How to Single Crochet Increase and Decrease

Learning how to single crochet increase and single crochet decrease are two skills that are essential for the crocheter. The single crochet increase will add an extra stitch, and the single crochet decrease will take one away. While they accomplish opposite goals, they are both just slight variations of the single crochet stitch and can be learned quickly.

When you were first learning how to crochet, single crochet is probably the first stitch you learned. This is for a very good reason: it is the easiest and most basic stitch to create a project with, and you can use it for many different designs!

When you start getting into more complicated designs however, you will sometimes see patterns directing you to single crochet increase (sc inc) or single crochet decrease (sc dec). While these are not very complicated variations of the original single crochet, it is helpful to know how they differ specifically when you are working up a new design.

Some of the most common crochet projects that use the single crochet increase and decrease are for garments, such as hats, shawls, or socks. You can always find them in amigurumi projects as well. Also, if you are crocheting in the round, then you will definitely see patterns with them, and you will have to use them to some extent. How and where ever you see these stitches though, you will want to know what to do. So grab your yarn and hook, and we’ll get started!

Pin this post for later!

What is single crochet increase?

Single crochet increase is simply a way to increase the number of stitches in the row you are currently working. You do this by crocheting two single crochets into the same base stitch from the previous row. The result is that your stitch count increases by 1 for each time you use the single crochet increase for that row or round.

What is single crochet decrease?

A single crochet decrease is a way to decrease the number of stitches in the row you are working. You actually use two consecutive stitches as the base of the stitch you are working. This effectively decreases your stitch count by one for each time that you use it.

What do you need to know:

Before you try out the single crochet increase or decrease, you will need to know how to complete the following stitches well:

-chain

-single crochet

If you are not sure about how to crochet either one of these, then check out the tutorials by clicking on the links above.

Supplies:

You will really only need two items to complete these stitches:

-crochet hook, any size

-yarn, any weight

As with any new stitch, I suggest you grab a yarn weight and crochet hook size that are the most comfortable for you to use. If you are unsure, then you can check the yarn label to see what the recommended size is for that weight of yarn.

Notes and Tips for Single Crochet Increase:

-Not all patterns will tell you to increase single crochet. Instead, some will tell you to put 2 single crochet stitches in the next stitch. Both mean the same thing.

-Single crochet increase is abbreviated sc inc or 2 sc, depending on the pattern.

-If you don’t know how to single crochet, you can check out my tutorial here!

How to Single Crochet Increase:

To increase single crochet, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Complete a single crochet in the desired stitch.
2. In the same base stitch, complete a second single crochet stitch.

You will now have two single crochet stitches with one stitch from the previous row or round as the base for both.

Notes and Tips for Single Crochet Decrease:

-Not all patterns will tell you to decrease single crochet. Instead, some will tell you to crochet 2 stitches together. Both mean the same thing.

-Single crochet decrease is abbreviated sc dec or sc2tog.

-If you don’t know how to single crochet, you can check out my tutorial here!

How to Single Crochet Decrease:

To decrease single crochet, you will need to:

1. Insert your hook into the first stitch. Yarn over and pull back through the stitch. (Do not complete the single crochet!)
2. Insert your hook into the next stitch. Yarn over and pull back through that stitch as well. You should now have three loops on the hook.
3. Yarn over and pull through all three loops on the hook.

When you decrease single crochet, you will be decreasing the number of stitches that were used in the previous row. In other words, you are using two stitches as the base for one stitch.

Video Tutorial:

How do you decrease single crochet in the round?

The same way that you would in the row! The wonderful part about single crochet stitches is that they are not complicated in construction. To decrease in the round, you will just have to follow the above steps, and you should be just fine! Remember that any time you are decreasing the number of stitches in the round, the project will start to curl in a bit on itself.

How do you decrease single crochet in the round?

The single crochet increase has the same steps in the round as when you complete it in rows. Because you are simply crocheting two stitches in the same base stitch, the directions for how to do so do not change.