Decrease stitches are some of the most essential stitches for making more advanced crochet projects. They allow you to create shaping in amigurumi projects or in garments. A smooth and steady crochet decrease will make or break your crochet project.

The Secrets to Decreasing

No matter the stitch you are working (SC, HDC, DC, etc.), work as normal up until the final yarn over and pull through but don’t pull through to complete the stitch. Instead, move on to the next stitch you are using to decrease, at the end do a final yarn over and pull through all the loops.

No matter the number of stitches you are decreasing, just work that number of partially completed stitches and join them all together with that final yarn over and pull through.

If you understand this secret formula you’ll be able to work anything from a Single Crochet 2 together all the way up to a Triple Treble 6 together (trtr6tog).

Hint: The secret formula for trtr6tog is this: YO 4 times, insert hook in first st, YO, pull up a loop, (YO, pull through 2 loops) 4 times (2 loops on hook), [YO 4 times, insert hook in next st, YO, pull up a loop, (YO, pull through 2 loops) 4 times] 5 times (7 loops on hook), YO, pull through all 7 loops.

Here are a few common decrease stitches!