Crochet - Increasing and Decreasing Stitches

Crotchet  is needlework i.e the simple drawing of one loop through another, done with a hook. You can make a variety of beautiful things like table mats, shawls, sweaters, dresses etc. with Crochet.   Materials : Hooks made of steel, plastic, aluminium and wood are available in different lengths and sizes. Steel hooks are usually used for cotton thread or fine wool work, plastic and aluminium hooks for wool, synthetics etc and wooden hooks for heavy wool (rug making). Yarns and threads are available in a variety of materials like wool (light, medium and heavy), cotton , synthetic, jute and so on. Gauge Gauge means the number of stitches and rows per inch. Gauge will be specified in the directions given in a particular design. When you do crocheting , it is important to maintain the gauge specified in the design to get the correct size of the article you are making. To check the Gauge, make a  sample 3 or 4 inches square patch of the stitch given. Stitch using the specified hook and yarn. Then place the patch flat on the table and with a ruler measure the number of stitches and rows per inch.  For eg. Gauge= 4 stitches per inch.  If your stitch number doesn't correspond to the Gauge given for the design, try out different size hooks i.e a larger hook if you have more stitches per inch or a smaller hook for less stitches per inch until the Gauge specified is obtained.

To increase the stitches, work two stitches in one stitch.  To Decrease Single crochet Stitch one single crochet to a point where there are two loops on hook. Make one more loop in next stitch. Yarn over hook, draw through all three loops at once. One decrease made. To Decrease Double crochet Stitch one double crochet to a point where two loops are on hook. Begin next double crochet in next stitch until there are four loops  on hook.   Yarn over hook, draw through all three loops on hook. One loop remains on hook. One decrease made.