Double Crochet 2 together (DC2tog)
Once you've mastered the basics of crochet, it's time to learn some other highly important stitches that will help you create any kind of shape. Decreases are some of the most valuable stitches to know!
What is a decrease? It's just like it sounds; it helps you decrease the number of stitches per row. With the Double Crochet 2 Together stitch (also known as a double crochet decrease), you'll take two stitches and combine them into one, which means for every DC2tog stitch you do in the row, you'll subtract one stitch from your row's stitch count.
Decrease stitches are commonly used for certain types of stitch patterns, for example, chevron patterns.
DC2tog (also spelled out as double crochet two together) is one of the most common decreases in crochet, so read on to learn more about how to do this stitch.
What is Double Crochet 2 Together (DC2tog)?
Double Crochet 2 Together (DC2tog) is a decrease stitch used with other double crochet (DC) stitches. When you use a DC2tog stitch, you are stitching in two spaces, but ending up with one stitch at the top. This helps to shape your swatch and can be used in a variety of projects that use double crochet. A DC2tog stitch counts as one stitch when you count it in the row.
DC2tog Stitch Overview: You're starting a DC in the first stitch but leaving the last two loops on your hook while you move to the next stitch to start a DC. When completing the 2nd DC, you pull the final yarn over through all three loops on your hook.
DC2tog Stitch Tutorial
Yarn over
Insert hook in first st
Yarn over
Pull up a loop
Yarn over
Pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook)
Yarn over
Insert hook in next st
Yarn over
Pull up a loop
Yarn over
Pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook)
Yarn over
Pull through all 3 loops
Video Tutorial
Are you a visual learner? Watch our step-by-step video on crocheting DC2tog!
Double Crochet 3 together (DC3tog)
DC3tog is very similar to DC2tog, except for in this stitch, you will crochet three stitches at the bottom that are linked as one stitch at the top.
YO, insert hook in first st, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), YO, insert hook in next st, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), YO, insert hook in 3rd st, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops (4 loops on hook), YO, pull through all 4 loops.
Double Crochet 4 together (DC4tog)
DC4tog is very similar to DC2tog, except for this stitch, you will crochet four stitches at the bottom that are linked as one stitch at the top.
YO, insert hook in first st, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), YO, insert hook in next st, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), YO, insert hook in 3rd st, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops (4 loops on hook), YO, insert hook in 4th st, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops (5 loops on hook), YO, pull through all 4 loops.
Other Decrease Stitches to Know
To make Double Crochet 5 together (and so on), you simply follow the same steps but save your final yarn over and pull through for all the loops on your hook.
You can also use this technique for half double crochet 2 together (hdc2tog), or single crochet 2 together (sc2tog). Just work the first parts of the stitches but don't complete the final yarn over and pull through until you've started the required number of stitches.
Continue Learning Decreases
As with many crochet stitches and techniques, decreases become less intimidating (and even simple!) with a bit of practice. The best way to practice is to make a project you're excited about. Here are some crochet pattern ideas that use decrease stitches:
