Six Ways To Make the Double Crochet 2 Together Decrease – Part 2: Three MORE Compound Stitch Techniques.

Technique Tuesday Crochet Tutorial – Double Crochet Decreases Part 2

1/20/2015

Technique Tuesday - Step-by-step crochet and knitting photo tutorials by Shibaguyz Designz

Six Ways To Make the Double Crochet 2 Together Decrease – Part 2: Three MORE Compound Stitch Techniques

Technique
Double Crochet 2 Together Decreases

What is it?
The instruction for Double Crochet 2 Together, also written as (dc2tog), is used to decrease the number of stitches made in a row by one stitch. One stitch is made in place of two stitches and is generally for the purpose of shaping but can also be used to make different lace patterns.

Six Ways To Make the Double Crochet 2 Together Decrease – Part 2: Three MORE Compound Stitch Techniques. A free step-by-step photo tutorial by Shibaguyz Designz

More accurately, one Compound Double Crochet Stitch is made in place of two Double Crochet stitches. Compound Crochet Stitches are those stitches that are made up of two or more elements of other crochet stitches. When making a Compound Crochet Stitch, we combine the elements of two or more crochet stitches to make one NEW crochet stitch. In this tutorial and in Part 1, we explore the use of these Compound Crochet Stitches to combine the elements of two Double Crochet stitches to create one Double Crochet 2 Together (dc2tog) stitch.

As we said in the title of this tutorial, this is the second of a two part tutorial and contains techniques 4–6 of the SIX techniques we use for making the Double Crochet 2 Together (dc2tog) decrease. Yup… six…

To catch up on the techniques 1–3, go to our post from a couple of weeks ago at the link below:

Six Ways To Make the Double Crochet 2 Together Decrease – Part 1: The First Three Techniques

Don't worry… we'll wait for you to go and come back…

Oh good! You're back…

Now on with today's tutorial!

Click the "Read More" link for the full tutorial.

Why Use It?
As with our tutorial for Three Ways To Make the Single Crochet 2 Together Decrease, the question here is really about why to have so many different ways to make the Double Crochet 2 Together (dc2tog) decrease. And, expectedly, the answer is the same: Options!

There are a nearly innumerable number of fabric variations possible when one combines different hook sizes, yarns, and stitch patterns. With each of these fabric variations, it is often necessary to have options for making Double Crochet 2 Together decreases that look esthetically pleasing in the overall crochet fabric.

It is HIGHLY unlikely that your pattern instructions will give you specifics for how to make the Double Crochet 2 Together decrease beyond the abbreviation (dc2tog). So, it is up to YOU to decide if one of these six techniques for making the Double Crochet 2 Together decrease will fit your project better than the others. The best way to make this decision is to read your pattern ahead of time to determine what types of decreases (if any) you will be making then make them in your swatch.

To Work Today's Tutorial
Here's a list of materials we used to make today's Double Crochet 2 Together (dc2tog) tutorial. While you can, of course, use any materials you have on hand, these materials listed are what we recommend you use while you are learning.

Yarn Used
CYCA 4
Worsted Weight, 100% Pure Wool

Hook Used
H-8/5.00mm Crochet Hook

Skillz Used
Foundation Double Crochet (Fdc) – See our crochet tutorial here: How To Make The Foundation Double Crochet Stitch
First Double Crochet – See our crochet tutorial here: How To Make The First Double Crochet Stitch

The Swatch
The swatch we've made to start today's Double Crochet 2 Together tutorial is as follows.
Row 1: 15 Fdc, turn.
Row 2: First-dc, dc in each st to end of row, turn.
Row 3: Repeat Row 2.

NOTE: We are making our First-dc with 2 chains rather than just one. It fit better with the fabric of this swatch. Again, see our crochet tutorial for How To Make The First Double Crochet Stitch if you need a refresher or haven't made this FAB stitch before.

Break It Down

Compound Double Crochet Stitch #4
Centered Double Crochet 2 Together (centered-dc2tog): Yarn over, insert hook in next st, yarn over and draw up a loop (3 loops on hook), insert hook in next st, yarn over and draw up a loop (4 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through 3 loops on hook, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook.

