Beginner's Guide to Crochet - UK (2019-10)

SHAPING CROCHET

T

he world of crochet would be a very

different one without increases and

decreases – all we’d be able to make

would be flat, straight fabrics, such as

squares and scarves. By learning simple

shaping stitches, you can create all sorts of

shapes, including garments.

So what are increasing and decreasing

stitches? And how do they change the shape

of your crochet fabric? By now, you will have

made a few squares or rectangles, working

the same number of stitches on every row to

keep the sides straight.

If you work decrease stitches, you will

reduce the number of stitches in a row and

so narrow the width of the crochet fabric.

Working increase stitches will add more

stitches to a row and widen the fabric.

Decreasing and increasing will create sloped

rather than straight sides on your fabric. The

slope angle will depend on the type of

stitches you work and how often you work

them (every row, every other row, and so on)

You can work shaping stitches at the start or

end of a row, for one sloped side and one

straight side. Or you can shape at both ends

of a row for two sloped sides – great for

triangles! Or combine increases and

decreases to create more complex shapes,

such as flowers and zigzags.

As well as flat shapes, you can use shaping

stitches in the round, to create 3D shapes.

This sort of shaping is vital for making

amigurumi toys and accessories like hats or

balls. The options are almost endless!

DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES

Shaping stitches are very easy to do.

Increasing just involves working two or more

stitches into the same stitch on the row

below. Decreasing involves working a

combination of simple actions, which only

deviate slightly from working the standard

stitches that you’ve already learnt.

You can work increases and decreases in

any stitch pattern, on right side or wrong side

rows. Each type of decrease or increase

technique has a specific name or

abbreviation, so it’s easy to understand in

a pattern what you’re being asked to do.

SLOPE IN OR OUT

When you practise working decrease and

increase stitches, you’ll see how the

placement of shaping stitches will create a

different effect in your fabric, making the left

THE RUNDOWN

Get your hook at the ready for these

fab patterns from Simply Crochet

magazine! To get the issues mentioned

here, you can buy digital versions of

back issues from Apple Newsstand

to view on your iPhone and iPad or

Google Play to view them on Android

devices. For more information and to

find out which other digital platforms

are supported, take a look at the

website address below:

http://www.simplycrochetmag.co.uk/digital

Turn to page 39 to make this

simple crochet embellishment. It

will give you the perfect chance to

practise increases and decreases.

It’s easy to make once you’ve

learned the basic techniques.

With a bit of experience in shaping

and joining, you’ll be able to make

your first garments, like this

stylish cotton vest top by designer

Annelies Baes. Turn to page 134 to

find the pattern.

A fab project from issue 87 of

Simply Crochet, this fun shark

pouffe will change up your décor or

make a great gift for friends of all

ages. It’s worked in the round using

simple increases and decreases.

DESIGN IDEAS

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SHAPING

Open up your crocheting to a whole new world of

possibilities open to you with shaping stitches.

Becky Skuse gives us the low-down on the

benefits of increasing and decreasing...

ALL ABOUT...

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