Wondering what all your wonderful clothing pieces from The Crocheted Moon would look fantastic with...look no further. Here we'll show you what you can pair your pieces with, whether it's other items from the shop, or your own closet. Get ready to look great and feel confident! Meet Fanny the Fashion Pair. Our little friend loves clothes and accessories galore, but doesn't always know how to 'pair' things together. Today she wants to find something cool, but warm that will help keep her toasty in the cold weather. See what fun combinations you can make with hats, scarves, and your fav jackets and coats. Spooky & Cute, what a perfect pair! Fanny is super excited for Halloween and has been searching for perfect Halloween items to make her holiday spooktacular!! Well step inside little pear and bring your friends because The Crocheted Moon has just the thing for you and them. Ready, Set, Pair!... It wouldn't be a ghoulish holiday without Jack and Sally. Choose a dashing Jack scarf or loveyly Sally one and pair it with the unbeatable Jack Earflap Hat. Need a little something extra for few special monsters? You will be more popular than the witch with the candy house when you pair the mini cauldron in either black, lime green, or purple with a bag of good ol' candy corn. This fun plush already comes as a pair with it's little pumpkin pouch and your choice of ghost or black cat. You can't go wrong with Pumpkin Poppers (recently renamed Lil' Spookies). You could also mix it up even more by getting one of each of the Lil' Spookies and 2 cauldrons in different colors. Fill one pumpkin pouch with candy and put the Spookie plush in the cauldron, put the candy in the other cauldron and keep the other Spookie with the pouch...endless fun! #bloggingthemoonCM #fashionpairs #halloweenfun Shop for your Halloween here!

Ever wonder why certain crochet stitches are better for some patterns and not others? Does using a particular stitch really make a difference in the finished product? Even if you are not a crocheter, having a little bit of stitch knowledge can help you pick the best quality product. This year I want to find new stitches I haven't used yet. Come along with me as I explore new and fancy stitches and what projects they are best used for. Feminine Circles The beautifully delicate pattern of Catherine's Wheel Stitch caught my eye as I was searching for new stitches to highlight. I just love the swirls that the alternating circles make and the fact you could do a whole project with this pattern or just use it as a decorative border. The crochet pattern is created using the Single and Double crochet stitch and while the execution of this pattern is an intermediate level, the stitches used are easy and basic. So, if you're still at a beginning skill level, don't shy away from a challenge, and if you're intermediate, to high then this a perfect pattern to add to your arsenal. How to Make Once again for the written instructions and illustrations I will be posting from my favorite fellow crocheter, Daisy Farms (daisyfarmcrafts.com/catherines-wheel-stitch). For her example she uses a medium weight yarn and a 5mm hook. Written Instructions: Start with 27 chains. Pattern repeat is 10 + 6 + 1. That means you can make a chain any multiple of 10, then add 6, then add one for the turning chain. Repeat rows 2-5 for the pattern to continue. And, change colors however you wish. Video Instructions Daisy Farms What to Make, What to Make.... Afghans, of course! I think you can make a blanket out any crochet stitch, but the Catherine's Wheel gives it a more delicate touch. You can also do wonderful shawls, scarves, or do it as a granny square and make coasters and hot pads. #bloggingthemoonCM #stitchofthemonth #catherineswheelstitch

Below you will find unique creations and patterns I have designed exclusively for my customers. I go into the "hows" and "whys" you won't find them anywhere else. Exclusive CM Collections There is a new category under the 'Shop' tab called "CM Collections". Why the new tab? I added the new category to show case several of The Crocheted Moon's collections. What makes these collections special is each collection follows a theme and special storyline along with collector cards that come with some of them. When you go to the collections page you find that each item is labeled with their own collection name which makes it easy to see what characters and accessories are in each line. CM's Current Collections: 1. Pill Body Collection...This is CM's first collection and it consists of Baby Yoda (Grogu) and Harry Potter. This collection is defined by the shape of the body which resembles a pill capsule. This unique shape makes each character in it's line super huggable and easy for your little ones to carry under their arm. They are also marked by the handmade cabochon marble eyes created to reflect the real look an eye. 2. Honeycomb Hive...This is a miniature collection consisting of wee bee villagers, their queen, and their Hive. Each little bee is dressed to mirror the job their real life counterparts preform and come with a collector card that describes the role that bee actually has in the hive. 3. Mystic Friends Collection...This collection was started because of my good friend Ashley (gave me the quote for Little Bigfoot's card) who is a true Bigfoot believer. She loves anything and everything to do with Bigfoot, so I made her a little baby version, which in turn got my brain going about other crypto creatures....like the unicorn and Nessy. I wanted to use a different type of yarn that was silky and fuzzy and made these mythical creatures irresistible and squeezable. Each character is made with this trademark yarn and has some connection to mythical lore. They, like the Honeycomb Hive Villagers, come with a collectors card. Right now you can collect Little Bigfoot & Magic the Unicorn and I hope to add Nessy by the beginning of next year or sooner. 4. Nightmare Before Christmas...this collection just kind of happened lol! My daughter and several of my friends and customers are such big fans that I've made enough to make a collection. Currently you can purchase Jack or Sally scarves and Jack Earflap hats. Coming up for this Halloween season I have exciting news for NMBC fanatics, but first I have to give Elise Fisher a big shout out for the idea. It was her special request to come up with a Nightmare Before Christmas Gnome Set for her sister-in-law. The gnome set will consist of Jack, Sally, and Nero. #bloggingthemoonCM #CMexclusivedesgin #CMcollectiontab CM Collections

