SHAPING CROCHET
Using row counters and stitch markers will help you to
keep track of your increases and decreases, so you
work them on the right rows and into the right stitches.
The picture (right) shows a simple row of double
crochet stitches, with markers in the 2nd and 4th
stitches. Once you’ve worked your shaping stitches,
such as in the 2nd and 4th stitches, you can move the
markers up, to keep track of your shaping. Try using
one colour marker for increase stitches and another
for decreases, especially if the pattern you’re making
is a little bit complicated.
How to make sure you’re shaping in the right place
USING STITCH MARKERS
1
Start a dc stitch as usual: insert hook into
top of next stitch, yrh, pull loop through
(2 loops on hook). Stop here and start a 2nd
dc in following stitch: insert hook, yrh, pull loop
through (3 loops on hook). Stop here.
3
Now complete all the part-worked dc
stitches together by working yrh and pull
this loop through all the loops on the hook.
2
Without finishing the first or 2nd dc, begin
a 3rd dc in the next stitch: insert hook, yrh,
pull loop through (4 loops on hook). (If you’re
instructed to dc4tog, just start a 4th dc in the
next stitch in the same way.)
4
This is how your finished dc3tog should
look. You will have decreased 2 stitches. On
subsequent rows, just work a stitch into the top
of the dc3tog stitch as usual.
If you’re left-handed, follow these steps to work a dc3tog...
LEFT-HAND