Decrease in Crochet

Decrease in crochet indicates, that you should join two stitches at the top, so that the overall number of stitches decreases in the next row or round.

Related terms: Increase, Amigurumi

Abbreviations

In both US and UK terms you can find these abbreviations:

• dec
• *name of stitch* two together (for example: dc 2 tog)
• *name of stitch* decrease (for example: dc decrease)

Remember, that the same basic stitches are called differently in US and UK.

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Where do we use it?

You will find decrease in many crochet patterns, because it’s one of the most basic techniques. Decrease appears most often in three-dimensional projects.

Of course, we can decrease with single crochet, double crochet, treble, double treble or multiple stitches. You can decrease with decorative stitches, such as puff stitch, or else, too.

The word ‘decrease’ used in crochet patterns indicates precisely two stitches joined at the top. If the author wants you to join together three, four or more stitches, he / she uses the phrase “*name of stitch* x tog” (for example: dc 3 tog).

In order to join stitches at the top, the first thing which needs to be done is to master crocheting double crochet stitches. Of course, we may join together treble, double treble or multiple stitches.

How-to

In order to make a decrease with any crochet stitch, you need to master crocheting basic stitches first. Pay attention to what your crochet pattern says, because you need to know what stitch you should make your decrease with.

This example uses double crochet stitches.

• Start with working one unfinished double crochet in your nearest stitch. “Unfinished” means that you have to stop before last “pull through” – that’s when you have last two loops on your hook.
• Yarn over, insert your hook in the next stitch, and proceed as if you were to make a regular double crochet, but again, stopping before the last “pull through”. At this point you should have 4 loops on your hook – two for each unfinished double crochet.
• Crochet first two stitches together – you have now 3 loops on your hook.
• Crochet all 3 loops together.

You have now created dc increase, or two double crochet stitches joined at the top.

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