Check this spot for new updates or changes to The Crocheted Moon or our products. New Search Bar Due to the growing number of items on The Crocheted Moon's website, I have added a search bar to make finding them easier. Easy Use So the one thing you don't have to search for is the 'search bar', I placed it in the sites grey header where you can always find it. Click the black rectangle and type in what you're searching for. For instance, if I wanted to look up all the cute little bee villagers of Honeycomb Hive and their super sweet home, I would type in 'honeycomb' (as shown in the second picture). Once I typed in my key word it would pull up a list of all the items being sold or blog posts that had that exact word in it. Different Ways to Search The search bar in the header is a great way to do a quick search, but if you want a more in depth search you can go to 'More' on the header tab, and select 'Search Results' from the drop down menu. When you're on the search page you can search under ALL (2nd pic) which will search all pages no matter the content. PRODUCTS (3rd pic) that allows you to get more specific in your search and even look under certain categories and price ranges. BLOG POSTS (4th pic) that will only search under published posts from "Blogging the Moon". And also OTHER PAGES (5th pic) which will search pages like 'About', 'Vendor Events', 'Deals & Discounts', 'Subscriptions', and so forth. With so many ways to search you're sure to find what you're looking for, but if not you can always chat with me through the message app (black square, lower left corner), email me thecrochetedmoon@gmail.com, contact me on Instagram @thecrochetedmoon456, or message me through facebook.com/thecrochetedmoon. I am at the ready to help find what you need! #bloggingthemoonCM #CMupdates #websitesearchbar

Ever wonder why certain crochet stitches are better for some patterns and not others? Does using a particular stitch really make a difference in the finished product? Even if you are not a crocheter, having a little bit of stitch knowledge can help you pick the best quality product. This year I want to find new stitches I haven't used yet. Come along with me as I explore new and fancy stitches and what projects they are best used for. What Gingham Means to Me Stylish and classic, gingham crochet stitch is a great stitch for any project. By using two colors of yarn per row, you carry the second color through your stitches, making it much easier than it appears. When I see this pattern I think of picnics, ants, & watermelon and to me it is wonderful representation of summer, but gingham isn't just a great backdrop for summer. It can also conjure images of a roaring fire, crisp snow, reindeer, warmeth, and joy for the Christmas and winter holiday....or darling baby blankets draping over their cribs and beds, plush pillows stacked on couches...there really is no end to the use of gingham. Creating your own Gingham Style You can use any single, half double, or double stitch, as well as variations on either. Shopping for the yarn is the most challenging part of this gingham stitch. Purchasing the yarn is the most challenging part of this stitch. You’ll need to find two colors that are in the same family but separated by a few shades and in some cases, even when you hold the skeins together, you won't believe the colors will work together....but give it a chance. You might change your mind once you see the finished product. Another thing to remember when choosing your shades for your project is to get a light, medium and dark color. Most of the time I like to use white and then two shades of the same color. For example, white, light pink and dark pink like in the instructional video from Daisy Farm Crafts. Both the written instructions and video are for a gingham blanket, but you can tailor it to make it any size you want, even as small as hot pads. Written Instructions: Chain a multiple of 10 plus 1. Make the base chain in white and with a smaller size hook (H). Change hook size to (J), join light pink color with the chain one and turn. Start your next ten. SC with link pink, crocheting over the white yarn, when you get to the tenth SC, do not finish all the way with light pink, stop, pull up the white, pull through, and now do the next ten SC with white, crocheting over the light pink. Continue changing colors every ten stitches. Do ten rows. At the end of your tenth row, you’ll cut off the white, add in the strawberry, and alternate between strawberry and light pink. (You will be weaving in the white end, do not crochet over the white, you’ll join that back in after ten rows). MAKE SURE YOU DON’T ACCIDENTALLY MAKE A CHECKERBOARD There is certainly nothing wrong with checkerboard blankets, but if you’re trying to achieve the gingham look and it turns out like a checkerboard, you’ll probably be disappointed. The simple way to avoid this is to make sure that the medium color is always used in every row. For the first block of color, the medium color alternates with the dark, and in the next block it alternates with the light. If you alternate the white and the dark, your blanket will look checkerboard. (See the difference between the two pictures below). Video Instructions Daisy Farms Never enough gingham Feast your eyes on all these great projects you can do with the gingham stitch #bloggingthemoonCM #stitchofthemonth #gingham Check out The Crocheted Moons Fall/Winter Selection!

