Decreasing~Increasing~Shaping

Decreasing:

Common Pattern Abbreviation: dec

dc (US sc) decrease at beginning of row: insert hook into first stitch & draw up a loop (2 loops on hook), insert hook into next stitch & draw up a loop (3 loops on hook), YO & draw through all 3 loops on hook. This method can also be worked to decrease anywhere mid row.

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dc (US sc) decrease at end of row: when you have last 2 stitches of the row to work, insert hook into next stitch & draw up a loop (2 loops on hook), insert hook into last stitch & draw up a loop (3 loops on hook), YO & draw through all 3 loops on hook.

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tr (US dc) decrease at beginning of row: 2 ch, YO & insert hook into next stitch & draw up a loop (3 loops on hook), YO & draw through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), YO & draw through both loops on hook.

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tr (US dc) decrease at end of row: when you have last 2 stitches of the row to work, YO, insert hook into next stitch & draw up a loop (3 loops on hook), YO & draw through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), YO, insert hook into last stitch & draw up a loop (4 loops on hook), YO & draw through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), YO & draw through all 3 loops on hook. This method can also be worked to decrease anywhere mid row.

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Increasing:

Common Pattern Abbreviation: inc

dc (US sc) increase: work 2 dc (US sc) in first/last stitch or anywhere mid row where the increase is required.

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tr (US dc) increase: work one tr (US dc) in same stitch as 3-ch beginning chain ~ work 2 tr (US dc) last stitch or anywhere mid row where the increase is required.

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Shaping:

1) one of the easiest ways to shape in crochet is to vary the stitch height – you can do this dramatically by working a higher post stitch each time or gradually by working the same stitch a number of times before moving onto a higher post stitch – this method can be used at the beginning, end or anywhere in between where the shaping is required

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2) Another interesting method to shape crochet can be worked at the end of the row by working a slip stitch in the last stitch & drawing up a long loop, turn work, skip a number of stitches & slip stitch where you want start the new row before continuing

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3) This method is worked at the end of a row (before turning your work) when extra stitches are required for the new row – after completing last stitch of row make the number of chains required for shaping, remember to allow for the extra chains to accommodate the turning chain (1 ch = dc (US sc), 2 ch = htr (US hdc), 3 ch = tr (US dc) & so on), turn work, & depending on stitch used work first stitch in appropriate chain (2^nd ch from hook for dc (US sc), 3^rd ch from hook for htr (US hdc), 4^th ch from hook for tr (US dc) & so on), work along the chains & then back into the body of work

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4) where shaping is required on both ends a similar method as above is used, however, the extra chains must be made at the beginning of the previous row to ensure that the entire row will be the same height…

For example: to increase by 4 stitches working in dc (US sc)  - when at end of row make 1 ch (beginning chain), turn (you are now at the beginning of a new row but not the row that requires the increase), make the number of chains required for the increase + 1 ch, work a slip stitch into 2^nd chain from hook & in each chain across but not into the beginning chain, now you are back to the body of your work & can continue working in dc (US sc) – work your next row as usual across in all stitches & in each slip stitch of previous row

For higher post stitches remember to make your turning (beginning) chain first (2 ch = htr (US hdc), 3 ch = tr (US dc) & so on) before making the increase chains + 1 ch, then slip stitch back to the beginning ch (counted as the first st of the row) & work as usual across – work your next row as usual across in all stitches & in each slip stitch of previous row

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5) Another method to increase at both ends is to follow instructions as for (3) at the beginning end & at the other end, bring in new yarn with a slip knot & make the number of chains required for the increase (& finish off), work across the row in each stitch & in each of these new chains – remember to weave in or crochet over the tail ends

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6) this last method isn’t as neat as any of the above but I use it a lot in my freeform work when I decide to just go that extra stitch or two

work in the side loop of stitch just made until the desired increase is made

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