Day 7 :: The Invisible Decrease

This is Day 7 of the 31 Days of Amigurumi. This 31 day series is full of how-to's for designing and creating your very own amigurumi. Whether you're a beginner at ami's or just need help on a certain technique, there's something here for everyone.

The invisible decrease is amazing. It takes away that bulky looking decrease stitch you get with a "single crochet 2 together", or regular decrease, and makes it virtually invisible when compared to the single crochets around. It blends right in, which is why I love it!

So how do you do it?

A normal decrease is worked by pulling up a loop in the first and second stitch of the two stitches you are trying to decrease (three loops on the hook) and then you draw a loop through all three loops to turn two stitches into one.

An INVISIBLE decrease is worked in the front loops of the two stitches you are trying to decrease. Put your hook through the front loop of the first stitch you are decreasing, then WITHOUT pulling up a loop you simply go through the front loop of the next stitch to decrease. Your hook should now be in two front loops. Now you work a single crochet as normal, pulling up a loop through both front loops and then drawing a loop through the two loops on your hook.

Simple right?

I'm still having trouble with my videos, so here is a video I found on youtube by the Nerdigurumi if you want to see it in action.

Well there you have it, the invisible decrease! You use it in place of a regular decrease when you want the stitches to blend nicely.

Tomorrow we are going to talk about the fun stuff, sketching your design! Woohoo! It's going to be so much fun! Hehe! Sketching your design can be an important step so you can understand what shapes you want to create and they will all fit together. :D

Happy crocheting,
~Chassity O.