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This week’s lesson will be a shorter lesson, with two important things learned:

- increasing
- decreasing

Alas, I believe my camera with video has bit the dust Its not worth getting fixed, and its not in the budget to get a new one for now. So I will use the videos from nexstitch and photos to explain things from now on.

Increasing

To increase when you are working with a piece that is solid (ie all sc, dc, hdc etc), you increase by simply working one or more stitches into a single stitch.

Here is a great page outline all your basic increases from Crochet Cabana.

Increases done with a special stitch (ie shell stitch) will be explained in the pattern that they are required, and so I wont go into them here

Decreasing

Decreasing is actually quite easy once you get the hang of it. Basically, you will start each stitch as normal (yo the number of times required, then insert your hook into the stitch, yo and pull through) but you don’t complete the stitch. You then start to work another stitch into the next stitch and complete it by pulling your yarn through all the loops on the hook. Yeah, I know….that doesn’t make much sense at all (Its early and I haven’t had coffee yet )
Check out the decreasing page on Crochet Cabana for a much better explination.

Patterns

I couldn’t find any patterns online for decreasing / increasing and squares, but I have one in mind and I will try to draft it and write it down by the end of the week for you

Until then, try this easy pattern for a wrist pouch - it contains increases, and should only take you a few hours to complete. Plus its a bit of a break from squares! A note on the pattern, once you start working the sides, you have two choices. You can sc each round, and complete each round by sl st to the beginning chain, chain 1 and start a new row. Or you can simply crochet round and round, like a spiral. The first method will give you an obvious seam, the second method wont. It is up to you

If you would rather do squares, here are a couple more to help you work on previous skills taught.

Heart Sampler Square

Spring Breeze
Have fun and happy hooking!!