This decrease is a type of Low Double Crochet 2 Together (low-dc2tog) with the decreases at the bottom of the two Double Crochet stitches. For the Centered Double Crochet 2 Together (centered-dc2tog) we have eliminated the yarn over before creating the base of the second Double Crochet stitch of our Compound Crochet Stitch. This pulls the two bases of the Double Crochet stitches together then sets the head of the stitch squarely on top of the new Compound Stitch base.

This technique creates a less bulky low-dc2tog stitch and centers the decrease perfectly between the two neighboring stitches.

1. Yarn over…

2. …insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop. At this point, you will have 3 loops on your hook as shown in the photo.

3. Insert hook in the next stitch. DO NOT yarn over first! Now you will have 4 loops on your hook.

4. Yarn over and draw through 3 loops on your hook.

Remember: We are making a type of Low-dc2tog Compound Stitch. If you look closely at the photo here and at your work there in your hands, you will see how pulling the 3 loops on your hook together with your last yarn over made a compound base. The first loop you passed through was the half-base of the second Double Crochet stitch and the second and third loop you passed through were the complete base of the first Double Crochet stitch.

The remaining 2 loops on your hook will be the head of the stitch which we will make right now!

5. Yarn over and draw through 2 loops on your hook.

And there you go! Those last 2 loops on your hook that you pulled your yarn over through created the head of the Compound Crochet Stitch. That head sets squarely atop the compound base and finishes off our Centered Double Crochet 2 Together (centered-dc2tog) stitch.

6. We've made three more Double Crochet stitches so you can see how the Centered Double Crochet 2 Together (centered-dc2tog) stitch nests in there beautifully in the middle of the row without disrupting the flow of the fabric at all. Two stitches have become one and the resulting Compound Crochet Stitch is the Centered Double Crochet 2 Together (centered-dc2tog) which pulls in the stitches on either side of it slightly toward it.

NOTE: This is a FAB decrease to use if you are working bottom up decreases on in-the-round projects like hats or if you want your decrease to lay in the line of a curve like the decreases used to shape the body of a garment.

Compound Double Crochet Stitch #5
Left Leaning Double Crochet 2 Together (LL-dc2tog): Yarn over, insert hook in next st, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook (2 loops on hook), insert hook in next st, yo and draw up a loop (3 loops on hook), (yo and draw through 2 loops on hook) 2 times.

As you will see when you stitch through this technique, we create two complete bases to make the Left Leaning Double Crochet 2 Together (LL-dc2tog) stitch with the head of the stitch setting atop the second base (that will become clear around step #5). This causes this Compound Crochet Stitch to lean slightly to the left while it makes two stitches become one new stitch.

1. Yarn over…

2. …and insert your hook in the next stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop. Right now you will have 3 loops on your hook as in the photo.

3. Yarn over and draw through 2 loops on your hook. This leaves 2 loops remaining on your hook and creates the first Double Crochet stitch base for the Compound Crochet Stitch we are making.

4. Insert your hook in the next stitch. Yarn over and draw up a loop. You will have 3 loops on your hook as shown in the photo.

Again, we are not doing a yarn over here before we begin the second part of our Compound Crochet Stitch. In this case, we already have the two loops on our hook that we need in order to make a regular Double Crochet Stitch.

Remember: What we are making here is a Compound Crochet Stitch which is one new stitch made up of the part of two other stitches. We just made the first base and now we are setting up to make a regular Double Crochet Stitch that is attached to the side of that base.

Stitch on… you'll see…

5. Yarn over and draw through 2 loops on your hook.

AHA! There it is! Now you have the first base and the second base both sitting next to each other BUT… see how that last loop you pulled up is definitely coming up from the second base? When you complete Step #6, you will see how that make this stitch lean to the left.

6. Yarn over and draw through 2 loops on your hook.

LOOK! That's where it happened! As you pulled that last yarn over through the last two loops on your hook, you should have seen how the loop that was farthest away from the hook was pulled over on top of the loop right next to the hook. Didn't see it? Try it again… we'll wait…

THERE!! Did you see it that time??

