Step by step crochet: Decreasing illustrations

Decreases are part stitches worked into a stated number of stitches and then joined into one in the last stage.

This means that you begin working a stitch, but don't finish it - and repeat this over a designated number of stitches before joining them all up at the end.

Decreasing one treble stitch is shown in our illustrations, but the principle is the same in all stitches.

Decreases

1. Without making the last wrap of each, make a treble in each of the next two stitches: * Yarn round hook, insert hook in next stitch, yarn round hook, pull through, yarn round hook, pull it through two loops; repeat from * once, leaving three loops on the hook.  2. Yarn round hook and pull it through all three loops on the hook. This is stitching the two part-worked treble stitches together at the top, leaving one stitch where three once were beneath.

Increase and decrease stitches help to form the shape in our Fox Make Crochet Pattern. Without them, all the pieces would be square.

Decrease stitches reduce the number of stitches along a row or round and the clue is in the name  - they make the fabric smaller. This may be at the edges of the work, or dotted around the inner fabric.

The latter will encourage the fabric to curve and form complex three dimensional shapes. Shaping at the edge of the work is more like a dressmaker cutting into a flat piece of fabric to create shaped edges.

Pieces like this are more likely to be stitched together to form the finished three-dimensional shape much like our fox toy.

Pieces that contain shaping away from the edges of rows, will form more elaborate shapes and often require very little sewing, where the intricate decreases have prevented the need for additional seaming.