Crochet Increases and Decreases Explained (Including the Invisible Decrease)

 CROCHET BASICS · SHAPING

🔺 Crochet Increases & Decreases

How to shape circles, curves and 3D pieces — with the maths made simple

Increases and decreases are how crochet turns a flat line of stitches into shapes: circles, cones, balls, curved petals and letters. Once you understand them, patterns stop being mysterious lists of numbers — you start to see why each round has the stitches it has. In this guide I explain every common increase and decrease, the invisible decrease I use for smooth, tidy pieces, and the simple maths behind shaping.

What Is an Increase?

An increase (inc) means working two stitches into the same stitch. You end up with one more stitch than before. Increases make your work wider, or make a circle grow.

Pattern says	What you do
inc / 2 sc in next st	2 single crochet in the same stitch
2 hdc in next st	2 half double crochet in the same stitch
2 dc in next st	2 double crochet in the same stitch
3 sc in next st	A double increase — common at corners

Tips for neat increases

• Don’t stack increases on top of each other in every round of a circle — it creates a hexagon with visible corners. Many patterns shift the increase position each round to keep circles round.
• Count after every round. One missing increase changes the whole shape.

What Is a Decrease?

A decrease (dec) joins two (or more) stitches into one at the top. You end up with one stitch fewer. Decreases narrow your work and close shapes, such as the top of a ball or the end of a petal.

Single crochet two together (sc2tog)

1. Insert the hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook).
2. Insert the hook into the following stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook).
3. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.

Half double crochet two together (hdc2tog)

1. Yarn over, insert into next stitch, pull up a loop (3 loops).
2. Yarn over, insert into next stitch, pull up a loop (5 loops).
3. Yarn over and pull through all 5 loops.

Double crochet two together (dc2tog)

1. Yarn over, insert into next stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 (2 loops left).
2. Yarn over, insert into next stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 (3 loops left).
3. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.

The Invisible Decrease (My Favourite)

A normal sc2tog leaves a little bump or gap that shows on smooth pieces. The invisible decrease works only in the front loops and almost disappears:

1. Insert your hook into the front loop only of the next stitch.
2. Without yarning over, insert the hook into the front loop only of the following stitch (3 loops on hook).
3. Yarn over and pull through the two front loops (2 loops on hook).
4. Yarn over and pull through both loops.

💡 When to use it

Use the invisible decrease for amigurumi, 3D shapes and anything worked in spiral rounds of single crochet. It makes surfaces smooth and leaves no holes for stuffing to peek through.

The Maths Behind Flat Circles

A flat circle grows by the same number of stitches every round — the number you started with in the magic ring.

Stitch	Start with	Add per round
Single crochet	6	6
Half double crochet	8	8
Double crochet	12	12

Round n of a single crochet circle has 6 × n stitches. To work it, divide: in round 4 you have 24 stitches, made of 6 repeats of “sc in 2 sts, inc” (3 + 1 = 4 stitches per repeat).

How to Spread Increases or Decreases Evenly

Patterns sometimes say “increase 8 stitches evenly across the row”. Here is the formula:

1. Divide your current stitch count by the number of increases. Example: 40 ÷ 8 = 5.
2. So you will increase once every 5 stitches: sc in 4 sts, 2 sc in next st, repeated 8 times.
3. If the number doesn’t divide evenly, spread the extra stitches at the start and end of the row.

For decreases it works the same way: 40 stitches, decrease 8 → every 5 stitches, work sc in 3 sts, sc2tog.

Shaping in Practice

• Cones and petals: increase every few rounds for gentle widening.
• Balls and heads: increase to the widest point, work even rounds, then decrease symmetrically.
• Curved letters: the curves on letters like B, J and S come from placing increases on the outside edge of the curve and plain stitches inside.
• Ruffles: lots of increases (for example 3 sts in every st) create a wavy edge.

Troubleshooting

• Holes after decreases: switch to the invisible decrease, or go down half a hook size.
• Lumpy circle: stagger your increases.
• Lost count: mark each round start, and count stitches in groups of 5 or 6.

Still having trouble? My guide to common crochet mistakes covers more fixes.

🧶 Tools that make shaping easier

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• Locking stitch markers – mark every increase and decrease
• Row counter – track rounds while shaping
• Ergonomic crochet hook set – comfortable for invisible decreases
• Light-coloured cotton yarn – see where to insert the hook

Frequently Asked Questions

Does an increase count as one or two stitches?

Two. The stitch count at the end of the round includes both stitches made in the same place.

What does “dec” mean if the pattern doesn’t say which stitch?

Use the decrease that matches the stitches around it — sc2tog in a single crochet row, dc2tog in a double crochet row. Check the pattern’s notes.

🧶 You May Also Like

• How to Make a Magic Ring
• How to Read a Crochet Pattern (US vs UK)
• 12 Common Crochet Mistakes (and Fixes)
• How to Finish Crochet Like a Pro

Written by Cozy Stitch Haven