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Invisible decrease in rounds

A sc decrease that disappears on the outside of the work, so a shaped round (the top of a ball or a toy's head) looks as smooth as plain sc. The hook goes under the front loops only of two stitches, then a loop is pulled up through both and the stitch is finished as a normal sc, so only one stitch…

What you work it with

Crochet · Tools: A hook one or two sizes smaller than usual (tight sc for toys), a stitch marker for the first stitch of each round, toy stuffing.

Symbol chart

One or two repeats of the stitch pattern, in standard crochet symbols.
123Single crochet (sc)dec (2 sts together)Join with a sl st into the first stRead from the bottom: every round right to left, joined at the end.

Steps

  1. Work in spiral rounds of sc with the right side facing out.
  2. Decrease: insert the hook through the front loop of the next stitch and then the front loop of the one after.
  3. Yarn over and pull through both front loops.
  4. Yarn over and pull through the 2 loops on the hook.
  5. Work the decreases evenly round the piece, moving the marker each round.
  6. Close the last stitches with a tail through the front loops.

The full card

What it looks like
A sc decrease that disappears on the outside of the work, so a shaped round (the top of a ball or a toy's head) looks as smooth as plain sc.
How it behaves
Closes a tube or ball neatly; on the inside a small bar shows, which is fine for toys.
How it works
The hook goes under the front loops only of two stitches, then a loop is pulled up through both and the stitch is finished as a normal sc, so only one stitch shows from the outside.
Tools
A hook one or two sizes smaller than usual (tight sc for toys), a stitch marker for the first stitch of each round, toy stuffing.
Parameters
Spread decreases evenly: e.g. (sc 1, dec) round on 12 stitches leaves 8, then dec all round leaves 4 [inference].
Steps
1) Work in spiral rounds of sc with the right side facing out. 2) Decrease: insert the hook through the front loop of the next stitch and then the front loop of the one after. 3) Yarn over and pull through both front loops. 4) Yarn over and pull through the 2 loops on the hook. 5) Work the decreases evenly round the piece, moving the marker each round. 6) Close the last stitches with a tail through the front loops.
Charting
Flattened rounds, read right to left, each joined at the end: the dec symbol is one invisible decrease (two stitches into one). Rounds get shorter as the piece closes.
Limits and common problems
Not invisible from the inside, and not for work turned every round or worked in back loops. A gap shows if the yarn is loose: pull it snug.
Combines with
Single crochet, Tapestry crochet
Pieces and assembly
Amigurumi heads and bodies, ball ornaments, hat crowns worked from the brim up.

Written in our own words from machine manuals, knitting references and swatching. Knit a test swatch before a whole piece.

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