CROCHET TUTORIAL

	Chart Abbreviations: - shows where the mesh starts and where ends; - dc; - chain   - sl st (slip stitch)

Increasing and decreasing.
(LESSON 4, part 2)

In this part I'll show you how to decrease and give you some exercises.

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On the schemes decreasing may look like this:

or

The decreasing combinations you may encounter are:

Decreasing on one, two, three or more open meshes at the beginning of the row.
Decreasing on one, two, three or more filled meshes at the beginning of the row.
Decreasing on one, two, three or more open meshes at the end of the row.
Decreasing on one, two, three or more filled meshes at the end of the row.

Decreasing on open meshes means that the meshes below the decreasing are open. Decreasing on filled meshes means that the meshes below the decreasing are filled.
Actually decreasing itself means that you  don't crochet anything above those meshes. That is true for decreasing at the end of the row. But at the beginning of the row you do crochet something above the meshes below - and this "something" is slip stitch.

1. - decreasing on open meshes at the beginning of the row

To decrease on one open mesh at the beginning of the row: skip first dc, two slip stitches (sl st) in the space of ch2 below, one slip stitch in second dc below. To decrease on more than one open mesh work in each open mesh below: two sl st in space of ch2, one sl st in dc. After this start the row as usual. (Refer to the previous lessons where I describe how to start the row).

Important thing to remember: Always work a slip stitch in meshes bellow, NOT a single crochet! This is a common mistake of many patterns. If you are not quite sure how to work slip stitch, this is how:
to work sl st in space of ch2 - insert a hook under ch2 from the front to the back, yarn over, pull the loop under ch2 from the back to the front and draw through the loop on the hook.
to work sl st in dc - insert a hook in dc, yarn over, and draw through dc and the loop on the hook.

I know it's tricky, but it just takes some practice. Once again, DON'T replace slip stitch with single crochet, or your edges will look thick and messy. Practice!

Those of you who find it too difficult to work sl st in space of ch2, may replace it with sl st in ch2 itself (though I still don't recommend it!). But this is how you do it:
to work sl st in ch2 - insert a hook in first stitch of ch2, yarn over, and draw through this stitch and the loop on the hook. Repeat the same procedure for the second stitch of ch2.

2. - decreasing on filled meshes at the beginning of the row

To decrease on one filled mesh at the beginning of the row: skip first dc, three sl st in the next three dc below. To decrease on two filled meshes work 3 more sl st in next 3dc, to decrease on three filled meshes - 3 more sl st in next three dc and so on. After this start the row as usual. (Refer to the previous lessons where I describe how to start the row).

3. - decreasing on open meshes at the end of the row

Decreasing on open meshes at the end of the row is very simple - just leave these meshes unworked. In this example we are decreasing on two open meshes, and we are leaving those unworked. If you don't know what is that chain at the end - refer to the previous lessons where I describe how to start the row.

4.  - decreasing on filled meshes at the end of the row

Decreasing on filled meshes at the end of the row is the same - just leave these meshes unworked. In this example we are decreasing on one filled mesh, and we are leaving this mesh unworked.

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Now you know the theory of increasing and decreasing.
Lets try some exercises.

Don't forget to read the schemes from the right to the left.

1. - increasing on open meshes

Row 1: Ch15, dc in eighth chain from hook, ch2, skip two, dc in third chain, ch2, skip two, dc in third (and last) chain of ch15.
Row 2: Ch7, turn your work, dc in first dc of row below, *ch2, dc in next dc, repeat from * 2 times, ch2, dc in fifth chain of ch7 (i.e. the one you've started your work with by working dc in eighth chain from hook), ch2, dtr in same stitch you've worked previous dc.
Row 3: Ch10, turn your work, dc in eighth chain from hook, ch2, skip next two chains, dc in dtr of row below, *ch2, dc in next dc, repeat from * 4 times, ch2, dc in fifth chain of ch7 (i.e. the one you've started previous row), ch2, dtr in same stitch you've worked previous dc, ch2, dtr in the middle of previous dtr.
Row 4: Ch13, turn your work, dc in eighth chain from hook, ch2, skip next two chains, dc in third chain, ch2, skip next two chains, dc in first dtr of row below, ch2, dc in second dtr of row below,  *ch2, dc in next dc, repeat from * 7 times, ch2, dc in fifth chain of ch7 (i.e. the one you've started previous row with by working dc in eighth chain from hook), ch2, dtr in dtr in same stitch you've worked previous dc, *ch2, dtr in the middle of previous dtr, repeat from * 2 times.
Row 5: Ch5, turn your work, dc in second dtr of row below, ch2, dc in third dtr of row below, *ch2, dc in next dc, repeat from * 12 times, ch2, dc in fifth chain of ch7 (i.e. the one you've started previous row with by working dc in eighth chain from hook).

You've learnt how to increase your work on open meshes.

