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

SHAPING CROCHET

W

orking double crochet

decreases is just as easy as

working increases. There are

two main methods.

Some patterns use the quick decrease

method, where you’ll be instructed to ‘skip a

stitch’ – this means you need to leave the

next stitch unworked, while you proceed to

work into the following stitch. This quick

method works well, but it will leave a small

hole in the fabric – if that’s the effect you

want, that’s fine.

If you want a solid fabric, however, you’ll

need to work a decrease that’s usually

called dc2tog in patterns (shown below).

Working either of these methods once in

a row will reduce your stitch count by one.

You can decrease at any point along the

row, but you’ll create different effects by

working decreases in the centre of the row,

or at the start or end of the row.

You can practise decreasing on a small

swatch of dc fabric so you can see how the

decreases will affect your pattern.

DOUBLE CROCHET

DECREASE

Here’s how to decrease one double crochet stitch in a row

RIGHT-HAND

3

Now complete both dc stitches together by

working yrh and pull this loop through all 3

loops on the hook.

4

Your finished dc2tog should look like this.

You will have decreased one stitch. On

subsequent rows, you can work a stitch into the

top of the dc2tog stitch, as usual.

1

Start by inserting the hook under the top two

loops of the next stitch on the previous row.

Begin to work a double crochet stitch in the

usual way, working yrh and pull loop through

(2 loops on hook)

2

Without finishing the first dc, begin the next

dc by inserting the hook in the next stitch on

the previous row. Again, work yrh and pull loop

through (3 loops on hook).

If you’re right-handed, follow these steps for a perfect dc2tog...