INVISIBLE DECREASE: Crochet Tutorial for Amigurumi

Have you ever been bothered by bulky single crochet decreases when making a project? The invisible decrease is the perfect alternative, and I’ll show you why! Let’s learn how to make this stitch together today.

Is Sc2Tog the same as invisible decrease?

If you see the term “invisible decrease” in a pattern, you might wonder—can you just make the standard crochet decrease, sc2tog?

The answer is no. The single crochet 2 together stitch (sc2tog) is NOT the same as an invisible decrease (inv dec).

In fact, they do not produce the same results at all!

So what’s the difference?

The difference lies in how the decrease is made.

In sc2tog, you will insert your hook into a stitch, yarn over, and insert your hook in another stitch.

This leaves 3 loops on your hook before completion, which results in a bulkier stitch.

An invisible decrease, on the other hand, uses a sneaky technique to ensure that you only pull through 2 loops upon completion, rather than 3.

The resulting stitch looks nearly identical to a regular single crochet. Only a highly trained eye can tell the difference.

And best of all, the invisible decrease leaves no holes or gaps—which is why it is perfect for amigurumi projects (like this frog!)

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How to make invisible decreases in crochet

So let’s learn, step by step, how to make the invisible decrease together!

The example shown in the video and pictures is an amigurumi pig. The pattern will be released in early 2023.

But you can use this technique on literally ANY amigurumi project!

Video Tutorial:

Step by Step photos

Follow these steps to make the invisible decrease.

Step 1:

To begin, you’ll need to know the difference between the front loop and back loop of a given stitch. Take a look at the photo below for reference:

Insert your hook into the front loop of the next stitch. (Do not yarn over before inserting your hook).

Step 2:

Now, insert your hook into the front loop of the next stitch again (DO NOT YARN OVER).

This will feel a little bit tricky at first, because most of us are used to yarning over before inserting our hook into another stitch.

But don’t worry, soon it will become second nature!

Step 3:

Next, it is time to finally yarn over and pull your hook through both of the loops on it. With this action, you have essentially combined the two stitches together into one (in a unique way, I might add!)

This is what it will look like after you pull through both loops (the decrease is halfway done!)

Step 4:

Now all that is left to do is complete the stitch like a regular single crochet.

Simply yarn over and pull through both loops on your hook.

Here you can see the difference between sc2tog and inv dec:

Tips for the Best invisible decreases

As I have been practicing this stitch, I have noticed some helpful things you can do to ensure your invisible decreases turn out right.

1. Watch out for looseness. After you do an inv dec, the following stitch can tend to be too loose. You may need to pull the working yarn tighter at times to ensure even stitches.
2. Make sure you don’t accidentally work into the same front loop twice. You don’t want to increase a stitch after decreasing! It is worth watching the video to see me explain this in motion (I show where to work next after making the inv dec).

Questions About Crochet Decreases

What is the point of decreasing in crochet?

Essentially, what decreasing does in crochet is combine 2 stitches into 1 stitch. The goal of decreasing is very straightforward: to have less stitches.

For example, if you have 20 stitches in a round, and you decrease 5 times, you will then only have 15 stitches left. In this way, you can make your work smaller.

Why does the inv dec work so well on amigurumi?

The inv dec is perfect for amigurumi because you only see the right side of the work, while the wrong side is hidden.

Because this stitch is worked in the front loops only, it isn’t so pretty on the back side.

Are there different methods of decreasing while crocheting?

Yes! In this post we have discussed two methods of decreasing in crochet, but there are many more. There are half double crochet decreases, double crochet decreases, and more.

How do I decrease my crochet evenly?

Whenever you decrease in crochet (no matter which method you use) keep an eye on your tension!

Make sure you don’t have stitches that are being started with a larger loop on the hook than normal.

This tends to happen after decreasing because you are reaching further to get to the next stitch. Therefore, it is good to keep an eye on the size of your loops.

What is the invisible double crochet decrease?

The invisible double crochet decrease is similar to the stitch we just learned! It uses the same “front loop” method to create a double crochet decrease that is not as noticeable. You can learn this stitch here.

Conclusion

The invisible decrease is a must-learn for anyone who crochets amigurumi. It is not only easy to make, but it will also transform the finished appearance of your animals or dolls, making them look more professional. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

Check out the cross over stitch or feather stitch next.