Welcome to Sofasaurus Crochet! I’m Sofia, and in this beginner-friendly tutorial I’ll guide you through crocheting single crochet increases and single crochet decreases. Whether you’re an experienced crocheter looking to refine your technique or still a beginner eager to dive into the next thing, this step-by-step guide was designed with you in mind. I’ll break down the process into simple, easy-to-follow steps to ensure that you gain the confidence to increase and decrease single crochet without a second thought. Grab your yarn and favorite crochet hook and we’ll get started! Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter for more crochet tips and tutorials. If you’re interested in a printable, ad-free version of how to crochet double crochet , you can check it out in the shop! Happy Hooking!

In UK Terms, the single crochet is called the double crochet.

Check out these other Increase/Decrease Posts!

Please note

All instructions are in US terms. Please treat the techniques used in this post as recommendations – crochet is an art form and experimentation is the best way to figure out what works best for you! Also, I only recommend products and services that I would use myself and all opinions expressed in this post are my own.

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Materials

Yarn: Any medium or worsted-weight yarn
Hook: 5.5mm crochet hook

Video Tutorial

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Written Instructions

Everything you need to understand what, why, and how!

What is a Single Crochet Increase?

A single crochet increase (sc inc) or “crochet increase” is a technique used to add two single crochet stitches into the same space as one original stitch. This essentially increases the number of stitches in a row, project, or round – allowing you to shape it in interesting ways.

What is a Single Crochet Decrease?

A single crochet decrease (sc dec or sc2tog) is when you single crochet two stitches together to decrease the number of stitches in a row, project, or round. This technique is crucial for creating 3D shapes in crochet.

To decrease single crochet

Insert your hook into the first stitch
Yarn over and pull up a loop (two loops on hook)
Insert your hook into the second stitch
Yarn over and pull up a loop (three loops on hook)
Yarn over and pull through all three loops.

Tips + Tricks

Single crochet increases are often used in patterns to create circles, squares, and other shapes
When working a pattern, a single crochet increase can be annotated as “inc,” “sc inc,” “2sc,” or “2sc in next stitch.”
Single crochet decreases create a neat, seamless join between two stitches
When working a pattern, a single crochet decrease can be annotated as “dec,” “sc dec,” or “sc2tog”
The single crochet decrease is very commonly used for stuffies/amigurumi/plushies. Don’t forget to check out the invisible decrease for a professional finish!

Photo Tutorial

Are you more of a visual person but don’t have the patience to watch a video right now? Take a look at this photo tutorial and don’t forget to save it for later!

Coming Soon!

Illustrated Guide

Are you more of a visual person but don’t have the patience to watch a video right now? Then take a look at this illustrated guide and don’t forget to save it for later!

Coming Soon!

Crochet Chart Symbols

Crochet Charts are a great way to avoid common language barriers and clarify difficult crochet patterns. These symbols are used to help you visualize where stitches go and how they align with one another. Don’t forget to add this image to your crochet toolbox!