How to Increase in Crochet
Learn what a crochet increase is and how to make an increase stitch (inc). This step-by-step guide lays out the basics, while our full post answers your frequently asked questions and gives helpful tips.
Yield: 1 increase
Cost: $1
Equipment
Materials
- Worsted weight yarn (or any yarn weight)
Instructions
- Start with your foundation row or crochet project. You’ll add an increase (inc) where your pattern tells you to, or wherever you want your work to get wider.For this tutorial, we made a row of chains and worked 1 single crochet into each ch across.
- To begin the inc, make the first st as usual. Here we worked 1 sc into the last st of the previous row.An inc doesn’t have to be made with sc, though. You can inc with whatever st your pattern is using, such as half double crochet, double crochet, or treble crochet.
- A crochet inc means working 2 sts into the same st. So after making the first st, insert your hook back into the same st where you just made the sc.(To find the right spot, look for the base of the V shape from the st you just made. If you gently pull up on the finished stitch, you should see the opening underneath it move or get a little bigger. Insert your hook back into that same opening to make the second st.)
- Make another sc into that same st, or use whatever st your pattern calls for.That’s it! You’ve completed an increase. You started with 1 st from the previous row and turned it into 2 sts in the new row.
- Here's what a whole row of inc sts looks like.You can see how more sts in the row are changing the shape of the project and making it wider.
Video
Notes
Looking to brush up on more crochet basics? Here are some tutorials for you to check out:
How to Decrease in Crochet
How to Crochet a Magic Circle
Crochet Slip Stitch (sl st)