Shaping — Increases & Decreases
A rectangle is just a starting point. Shaping is the technique that transforms flat fabric into curved edges, tapered sleeves, fitted necklines, rounded toy bodies, and perfectly flat circles. It works by adding stitches (increasing) or removing them (decreasing) at specific points in your work.
What we cover: How increases and decreases work, the three most common methods for each, and how to read shaping instructions in a pattern.
Increases — Adding Stitches
An increase simply means working two stitches into the same stitch. This adds one extra stitch to your total count, which causes the fabric to fan outward.
How to work a single crochet increase:
- Insert your hook into the designated stitch as normal.
- Complete one full single crochet stitch.
- Without moving forward, insert your hook into the same stitch again.
- Complete a second single crochet in that same stitch.
- You now have 2 stitches where there was 1 — the increase is complete.
In a pattern you will see this written as: 2 sc in next st or simply inc.
Increases work the same way for any stitch type — 2 hdc in next st, 2 dc in next st, etc. The principle never changes; only the stitch height does.
Where increases appear: Flat circles add increases evenly every round. Hat brims flare outward using increases. Amigurumi bodies widen at the centre before being decreased back down.
The sc2tog Decrease
sc2tog stands for "single crochet two together." It merges two stitches into one, removing one stitch from your count and pulling the fabric inward. It leaves a slightly visible ridge on the surface — acceptable in most projects, but noticeable in amigurumi worked in single crochet.
Step-by-step:
- Insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over, and pull through. (2 loops on hook)
- Without completing the stitch, insert your hook into the following stitch, yarn over, and pull through. (3 loops on hook)
- Yarn over and draw through all 3 loops at once.
- One stitch consumed, one created — your count has decreased by one.
In a pattern: sc2tog or dec
The same principle applies to other stitches: hdc2tog, dc2tog. The technique is identical — insert into two stitches before completing the final pull-through.
The Invisible Decrease
The invisible decrease achieves the same count reduction as sc2tog but is almost undetectable on the surface of the fabric. It is the preferred method for amigurumi and any project where clean, smooth shaping matters visually.
Step-by-step:
- Instead of inserting through both loops of the next stitch, insert your hook through the front loop only of the next stitch.
- Then insert through the front loop only of the stitch after that. (2 loops on hook)
- Yarn over and pull through both front loops. (2 loops on hook)
- Yarn over and pull through the remaining 2 loops to complete.
The result is a decrease that lies flat and blends into the surrounding stitches. The visible ridge of sc2tog disappears completely.
When to use which: sc2tog for blankets, garments, and anything where the wrong side is hidden. Invisible decrease for amigurumi, plushies, and any project where all sides are visible.
Reading Shaping Instructions
Shaping instructions in patterns follow a consistent shorthand once you know how to decode it. Here are the most common formats:
Increase examples:
- inc in next st — work 2 stitches into the next stitch
- *sc 5, inc* ×6 — work 5 single crochets then an increase, repeat 6 times
- 2 dc in next st — two double crochets in one stitch
Decrease examples:
- sc2tog — merge the next two stitches into one
- *sc 4, sc2tog* ×6 — work 4 single crochets then a decrease, repeat 6 times
- dec — shorthand for any standard decrease
The stitch count in brackets:
At the end of a shaping row or round, patterns usually show the new total in brackets: (48 sts). Always count your stitches after shaping rows to catch errors early — it's much easier to fix a miscounted row immediately than to unravel ten rows later.
➕ Calculate Your Shaping Automatically
Need to add or remove a specific number of stitches evenly across a row? The Stitch Increase/Decrease Calculator works out the exact spacing pattern for you — no maths required.
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