Crochet decrease techniques

Learn how to decrease stitches to shape garments and reduce stitch counts with our detailed tutorial videos! Learn different methods for working decreases into your projects, whether you're following a pattern or a diagram.

Crochet: Dec with slip stitches

In this video we crochet in the round and show how to dec a sl st by working into two sl sts. Put hook through first sl st (front loop), put hook through next sl st (front loop), get yarn and pull yarn through both sts = 1 less sl st. If you are ending a piece, e.g. a mitten, then continue to dec until there are a few sl st left. Cut yarn and pull it through remaining sts. Pull tog and fasten. To see a pattern with this technique, see: DROPS Extra 0-942 or click on the picture to the left.

1:18

Decrease - crochet sts

When you dec you can skip one st below, but it may create a hole. To avoid that you can crochet sts together to decrease. Crochet 2 sts together to 1 stitch: crochet sc (US) / dc (UK) in following 2 sts, wait with last pull through on both sts until last one is made, then pull through all sts on hook.

3:27

Decrease sc (UK dc) each side - crochet

We are showing how to decrease in the beginning of a row and also at the end of a row when crocheting sc (UK dc) . In our example we are dec 2 sts each side on each row. Dec as follows at beg of row: replace each st to be dec with 1 sl st. Dec as follows at the end of row: Turn piece when number of sts to be dec remain on row.

1:12

Crochet: 2 half double together

In this DROPS video we show how we work 2 half double together. Make 1 YO, insert hook under ch-space and get yarn, make 1 YO, insert hook below same ch-space and get yarn, make 1 YO and pull yarn through all 5 sts on hook. (We show the technique 2 times with 1 ch between). To see a pattern with this technique, go to: DROPS 163-1

1:23

Crochet: 3 half double together

In this DROPS video we show how we work 3 half double together. Make 1 YO, insert hook under ch-space and get yarn, * make 1 YO, insert hook below same ch-space and get yarn *, repeat from *-* 2 times in total, make 1 YO and pull yarn through all 7 sts on hook. (We show the technique 2 times with 1 ch between). To see a pattern with this technique, go to: a href="https://www.garnstudio.com/lang/us/pattern.php?id=7166&lang=us">DROPS 163-1

Crochet: Dec by working 2 dc together to 1 dc

In this DROPS video we show you how to decrease by crocheting 2 double crochet (dc) together to 1 dc. Crochet to the point where you want to decrease then work as follows: Work 1 dc in first st but wait with last pull through, work 1 dc in the following st, but on last pull through, pull yarn through all 3 loops on hook. See a pattern using this technique here: DROPS 147-4

1:47

Stitch group / Decrease

US: dc-group / UK: tr-group You can crochet sts together to form groups of stitches or when decreasing. Crochet 3 sts in following 3 sts, wait with last pull through on all sts, until last one is made, then pull through all sts on hook.

2:38

Decrease dc (UK tr) each side -crochet

We are showing how to decrease in the beginning of a row and also at the end of a row when crocheting dc (UK tr) . In our example we are dec 3 sts each side of work. Dec as follows at beg of row: replace first 3 sts with 1 sl st in each. Then work a sl st in next st and then ch 3, the ch 3 replaces 1st dc (UK tr) on row. Dec as follows at the end of row: Turn piece when 3 sts remain on row.