Double Crochet Decrease

Hi friends!

I’m coming at you today with a practical stitch, one that every crocheter needs to have in their stitch toolbox—the double crochet decrease.

Any stitch can be decreased and while more complicated stitches will vary in execution (see the Alpine Stitch Decrease or the Crossed Double Crochet Decrease), all the basic stitches (sc, dc, hdc, etc.) use the same technique. In this tutorial, I’m going to focus on the double crochet version, but you’ll soon understand how to apply the same concept of partial stitches to those other stitches.

This tutorial uses the following stitches and abbreviations:

Yarn Over (yo)
Double Crochet (dc)
Partial Double Crochet
Double Crochet Decrease (dc2tog)

What Is a Decrease?

Decreases are a way to eliminate stitches in your fabric, usually used to give shape to your work. Sometimes they can be used decoratively, but in this tutorial, I’m going to focus on illustrating how to use decreases to reduce the number of stitches in your row or round—the method is the same for both.

Decrease stitches are made by working a partial crochet stitch into each of the indicated number of stitches, then joining them together in one final pull-through.

Partial Stitch: worked like normal crochet stitch, but stop before the final pull-through leaving the remaining unworked loops on your hook

Lingo

In this tutorial, we’ll be working partial double crochets into 2 indicated stitches, commonly referred to as a double crochet decrease. The word “decrease” is a catch-all term for any stitch that reduces stitch count. If the pattern you’re working from uses only double crochet, they might just refer to it as a decrease (abbreviated as dec), but it is implied that they are referring to a double crochet decrease.

More commonly, you’ll see a double crochet decrease abbreviated as dc2tog, which stands for the long-form: double crochet two together. If you look closely at that abbreviation, you’ll see that it tells you what type of stitch (dc) and how many stitches you work partial stitches into (2) in order to decrease (tog). If you were to see dc3tog, that means you would work a partial double crochet into each of the 3 indicated stitches.

NOTE: Often, when people say “double crochet decrease” without further context, you should default to decreasing over 2 stitches; however, decreases can decrease over any number of stitches, so it’s important to pay attention to the number in the abbreviation your pattern uses.

Loops Leftover

Because partial stitches stop before the final pull-through, you’ll end up with loops leftover on your hook before you move on to the next step. You’ll have your working loop to start, then each partial double crochet will leave you with 1 additional loop per partial worked. When working a dc2tog, you’ll have your 1 working loop + 2 loops for 2 partial dc = 3 loops left on your hook.

Rule of Thumb
For each partial double crochet you work, you add 1 loop to your hook

Video Tutorial

Want to see this stitch in action? I’ve created a video tutorial for you!

Photo Tutorial

Close up arrows pointing at the last two unworked stitches in a row of double crochet. Text reads: "The double crochet decrease (dc2tog) is worked over 2 indicated stitches."

Split image close up of an arrow pointing to the first of the last two unworked stitches in a row of double crochet in the left image and a hook with three loops on the hook on the right. Text reads: "Step 1—Partial Double Crochet #1; Yarn over, insert hook into first stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop."

Woohoo! You did it! You can check out what this technique looks like using a dc3tog here. Now that you understand the concept of the double crochet decrease, you can apply it to other basic stitches or even experiment using it decoratively. Check out my Double Crochet 5 Together for an example of how this technique can translate decoratively.

Happy stitching!

Pin graphic with close up of completed double crochet decrease. Text reads: "Crochet Tutorial: Double Crochet Decrease"

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