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2. - increasing on filled meshes

Row 1: Ch13, dc in fourth chain from hook, dc in each remaining stitch of ch13 (totally 9dc).
Row 2: Ch8, turn your work, dc in fourth chain from hook, 4dc in remaining four chains of ch8, dc in first dc of row below, 3dc in next three dc, ch2, skip two dc, dc in third dc, 2dc in next 2dc, dc in third chain of ch3 (i.e the one you've started your work with by working dc in fourth chain from hook), tr in same stitch as previous dc, *tr in the base of previous tr, repeat from * 5 times.
Row 3: Ch3, turn your work, dc in second tr, 2dc in next two tr, ch2, skip two tr, dc in next dc, ch2, skip two dc, dc in next dc, ch2, dc in next dc, *ch2, skip two dc, dc in third dc, repeat from * 2 times, 2dc in next two dc, dc in third chain of ch3 (i.e the one you've started previous row with by working dc in fourth chain from hook).
Row 4: Ch5, turn your work, dc in fourth chain from hook, dc in remaining chain, dc in first dc of row below, 3dc in next three dc, *ch2, dc in next dc, repeat from * 5 times, 2dc in next two dc, dc in third chain of ch3 (i.e the one you've started previous row with), tr in same stitch as previous dc, *tr in the base of previous tr, repeat from * 2 times.
Row 5: Ch3, turn your work, dc in second tr, dc in third tr, dc in next dc, ch2, skip two dc, dc in third dc, *ch2, dc in next dc, repeat from * 5 times, ch2, skip two dc, dc in third dc, 2dc in next two dc, dc in third chain of ch3 (i.e the one you've started previous row with by working dc in fourth chain from hook).

You've learnt how to increase your work on filled meshes.

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3.  - decreasing on open meshes

Row 1: Ch12, dc in eighth chain from hook, ch2, skip two, dc in last chain of ch12.
Row 2: Ch7, turn your work, dc in first dc of row below, ch2. dc in next dc, ch2, dc in fifth chain of ch7 (i.e. the one you've started your work with by working dc in eighth chain from hook), ch2, dtr in same stitch you've worked previous dc.
Row 3: Ch7, turn your work, dc in dtr of row below, ch2, dc in dc, 2dc in space of ch2, dc in dc, 2dc in space of next ch2, dc in next dc, ch2, dc in fifth chain of ch7 (i.e. the one you've started previous row with by working dc in eighth chain from hook), ch2, dtr in same stitch you've worked previous dc.
Row 4: Ch5, turn your work, dc in dc of row below (skip dtr!), ch2, 7dc in next seven dc, ch2, dc in next dc, ch2, dc in fifth chain of ch7 (i.e. the one you've started previous row with by working dc in eighth chain from hook).
Row 5: Turn your work, skip first dc, 2sl st in space of ch2 below, sl st in next dc, ch5, dc in next dc, *ch2, skip two dc, dc in third dc, repeat from * 2 times, ch2, dc in next dc. Leave ch5 unworked.
Row 6: Turn your work, skip first dc, 2sl st in space of ch2 below, sl st in next dc, ch5, dc in next dc, ch2, dc in next dc. Leave ch5 unworked.

You've learnt how to decrease your work on open meshes.

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4. - decreasing on filled meshes

Row 1: Ch12, dc in eighth chain from hook, ch2, skip two, dc in last chain of ch12.
Row 2: Ch13, turn your work, dc in eighth chain from hook, ch2, skip next two chains, dc in third chain, ch2, skip next two chains, dc in first dc of row below, ch2, dc in next dc, ch2, dc in fifth chain of ch7 (i.e. the one you've started your work with by working dc in eighth chain from hook), ch2, dtr in same stitch you've worked previous dc, *ch2, dtr in the middle of previous dtr, repeat from * 2 times.
Row 3: Ch3, turn your work, skip first dtr, 2dc in space of ch2 below, dc in second dtr, 2dc in space of next ch2, dc in third dtr, *2dc in space of next ch2, dc in next dc, repeat from * 5 times, 2dc in space of next ch2, dc in fifth chain of ch7 (i.e. the one you've started previous row with by working dc in eighth chain from hook).
Row 4: Turn your work, skip first dc, 3sl st in next three dc, ch3, 18dc in next eighteen dc. Leave last three dc unworked.
Row 5: Turn your work, skip first dc, 6sl st in next six dc, ch3, 6dc in next six dc. Leave last six dc unworked.

You've learnt how to decrease your work on filled meshes.

And, as usual, I give you a little homework. If you are able to do this exercise yourself, without my instructions, then you can work any project with increasing and decreasing. Here it is:

The examples of only increasing you may find in such models as tablecloth decoration Poinsettia and edgings Lisa and Puppy. Examples of only decreasing are pillow decorations Desert Flower and Rose Garden.
The examples of both increasing and decreasing are almost all centerpieces and table runners, some purses, and both valances.

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In our next lesson you'll learn how to work borders around your projects. This is an essential part of filet crochet, which oddly enough many patterns just ignore.

Happy crocheting!