A decrease (dec) means turning two stitches into one. It’s how you make your amigurumi pieces smaller and shape them in.
How to crochet a decrease (dec)
Watch the lesson
The heart of it
A decrease (dec) turns two stitches into one - the opposite of an increase (inc). It’s how your work narrows.
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1:
Make a single crochet (sc)
Begin a single crochet (sc) in the next stitch - follow the single crochet (sc) lesson, steps 1–3 (insert your hook, yarn over, pull through).
Stop there: you’ll have two loops on your hook.
Step 2:
And another single crochet (sc)
Begin another single crochet (sc) in the next stitch the same way.
You’ll now have three loops on your hook.
Step 3:
Yarn over once more
Yarn over once more.
Step 4:
Pull through all three loops
Pull the yarn through all three loops.
You now have one loop left - and that completes one decrease (dec)!
That’s a decrease (dec) - two stitches becoming one.
With increases (inc) and decreases (dec) together, you can shape almost any amigurumi.
We’re right here with you every step of the way.