Yup… that's what makes this stitch a Left Leaning Double Crochet 2 Together (LL-dc2tog) stitch.

AND you can clearly see in the photo and in the work in your hands how there is a smaller first base with a full-on Double Crochet stitch attached to the side of it while the head sits happily atop the second base. Thus… a Left Leaning Double Crochet 2 Together (LL-dc2tog) stitch!

7. Here's that stitch sitting in with three more Double Crochet stitches after it. Notice how that first base blends in with the rest of the row and looks like a regular Double Crochet stitch just kind of vanishes and melts into the second part of the Compound Stitch. This one is a beauty… and, obviously, you can see the slight lean in toward the left of the first four stitches of the row.

NOTE: Because it leans to the left, this stitch is FAB near the beginning of a row shaping the right side of your fabric. We've even used it on the very beginning of a row because it makes a really beautiful edging stitch by itself and works FAB for sewing back into if we need to sew on a sleeve. LOVE this stitch!

Compound Double Crochet Stitch #6
Right Leaning Double Crochet 2 Together (RL-dc2tog): Yarn over, insert hook in next st, yarn over and draw through stitch AND one loop on hook (2 loops on hook), insert hook in next st, yarn over and draw up a loop (3 loops on hook), (yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook) 2 times.

As the name says, this Compound Crochet Stitch has a decided lean to the right. However, the way we create this one is a little different and kind of fun to make. Stitch on… you'll see…

1. Yarn over…

2. …insert your hook in the next stitch and yarn over…

3. …draw through stitch AND one loop on your hook.

This one can be a little tricky at first if you haven't made this kind of Slip Stitch before. The key here is to maneuver your hook through the stitch you just inserted it into then slide if up through that first loop on your hook. This photo shows the yarn over being drawn up through the stitch and starting through the loop on your hook.

4. And now here is that movement completed. The loop you just pulled through has now joined the loop on your hook to the stitch you worked into with a slip stitch and you have 2 loops remaining on your hook.

We have completed the first base of our Compound Stitch but it's a teeny tiny base that sits right down on the very bottom of the row.

5. Insert your hook in the next stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop.

Now you will have 3 loops on your hook for making a Double Crochet stitch that is attached to that really low base we just completed.

6. Yarn over and draw through 2 loops on your hook.

This completes the second base of our Compound Crochet Stitch and you can see the little nub of that slip stitch base pulling the second base over to the right.

The two loops remaining on your hook are for the head of our Compound Stitch which we will make right now!

7. Yarn over and draw through 2 loops on your hook.

And there it is!

You can very clearly see in the photo and the work in your hands how that first slip stitch base really locks that second base over to the right. Once you put the head of the Compound Stitch on with this last movement, the Right Leaning Double Crochet 2 Together (RL-dc2tog) stitch really becomes evident.

8. Here is the Right Leaning Double Crochet 2 Together (RL-dc2tog) stitch with three more Double Crochet stitches worked after it.

NOTE: The right leaning property of this stitch makes it a FAB stitch for working at the end of a row where you want shaping. This is, naturally, a great companion stitch to the Left Leaning Double Crochet 2 Together (LL-dc2tog) stitch when they are worked at opposite ends of a row for shaping two sides of a fabric panel.

TAADAA!!

A Final Word… or two…
This whole concept of Compound Crochet Stitches used to make decreases in crochet stitch patterns is really fun to play around with. We encourage you to go back and work on the first three techniques covered in our previous post:

Six Ways To Make the Double Crochet 2 Together Decrease – Part 1: The First Three Techniques

Then play around with them and experiment to see where you like using them best. Some are better suited to lace work, some in the middle of rows, and some on the ends of rows. There are varying degrees of slope to each of the decreases as well and each of them looks a little different when set into a background of various crochet stitches.

As always… experment! Play! SWATCH! That's how we get better at what we do and how we make our already good crochet skills FAB!

And… hey… if you aren't happy with your experiment rip it out and go again! You'll get it!

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Stitch On!
S&J

Oh hey… before you go… Here are a few more pages we thought you might be interested in. Click on any of the photos below… enjoy!