Learning how to decrease crochet stitches opens up your crochet world to a host of possibilities. We can work and mold yarn into virtually any shape. The concepts in this tutorial are written for the single crochet stitch, but they can easily be replaced with any crochet stitch and in a pattern will be written in the same format. We write a 1 stitch single crochet decrease as sc2tog. If we were to decrease 1 stitch in double crochet, it would be written as dc2tog and so on. The tutorial below is a follow up to our How to Increase Crochet Stitches for Beginners tutorial, so make sure to check that out before proceeding.
Decrease Crochet Stitches Video Tutorial
We are beginning this tutorial where the How to Increase Crochet Stitches Tutorial leaves off. To fully participate in this tutorial stitch by stitch we recommend that you review that tutorial first.
How to Decrease Single Crochet stitches (sc2tog)
To begin decreasing, we are going to single crochet 2 stitches together, which is written as sc2tog in your pattern. To complete a sc2tog insert your hook into the next stitch (or into a space if required) and draw up a loop. Then insert your hook into the next stitch (or space) again and draw up a loop. Yarn over and draw your hook through all three loops.
Row 3: Chain one and single crochet 2 stitches together (see previous paragraph). Single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches, then single crochet the last 2 stitches together. When this row is completed, you will have 5 single crochet stitches in this row.
This row would be written in your pattern as ch 1, sc2tog, sc in each of next 5 sts, sc2tog, turn. (7 sc)
Row 4: Chain one and single crochet 2 stitches together. Single crochet in the next stitch, then single crochet the last 2 stitches together. When this row is completed you will have 3 single crochet stitches in this row.
This row would be written in your pattern as ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 3 st, sc2tog, turn. (5 sc)
Row 5: Chain one and single crochet 2 stitches together. Single crochet in the next stitch, then single crochet the last 2 stitches together. When this row is completed you will have 3 single crochet stitches in this row.
This row would be written in your pattern as ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next st, sc2tog, turn. (3 sc)
Row 6: Chain one and single crochet 3 stitches together. Fasten off
This row would be written in your pattern as ch 1, sc3tog.
Fasten off. Weave in all ends.
Just as with increases, you can decrease more than one stitch at a time. Notice when decreases are written in the pattern the number between the single crochet “sc” and together “tog” may change depending on how many stitches you are decreasing at a time. For instance, in Row 2, the decrease is written as sc2tog, and in Row 3, it is written as sc3tog. When we sc2tog it is a decrease of one stitch, and a sc3tog is a decrease of 2 stitches and so on.
Many crochet patterns will stagger decreases so they won’t be so apparent in the fabric of your work. This is contrary to many knit patterns where the increases or decreases are part of the overall look or design of the fabric or completed design. Increasing or decreasing evenly across a row or a round will shape your fabric evenly whereas clusters of increases or decreases will shape only one part of the item, for instance, when shaping the heel or toe of a slipper.
As you get more proficient with increasing and decreasing when needed, they will disappear into the fabric or will become part of the design elements such as the shaping of armholes or pocket placements.
Stay Tuned
Stay Tuned! We have many more Stitch Tutorials coming your way. If you’ve always wanted to learn how to knit or crochet, then now is a great time to start. There is so much more to come, so make sure to subscribe and never miss a thing! Try out your new skill with our 25 Best Free Crochet Patterns!
Be sure to follow us on Social Media!
Happy Crafting!
