Answer
What Is an Invisible Decrease in Crochet? How to Do It
An invisible decrease is a single crochet decrease worked through the front loops only of the next two stitches, so it hides in the fabric and looks like an ordinary stitch; it is the usual decrease for amigurumi. Insert the hook in the front loop of the next stitch, then the front loop of the stitch after, yarn over and pull through those two front loops, then yarn over and pull through the two loops left on the hook.
At a glance
| Where | What's there | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Craftuary Academy: invisible decreaseours | Lesson 6 of Crochet 101: a free looping 3D animation you can turn to see both front loops. | Learning it in 3D |
| Craftuary: what sc2tog meansours | The standard single crochet decrease, step by step, and how it changes a round's stitch count. | Comparing it with an ordinary decrease |
| Craftuary free amigurumi patternsours | Free daily toy patterns, written round by round with their stitch counts, that close their shapes with decreases. | Practising on a real toy |
| PlanetJune | A designer's well-known video tutorial of the invisible decrease for amigurumi. | Watching it at full speed |
How to start
- Front loop of the next stitch. Insert the hook under the front loop only. Don't yarn over yet.
- Front loop of the stitch after. Insert under that front loop too: three loops on the hook.
- Pull through the front loops. Yarn over and draw through the two front loops: two loops on the hook.
- Finish like a single crochet. Yarn over and pull through both loops. It counts as one stitch.
Questions
Why use an invisible decrease instead of sc2tog?
A standard sc2tog leaves a small bump or gap, which shows on a stuffed toy. Working through the front loops only pulls the decrease flat, so the fabric looks even.
Does an invisible decrease count as one stitch?
Yes. Like sc2tog, it turns two stitches into one, so the round's count drops by one for each decrease.
Can I use it in rows, not just rounds?
Yes, on the right side of single crochet fabric. It is most useful wherever the decrease would show.
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