Do you want to learn how to decrease in single crochet (also called sc2tog or sc dec)? If so, you have come to the right place! In this blog post, we will teach you everything you need to know about single crochet decreases. We will discuss the different methods you can use, and we will provide step-by-step instructions on decreasing single crochet.

completed single crochet decrease stitch in teal yarn on a gray background

How to Decrease in Crochet

After you learn how to crochet and make the basic crochet stitches, you’ll likely want to learn how to decrease stitches in crochet.

Crochet increases and decreases are used to create shape and volume in your crochet pieces. While crochet increases add stitches, crochet decreases remove stitches.

A single crochet decrease is a way to remove a stitch from your work. For example, if you have a row of 10 stitches, making a single crochet decrease will give you a row of 9 stitches.

Keep reading to learn how to make them.

Single Crochet Decrease

You can make a single crochet decrease in a few ways, but the most common method is to crochet two stitches together so that they become one stitch.

Here’s how to make a single crochet decrease:

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

The single crochet decrease is complete. You should now have only one working loop on your hook.

incomplete single crochet decrease stitch in teal yarn on a gray background — three loops on the hook

single crochet decrease stitch in teal yarn on a gray background — single crochet decrease complete

Single Crochet Decrease in Patterns

In patterns, the single crochet decrease is often abbreviated “sc dec” or “sc2tog”.

sc2tog = single crochet 2 together
sc dec = single crochet decrease

You may also see it written as “single crochet two together” or “single crochet the next 2 stitches together”.

All of these abbreviations mean the same thing, which is:

Insert hook into the indicated stitch. Yarn over and pull up a loop.
Insert hook into the next stitch. Yarn over and pull up a loop.
Yarn over, pull through all 3 loops on the hook.

Since designers refer to the single crochet decrease in different ways, it’s important to read the pattern notes and stitch abbreviation guide to see which language they use.

What’s happening when you decrease

You may be wondering what’s actually happening with all those loops in a single crochet decrease.

Well, the single crochet decrease works by crocheting two stitches together so that they are joined at the top, and become one stitch.

When you make a single crochet decrease, you work the first part of the first single crochet stitch. Then, you move over to the next stitch and work the first part of the second single crochet stitch. Then, you work through all 3 loops on the hook, finishing the single crochet and joining the two stitches together.

Invisible Single Crochet Decrease

Here’s a variation on the single crochet decrease that creates an almost invisible decrease. I use this decrease all the time, especially in amigurumi patterns.

In this style of decrease, you’ll insert your hook through the front loops of two stitches first – without yarning over in between.

Here’s how to make an invisible sc decrease:

Insert the hook into the front loop of the first stitch. (You will have 2 loops on the hook.)
Insert the hook into the front loop of the second stitch. (Three loops on the hook.)
Yarn over and pull through the first two loops on the hook. (Two loops on the hook)
Yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook. (One loop on the hook)

The invisible single crochet decrease stitch is complete.

incomplete invisible single crochet decrease stitch in teal yarn on a gray background — Insert your hook through the front loops of both stitches

completed invisible single crochet decrease stitch in teal yarn on a gray background — invisible single crochet complete

More Crochet Decreases

Of course, you can decrease in all types of crochet stitches. You can learn how to decrease in half double crochet (hdc2tog), double crochet (dc2tog), treble crochet (tr2tog).

Single Crochet Increases

After you learn how to decrease in single crochet, you’ll likely want to know how to increase in signal crochet. If so, click here to read How to Single Crochet Increase.

What’s Next?

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