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FlickrInvisible Decrease
If you’ve been making amigurumi, you may be lamenting the gap or bump that forms when you decrease. The standard methods of decreasing are to sc2tog, which can leave a bit of a bump and a small gap, or to skip a stitch, which leaves an obvious gap. There has to be a better way… and there is! The invisible decrease really is as good as its name claims – it’s almost impossible to see, even if you know what you’re looking for. (See my blog post for a comparison of these three methods.)
The invisible decrease method will probably take a few attempts to master, but, just like the magic ring, it’s one of those techniques that’s so good, you’ll wonder how you ever crocheted without it!
How do I make an Invisible Decrease?
Choose your preferred learning method! I have video and step-by-step photo tutorials, all for right- and left-handers. Continue to:
- Invisible decrease video tutorial (right- and left-handed versions)
- Tips for perfecting your invdec stitches
- Invisible Decrease for right-handers (photo tutorial)
- Invisible Decrease for left-handers (photo tutorial)
Invisible Decrease for right-handers
Before we begin:
Insert the hook into the front loop of the first stitch (2 loops on hook). DO NOT YARN OVER:
Insert the hook into the front loop of the next stitch. To do this, you’ll need to swing the hook down first so you can insert the hook under the front loop. (3 loops on hook):
Swing hook down…
…then up through the front loop of the next stitch
Yarn over and draw through the first two loops on the hook. (2 loops on hook):
Yarn over and draw through both loops on the hook. Invisible decrease completed:
Now let’s play a game: spot the decrease…
Good, huh? Give it a go with your next ami – I promise you won’t regret it…
Invisible Decrease for left-handers
Before we begin:
Insert the hook into the front loop of the first stitch (2 loops on hook). DO NOT YARN OVER:
Insert the hook into the front loop of the next stitch. To do this, you’ll need to swing the hook down first so you can insert the hook under the front loop. (3 loops on hook):
Swing hook down…
…then up through the front loop of the next stitch
Yarn over and draw through the first two loops on the hook. (2 loops on hook):
Yarn over and draw through both loops on the hook. Invisible decrease completed:
Now let’s play a game: spot the decrease…
Good, huh? Give it a go with your next ami – I promise you won’t regret it…
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Please also note that I only speak English and cannot respond to questions or comments written in other languages. - June
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Tamara said
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! When I saw invisible decrease on a pattern I was worried that it would be extremely difficult. Your tutorial has explained it wonderfully. I like that you have it for left handed people as well. My granny is a lefty
now back to making a kitty keychain 
Sam said
Can this stitch be done with double crochet?
June said
Yes, Sam, any standard crochet stitch can be made ‘invisible’ using this method. The key thing to remember is that the decrease occurs at the base of the invisible decrease (not at the top as with a standard decrease), so you only create one stitch that covers two stitches of the row below. That’ll be clearer with an example – follow these instructions and you’ll understand!
To create an invisible double crochet decrease:
cathleen said
THANK YOU SO MUCH for catering to the left-handed crocheters!! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the picture tutorials you have provided!
Bless you!
Deedre Sigmond said
Dear June, I love the instructions, tutorials.
Had a problem with invisible stitch and magic ring. I now have that, but what is magic ring. I am doing the tiny cat balls.
Thank You, Deedre S.
June said
Deedre, see my magic ring tutorial; if you have other crochet questions, just see my help page for the list of all my tutorials
Carrie Mather-Crowner said
Thanks for sharing your knowledge! I’m going to try this decrease as soon as I get home!
Roberta S. said
Love your website–I am just starting with amigurumi. You are a wealth of knowledge. My question is this: is the only difference between a sc2tog decrease and an invisible decrease that fact of where you put your hook/pick up a stitch? It appears they both operate the same (go into one stitch, don’t yarn over and go into the next stitch and pull through 3 loops) but with the invisible you are only picking up the front loop, whereas with the sc2tog (even though they don’t really say) you pick up both loops of the stitch? Is the key in picking up the front loop only?
June said
Not quite, Roberta: for a sc2tog, in addition to using both loops, you yarn over and draw up a loop in both the first and second stitches – see my tutorial for the full sc2tog instructions
Roberta S. said
Understood! Thank you for pointing this out. Again, you are a wonderful resource for crocheters!
bernadette said
will that invisible dec work when decreasing along neck edge.
also can you show dec in basket weave stitch please
elham said
hi, thankyou very much beacuse of ur teaching