in next ch-sp, ch3, (2dccl, ch3, 2dccl) in next ch-sp, ch3] 6 times, ss in first sc. [12 2dccl, 6 sc, 18 sp]

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Rnd 6 Beg 2dccl in same st as ss, [ch2, 2dccl in same st, sk 1 sp, ch2, (pc, ch2, pc) in next sp, ch2, 2dccl in next sc] 6 times omitting final 2dccl on sixth rep, ss in beg 2dccl. [12 pc, 12 2dccl, 24 sp]

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Rnd 7 [3sc in next 2 ch-sps, 5sc in next sp, 3sc in next sp] 6 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 pc beginning popcorn: (beg tr, 3tr) in st/sp, release lp from hook, insert hook front to back through beg tr, grab lp, pull through to front of work to close popcorn
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • 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
  • 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, 6dc, ss in first dc. [6 dc]

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Rnd 2 [puff st in next st, ch2] 6 times, ss in first puff st. [6 puff st, 6 sp]

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Rnd 3 [Puff st in next ch-sp, ch2, puff st in same sp, ch2] 6 times, ss in first puff st. [12 puff st, 12 sp]

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Rnd 4 Beg tr in first ch-sp, [3tr in same sp, ch1, 1tr in next sp] 12 times omitting final tr on sixth rep, ss in beg tr. [48 tr, 12 sp]

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Rnd 5 Ss in next 3 sts, [1dc in next ch-sp, ch3, (2trcl, ch3, 2trcl) in next ch-sp, ch3] 6 times, ss in first dc. [12 2trcl, 6 dc, 18 sp]

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Rnd 6 Beg 2trcl in same st as ss, [ch2, 2trcl in same st, sk 1 sp, ch2, (pc, ch2, pc) in next sp, ch2, 2trcl in next dc] 6 times omitting final 2trcl on sixth rep, ss in beg 2trcl. [12 pc, 12 2trcl, 24 sp]

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Rnd 7 [3dc in next 2 ch-sps, 5dc in next sp, 3dc in next sp] 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

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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