Increases & Decreases in stitches
This is the seventh tutorial in my ‘Back to Basics’ series.
To make the Amigurumi bigger, you need to increase the stitches. Likewise, if you intend to make it smaller, then you need to decrease the stitches.
The abbreviations I use for increase in stitches is 2sc1 and decreases in stitches is sc2tog1, respectively. The following illustrations are using mixed colours for easier reference but this is not a tutorial for changing colours.
Increases in stitches
For increasing, you just need to single crochet twice in the same st, i.e. 2sc1 means 2 single crochet in same st. Occasionally, I do increase the stitches and want them longer (or taller), so it ends up as 2dc1, which basically means 2 double crochet in the same stitch. So it ends up fatter and longer.
In step 1, an existing single crochet has already been done. Instead of inserting the hook into the adjacent stitch to continue the round, insert the hook into the same st as the existing sc. Then yarn over in step 2.
Pull yarn through the same stitch as first sc (where hook was inserted). Then in step 4, yarn over and pull through the 2 loops on the hook.
You will end up with 2 single crochets in the same stitch or 2sc1. Similarly if you do that for dc, it will end up as 2dc1 or 2 double crochets in the same st.
Decreases in stitches
So, in general for my patterns, I do not use single crochet decrease. I use invisible decrease. But the abbreviation I use is still sc2tog1 for easier reference. The difference is that the reduction in the stitch is less prominent when you use the invisible decrease and there are no additional bumps in the row.
The loop selected in the dotted line is the front loop only or FLO. It refers to the loop closest to you as you are crocheting. When you crochet into FLO, it refers only to the anterior loop, not the usual insertion into 2 loops back-to-back.
When starting the decrease in stitches, insert hook only into FLO of desired stitch. Then insert into the FLO of the adjacent stitch. This can get a little tight so try to make sure the previous round’s tension is not too tight.
You should have 3 loops on the hook, even before you yarn over.
After you yarn over, pull yarn through the 2 FLO, this is the part where I mentioned where it can get quite tight because you are pulling through even narrower stitches in both FLO.
Complete it like a normal sc at the end, by doing a yarn over and pulling yarn through last 2 loops on the hook. It may not be apparent here but you have decreased the stitch! If you do it all around the round, you will notice the 2nd round is a lot narrower than the 1st round.
Next up and my final tutorial, it’s all about changing crochet colours to add more variety to your Amigurumi!
