How to Read Crochet Patterns

Stitch Guide

Crochet

How to Increase and Decrease

Double Crochet Decrease

Double Crochet Increase

Half Double Crochet Decrease

Half Double Crochet Increase

Single Crochet Decrease

Single Crochet Increase

Shaping is done by increasing, which adds stitches to make the crocheted piece wider, or decreasing, which subtracts stitches to make the piece narrower.

Note: Make a practice sample by chaining 15 stitches loosely and working four rows of single crochet with 14 stitches in each row. Do not fasten off at the end of the last row. Use this sample swatch to practice the following method of increasing stitches.

Increasing

To increase one stitch in single, half double, double or treble crochet, simply work two stitches in one stitch. For example, if you are working in single crochet and you need to increase one stitch, you would work one single crochet in the next stitch; then you would work another single crochet in the same stitch.

For practice: On sample swatch, turn work and chain one. Single crochet in first two stitches; increase in next stitch by working two single crochets in the stitch (see illustration 1a).

Increases in half double, double and treble crochet are shown in illustrations 1b, 1c, and 1d.

Note: Make another practice sample by chaining 15 loosely and working four rows of single crochet. Do not fasten off at the end of the last row. Use this sample swatch to practice the following methods of decreasing stitches.

Decreasing

This is how to work a decrease in the four main stitches. Each decrease gives one fewer stitch than you had before.

Single crochet decrease (sc dec): Insert hook and draw up a loop in each of the next two stitches (three loops are now on hook) (see illustration 2), hook yarn (this is the same as yo) and draw through all three loops on the hook

Single crochet decrease made (see illustration 3).

Double crochet decrease (dc dec): Work a double crochet in the specified stitch until two loops remain on the hook (see illustration 4).

Keeping these two loops on hook, work another double crochet in the next stitch until three loops remain on hook; hook yarn and draw through all three loops on the hook (see illustration 5).

Double crochet decrease made (see illustration 6).

Half double crochet decrease (hdc dec): Yarn over, insert hook in specified stitch and draw up a loop; three loops on the hook (see illustration 7).

Keeping these three loops on hook, yarn over and draw up a loop in the next stitch (see illustration 8).

Half double crochet decrease made (see illustration 9).

Treble crochet decrease (tr dec): Work a treble crochet in the specified stitch until two loops remain on the hook (see illustration 10).

Keeping these two loops on hook, work another treble crochet in the next stitch until 3 loops remain on the hook; hook yarn and draw through all three loops on the hook (see illustration 11).