Invisible decrease crochet is a way to do two stitches together to shorten a crochet row or round. And it’s achievable by crocheting in the front loops only of the stitches in the previous row/round.
The reason why it’s called “invisible” is because when you use the front loops only of the stitches, you will create a less noticeable seam where the decreases are placed. Which will give your finished crochet projects a smoother finish.
The invisible decrease is commonly used for garments and Amigurumi patterns made with single crochet, half double crochet and double crochet stitches. Therefore, it’s an important technique to practice in your early crochet learning journey.
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Table of Contents
Understanding the Invisible Decrease Crochet
- Abbreviations: you will often see it as “dec” or “inv dec”, which stands for decrease and invisible decrease. But you will also see it as “sc2tog” for single crochet, as “hdc2tog” for half double crochet and as “dc2tog” for double crochet.
- Why and when you use it: you do invisible decreases because if makes the stitch lines less noticeable in a crochet project. It’s commonly used and garments, hats, and Amigurumi.
- Stitches: generally, single crochet, half double crochet, and double crochet stitches (or a combination of those) are the ones you decrease in a pattern.
How to do an invisible decrease
An invisible decrease crochet stitch is when you grab less stitches (front loops only) with the hook to transform two, or more stitches, in one.
The Basic Steps:
- To begin, insert the hook in front loop only of the next stitch, from front to back.
- Next, repeat the previous step with the next stitch.
- Then, yarn over with your hook.
- Lastly, pull through and complete the stitch as normal.
Tutorial Notes & Instructions
- This invisible decrease crochet tutorial uses US terminology.
- You will learn how to do the invisible decrease for all three (dc, hdc and sc) stitches .
- After you see the steps to do the invisible decrease, you will have a swatch pattern for each of the three stiches, so you can practice it.
Materials You’ll Need
- Any worsted weight (#4) / Aran yarn – I used 100% acrylic yam for the pictured swatches. But any yarn you are comfortable with will be fine.
- 3.5 mm hook (US E) – I used this smaller hook because the stitch definition looks better for pictures in this invisible decrease crochet tutorial.
- Stitch marker – it will be helpful to keep track of stitches and rounds, especially for the sphere.
- Stuffing fiber – a small amount for the sphere.
- Tapestry needle – in case you want to weave in the ends.
- Scissors
Abbreviations (US terms)
- ch (s): chain (s)
- dc: double crochet
- dc2tog: double crochet two together
- dec: decrease
- hdc: half double crochet
- hdc2tog: half double crochet two together
- flo: front loop only
- FO: Fasten Off
- inv: invisible
- Rnd: Round
- sc: single crochet
- sc2tog: single crochet two together
- st (s): stitch (es)
- sl st: slip stitch
- yo: yarn over
Stitches & Techniques to Know
- Chain (ch): yarn over and pull through the loop on the hook.
- Magic Circle (mc): the magic circle will be used to start the sphere.
- Single Crochet (sc): insert the hook in next st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2.
- Half Double Crochet (hdc): yo, insert the hook in next st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through all 3.
- Double crochet: yo, insert the hook in next st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 (twice).
- Joining rounds with a slip stitch: Every time you finish a round, you will join the last stitch to first with a slip stitch. The joining will be used for the double crochet and half double crochet swatches.
Invisible Decrease Crochet Video Tutorial
Invisible Decrease Crochet Step by Step
Now that you know what the invisible decrease is and what you need to know to begin, let’s get to instructions on how you do it.
Step 1
- Single Crochet Invisible Decrease: insert the hook in flo of next two sts at the same time.
- Half Double Crochet Invisible Decrease: yo, insert the hook in flo of next two sts at the same time.
- Double Crochet Invisible Decrease: yo, insert the hook in flo of next two sts at the same time.
Step 2
- Single Crochet Invisible Decrease: yo, pull through two.
- Half Double Crochet Invisible Decrease: yo, pull through two.
- Double Crochet Invisible Decrease: yo, pull through two.
Step 3
- Single Crochet Invisible Decrease: yo again.
- Half Double Crochet Invisible Decrease: yo again.
- Double Crochet Invisible Decrease: yo again, pull through two.
Step 4
- Single Crochet Invisible Decrease: pull through two loops on hook. The sc inv dec is complete.
- Half Double Crochet Invisible Decrease: pull through all three loops on hook. The hdc inv dec is complete.
- Double Crochet Invisible Decrease: yo again, pull through two loops on hook. The dc inv dec is complete.
Invisible Decrease Crochet Swatch
If you landed in this blog post, chances are you’re looking into a way to not only learn, but also to practice the invisible decrease. And the best way to practice is by crocheting a small swatch.
That way, if you make a mistake, you can frog it and start over. I’m giving instructions for three swatches, one for single crochet, another for half double crochet and the third for double crochet.
Single Crochet Swatch
For the invisible decrease crochet swatch with single crochet stitches, you are creating a simple sphere. The invisible decrease will be the third section of the sphere, when you’re reducing the stitches to close it.
