how to: invisible decrease
Remember in the ‘early days’ of making amigurumi, when we didn’t know about the Magic Ring? Remember what an aha! moment it was when you figured out how to do it, and how we’ve never looked back since?
Today I have what I think will be the next aha! moment for amigurumi makers: the invisible decrease. I’m showing it here because nobody I have spoken to knows how to do it (or even that it exists!), and it really does make a difference to the finish of your pieces.
Let’s briefly look at other options for decreasing in single crochet:
- skipping stitches: leaves gaps in your work where the stuffing can show through
- sc2tog (sc decrease): leaves a slight bump and a longer bar visible in the stitch
L: skipped stitches (arrow marks hole);
R: sc2tog (arrow marks obtrusive ‘line’ made by bar of stitch)
The invisible decrease (invdec) method is different; as good as its name, it’s practically invisible, even if you know what you’re looking for! The reason for this is that it groups the previous stitches together at its base, so the stitch itself looks identical to a regular single crochet.
L: the invdec (marked with arrow) looks just like the other stitches in the row;
R: the result is smooth and even
See? It’s like magic! Now click through to the Invisible Decrease tutorial…
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Amanda said
So it’s basically the same as sc2tog except that you work front loops only, am I getting this right? Or have I been doing the invdec wrong by using both loops all this time and never learned sc2tog? I’m mostly self taught, so…. yea. LOL
June said
Not quite, Amanda: for a standard sc2tog (but not an invdec) you yarn over and draw up a loop after inserting your hook into the first stitch. If you try following the instructions step by step (from my tutorial page linked at the bottom of the above post) with a hook and yarn in hand, it should all become clear!
Amanda Elliott said
Ohhhh! I did a sc2tog tonight with front loops only and just that was an improvement, but now I get it! I see me starting another snowman workout finishing the current one now. Lol (been making snowman ornaments to give family for Christmas. 10 down, a zillion to go lol)
natylicy1 said
very goog, necesaring in spanish?, no spiking, reed ingles
Krista said
I’m breathing a sigh of relief. Decreases have been the bane of my existence for sometime now. Thank you!
Robin S said
I read your instructions above and wonder why, when it so obvious, no one had thought of this method of decreasing before!. I’m working on a wrap in DC and I miss counted stitches. There have been a couple of place where the instructions say “dec over next two stitches” but I have an extra stitch that I needed to get rid of. I used your instructions to get rid of the extra stitch without it showing
Jana said
Awesome! I hope I can master IT like the magic ring! And, more recently the chainless single crochet base row! Thanks!
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
CrochetwHook said
I saw the magic ring on Knit and Crochet Today (Creat Channel PBS) a while back and it is one of the best tecniques I’ve ever found! No hole start for first round!
Josefin said
I know it excist, and there is even a tutorial in Elisabeth D’s amigurumi book, but I havent looked closer to it to be honest…
But I have felt that I would like to know how to do it, so I will take a look at your tutorial now, and hopefully learn something good. 😀