Mastering the Art of Single Crochet Decrease (sc2tog)

Are you ready to take your crochet skills to the next level? Learning how to decrease in single crochet (also known as sc2tog or sc dec) can open up a whole new world of possibilities for your projects. In this article, we will guide you through the different methods of single crochet decreases and provide step-by-step instructions to help you master this fundamental technique.

How to Decrease in Crochet

Once you’ve mastered the basic crochet stitches, it’s time to learn how to decrease stitches. Crochet decreases are essential for creating shape and volume in your projects. While crochet increases add stitches, crochet decreases remove them.

A single crochet decrease allows you to remove a stitch from your work, resulting in fewer stitches in a row. Let’s dive in and discover how to make these decreases.

Single Crochet Decrease

There are a few ways to achieve a single crochet decrease, but the most common method is crocheting two stitches together to create one stitch.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make a single crochet decrease:

1. Insert your hook into the indicated stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop (2 loops on the hook).
2. Insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop (3 loops on the hook).
3. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on the hook.

Congratulations! You have successfully completed a single crochet decrease. Now you should have only one working loop on your hook.

Single Crochet Decrease in Patterns

In crochet patterns, you may come across abbreviations for single crochet decrease, such as “sc dec” or “sc2tog.”

• sc2tog = single crochet 2 together
• sc dec = single crochet decrease

These abbreviations all refer to the same technique:

1. Insert your hook into the indicated stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop.
2. Insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop.
3. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on the hook.

It’s important to read the pattern notes and stitch abbreviation guide to determine which language the designer has used.

What’s happening when you decrease

You may be curious about what’s happening behind the scenes when you make a single crochet decrease.

When you crochet two stitches together, they are joined at the top and become one stitch. Let’s break it down:

1. Work the first part of the first single crochet stitch.
2. Move to the next stitch and work the first part of the second single crochet stitch.
3. Complete the single crochet decrease by working through all 3 loops on the hook, joining the two stitches together.

Invisible Single Crochet Decrease

If you’re looking for an almost invisible decrease, the invisible single crochet decrease is a fantastic variation to try. This method is often used in amigurumi patterns.

To make an invisible single crochet decrease, follow these steps:

1. Insert your hook into the front loop of the first stitch (2 loops on the hook).
2. Insert your hook into the front loop of the second stitch (3 loops on the hook).
3. Yarn over and pull through the first two loops on the hook (2 loops on the hook).
4. Yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook (1 loop on the hook).

And just like that, you’ve completed an invisible single crochet decrease!

FAQs

Q: Can I decrease in other crochet stitches?
A: Absolutely! You can decrease in all types of crochet stitches, such as half double crochet (hdc2tog), double crochet (dc2tog), and treble crochet (tr2tog).

Q: What’s the next step after learning how to decrease in single crochet?
A: Once you’ve mastered single crochet decrease, you may want to learn how to increase in single crochet. Check out our article on “How to Single Crochet Increase” to continue your crochet journey.

Conclusion

Congratulations on learning how to single crochet decrease! This essential technique will allow you to create beautifully shaped crochet pieces with ease. Remember to practice and experiment with different projects to become even more proficient.

If you have any additional questions or want to connect with fellow crochet enthusiasts, feel free to join our Facebook Group. We’re here to support and inspire each other on our crochet journeys.

Now go forth and unleash your creativity with the power of single crochet decrease!