Decreases – dc2tog and dc3tog

Sometimes you need to decrease the number of stitches you have – it is a very easy technique to learn and once you understand how it works you will be a pro in no time!

Double Crochet Two Stitches Together – Decrease

dc2tog – Yarn over, insert your hook into the stitch indicated, yarn over and pull up 1 loop. You have 3 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops. You have 2 loops on your hook. Yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch. Yarn over and pull up 1 loop. You have 4 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops. You have 3 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all three loops.

1. Yarn over, insert your hook into the stitch indicated, yarn over and pull up 1 loop. (3 loops on the hook)

2. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops.

3. You now have 2 loops on your hook. Now we will repeat steps 1-3 in the next stitch.

4. Yarn over the hook. Insert the hook into the next stitch. Yarn over and pull up 1 loop (4 loops on the hook).

5. Yarn over the hook and pull through 2 of the loops on your hook.

6. Three loops remain on the hook.

7. Yarn over the hook.

8. Pull through all three loops on the hook. Dc2tog complete!

You now have 2 double crochet ‘posts’ and only one dc stitch at the top. You have decreased by 1 stitch.

Double Crochet Three Stitches Together – Decrease

dc3tog – Yarn over, insert your hook into the stitch indicated, yarn over and pull up 1 loop. You have 3 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops. You have 2 loops on your hook. Yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch. Yarn over and pull up 1 loop. You have 4 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops. You have 3 loops on your hook. Yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch. Yarn over and pull up 1 loop. You have 5 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops. You now have 4 loops on your hook.  Yarn over and pull through all four loops.

For the dc3tog you would follow steps 1-6 above and then continue as follows:

7. Yarn over and insert hook into the next st. Yarn over and pull up 1 loop. (5 loops on the hook)

8. Yarn over and pull through 2 of the loops on your hook.

9. You now have four loops on the hook.

10. Yarn over the hook and pull through all four remaining loops to complete the stitch.

You now have 3 posts and only 1 stitch. You have decreased by 2 stitches.

You can keep going too – by repeating step 7 and 8 indefinitely and finishing by doing the yarn over and pulling it through all the half finished dc stitches.

Alternately you can do dc2tog or dc3tog in one stitch to make a cluster, or puff stitch. This method would not decrease the number of stitches in the row but would add a design element and texture (a puffy stitch) into your project.