Home › Crochet abbreviations › dec: Decrease (crochet)
dec: Decrease (crochet)
Work two stitches together as one, for example sc2tog: insert the hook, pull up a loop, insert into the next stitch, pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through all three loops. A decrease removes stitches, so the stitch count at the end of the row is lower than at the start. Patterns usually state the new total in brackets.
How to work dec
Work two stitches together as one, for example sc2tog: insert the hook, pull up a loop, insert into the next stitch, pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through all three loops.
Common mistake
Working the decrease in the wrong stitches, which leaves a visible gap.
Effect on your stitch count
It removes 1 stitch.
How it looks in a pattern
A typical line (an invented example for illustration):
Row 6: Ch 1, sc, dec, sc across.Spacing it evenly
Need to spread dec evenly across a row? Use the increase and decrease calculator.
Related abbreviations
All terms are in the crochet abbreviations list, and in the app's Glossary, which works offline.
Frequently asked questions
What does dec stand for?
dec stands for decrease (crochet).
Does dec change the number of stitches?
It removes 1 stitch.