You’re crocheting the sphere in continuous rounds. Meaning there is no need to join the rounds with a slip stitch and no need to chain 1 to start the new round. Here is the pattern:
- Rnd1: sc 6 in a mc
- Rnd2: (sc inc) 6 times. [12]
- Rnd3: (sc inc, sc in next st) 6 times. [18]
- Rnd4: (sc inc, sc in next 2 sts) 6 times. [24]
- Rnd5: (sc inc, sc in next 3 sts) 6 times. [30]
- Rnd6: (sc inc, sc in next 4 sts) 6 times. [36]
- Rnd7-13: sc around. [36]
- Rnd14: (sc inv dec, sc in next 4 sts) 6 times. [30]
- Rnd15: (sc inv dec, sc in next 3 sts) 6 times. [24]
- Rnd16: (sc inv dec, sc in next 2 sts) 6 times. [18]
- Rnd17: (sc inv dec, sc in next st) 6 times. [12]
- Rnd18: sc in next 6 sts. [6]
FO. Cut the Yarn Weave in the ends.
Half Double Crochet Swatch
For this hdc swatch, you are creating a ring with chains, then you crochet the hdc stitches on the round. This would be like crocheting a cone from bottom up. Here is the pattern:
Ch 33 and sl st to 1st ch to create a ring. Ch 2 to start every round.
- Rnd1-3: ch 2, hdc across. [33]
- Initial ch 2 won’t count as a st here and in the following rounds.
- Rnd4: (hdc in next 9 sts, inv hdc dec) 3 times. [30]
- Rnd5: (hdc in next 8 sts, inv hdc dec) 3 times. [27]
- Rnd6: (hdc in next 7 sts, inv hdc dec) 3 times. [24]
- Rnd7: (hdc in next 6 sts, inv hdc dec) 3 times. [21]
- Rnd8: (hdc in next 5 sts, inv hdc dec) 3 times. [18]
- Rnd9: (hdc in next 4 sts, inv hdc dec) 3 times. [15]
- Rnd10: (hdc in next 3 sts, inv hdc dec) 3 times. [12]
FO. Cut the Yarn Weave in the ends.
Double Crochet Swatch
And here the swatch using the double crochet stitch decrease. It has some similarities to the hdc swatch, but of course it will be larger because we are using dc stitches. Here is the pattern:
Ch 33 and sl st to 1st ch to create a ring. Ch 2 to start every round.
Rnd1-3: ch 2, hdc across. [33]
Initial ch 2 won’t count as a st here and in the following rounds.
- Rnd4: (dc in next 9 sts, inv dc dec) 3 times. [30]
- Rnd5: (dc in next 8 sts, inv dc dec) 3 times. [27]
- Rnd6: (dc in next 7 sts, inv dc dec) 3 times. [24]
- Rnd7: (dc in next 6 sts, inv dc dec) 3 times. [21]
- Rnd8: (dc in next 5 sts, inv dc dec) 3 times. [18]
- Rnd9: (dc in next 4 sts, inv dc dec) 3 times. [15]
- Rnd10: (dc in next 3 sts, inv dc dec) 3 times. [12]
FO. Cut the Yarn Weave in the ends.
More Patterns & Tutorials
- How to Create a Slip Knot in Crochet
- Crochet Chainless Foundation Tutorial
- C2C Granny Spike Stitch Pattern
- Amigurumi Strawberry Crochet Pattern
- Amigurumi Ghost Crochet Pattern
- Crochet Ducks Free Patterns Roundup
- Crochet Elephant Patterns Roundup
- Crochet Doll Amigurumi Pattern
FAQ’s
Here are the answers for the frequently asked questions about the invisible decrease crochet technique.
Decrease x Invisible Decrease, what’s the difference?
The difference is that a regular decrease is when you crochet in both loops of the stitches in the previous round/row. As for the invisible decrease, the stitches will be crocheted in the front loops only of the stitches.
What does visible line mean in a crochet decrease?
The traditional decrease in crochet will make a more visible “line” when you stack the stitches in several rows or rounds. It happens because you grab more loops to create the decrease, making the stitches bulkier. On the other hand, the invisible decrease will create a more subtle line/seam because you’re grabbing less loops to create the stitches.
Is a sc2tog the same as an invisible decrease?
Yes, it’s the same thing. These are different terms used in crochet patterns to tell you to make two single crochet stiches into one. So, next time you need to sc2tog, you can do the invisible decrease because it’s not going to chance the result of your project (besides making it prettier, of course).
Is the invisible decrease better than the regular decrease?
Not necessarily! And as you can see in the swatches pictured in this tutorial, the lines in the single crochet stitch regular decrease are more visible. As for the half double and double crochet stitch decreases, they are visible, but not as much.
The regular decrease doesn’t make your crochet ugly, but it sure leaves a visible line in it. So, if you’re looking for perfection, the invisible decrease is your best option.
What to do next
Drop a comment below if you have any questions about this invisible decrease crochet tutorial or if you just would like to say “hi”. Another way to reach out to me is by joining my community group on Facebook.
If you use any of my patterns or tutorials for a project, please tag me @zamiguz or use the hashtag #zamiguzmakers. I would love to see what you make.
The Takeaway
I hope you enjoy practicing the invisible decrease crochet tutorial with the swatch patterns provided. But remember, as with everything else, it takes time, patience, and a lot of practice to perfect the invisible decrease.
If you learned to decrease in crochet the traditional way, no worries. It’s not wrong! The invisible decrease is just a way to make your finished crochet projects to look cleaner and neater.
If you made it to the bottom of this blog post and you have decided to use it to learn this new technique, I am sure you will know exactly what to do next time you have a pattern calling for decreases. Enjoy!
