Materials:
5.00mm (U.S H/8) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge.
I used Rico Essentials Soft Merino Aran.
A note about this yarn Though it is classified as an aran yarn, it is much closer to a DK/ LIGHTWEIGHT 3. If you are not using the suggested yarn, I would use DK/LIGHTWEIGHT 3 with a 5mm hook OR use Aran/Worsted weight yarn with a 4mm hook when you gauge swatch.
stitch markers
3-7 buttons (2cm/0.8in)
Gauge:
16 stitches/14rows= 10cmX10cm (4X4 inch) in hdc
13 stitches/14 rows= 10cmX10cm (4X4 inch) in v-puff & hdc
Stitches and abbreviations used:
st or sts- stitch or stitches ch- chain stitch
sl st- slip stitch
sk- skip
RS- right side
WS- wrong side
sp- space
hdc- half double crochet
hdc2tog- half double crochet two stitches or rows together PSM- place stitch marker
RSM- remove stitch marker
In- Increase
v-puff- varied puff stitch, explanation below ch1&sk1- chain one and skip one stitch