Below you will find unique creations and patterns I have designed exclusively for my customers. I go into the "hows" and "whys" you won't find them anywhere else. Hive Sweet Hive There's no place like home especially for the Honeycomb Hive villagers. They love their plush hive done in a soft yellow and adorned with their favorite color of flowers. The crown is secured with an antique gold magnetic snap that makes getting in and out easy and is also fastened in the back to the hive with three brass rings. The whole hive including the base is stuffed with premium polyester fill to make it soft yet durable and strong during play. The hive can hold up to 9 bees. Measurements: 12 ½” H x 9 ¼” W, 29” circumference at the widest part. #bloggingthemoonCM #CMexclusivedesgin #honeycombhivecarryingcase Hive Gallery Get your hive here! Under CM Collections tab. Scroll down to see all of CM collections and the new Honeycomb Hive Carrying Case.

The creations have been created and are on their way, so come see what's popping up at The Crocheted Moon. CM's Halloween Parade... Calling all cute, spooky, scary, creepy, mystical, magical, and hollo-licous to The Crocheted Moon's Halloween line-up! Welcome Back Returning again for another spook-tacular year.... Bobble, Bobble Toil in Trouble Witches Hat Color - Mood Mosaic (purples), Metallic Black, Strawberry Jam (reds/pinks) Size (head circumference) - Toddler 17", Child 19", Teen SM 20", Adult MED 21" Price - $22 Pumpkin Poppers (renamed: Lil' Spookies) Choice of: Ghost or Black Cat Measurements: Cat - 7” long (top of ears to bottom of foot), 5 ½” sitting, 3 ¼” width, 5 ½” body circum., 6 ¾” head circum. Ghost - 6 ½” long, 3 ½” width, 6 ¼” body circum., 6 ¾” head circum Pumpkin Pouch - 7” L x 4 ½” W, Circum 9” Price - $12 Harry Potter Measurements: 16” tall, 10 ½ “ wide from hand to hand, 16 ½” body circumference Price - $65 Jack and Sally Scarves Measurements: 6 ft long x 9 inches wide, 5" tassels on the ends Price - $25 New Kids on the Block Keep your eyes peeled for these new and exciting CM products: mini cauldrons (black, green, & purple) and also available with/or without candy corns Nightmare Before Christmas Gnome set (Jack, Sally, & Zero) Trick or Treat Bags (Frankenstein & Jack O'Lantern) Light up Ghosts #bloggingthemoonCM #comingsoon #newhalloweengoodies Get your Halloween goodies here!

In need of a good DYI project or want to brush up on you crochet knowledge, well my dears, you have come to the right place. Welcome to the "pulling out your hair" section Crochet is a fun, satisfying and beautiful skill to learn, but like all things that are worthwhile, there are a few frustrating points, like making mistakes. We all make mistakes right? New crafters may find this happens more frequently, but intermediate and advanced crafters also make mistakes. It can be tough to figure out how to to fix your mistakes, but wait....keep your luscious locks where they belong, because we can fix them! I'll go through and show you how to fix several types of common mistakes, including how to fix wonky edges, how to fix sizing issues, and more. It'll be like a summary to all that we've already learned, so, let's make mistake fixing easier for you today! No 1...Alice, one side will make you smaller, the other side will make you grow YOUR PROJECT IS GETTING BIGGER (SHRINKING) Is your project making you wonder if it ate the wrong side of the mushroom, like Alice, and is growing or shrinking when it shouldn't be? How to fix: Mark your first and last stitches. After you crochet your first row, place a stitch marker in the first and last stitch. Now as you continue to crochet you will know exactly where to place your first and last stitches for each row. Count your stitches. Always count your stitches even when it gets repetitive and boring, especially when your project has 100-200 stitches. There are a few tricks to help ease the burden of counting. (1) Count in 2’s, 4’s, 5’s, or 10's (2) Use a stitch marker to mark your counts in intervals (ex: mark every 20th stitch), and (3) there are great little devices that can keep track of your count called stitch counters. They work by placing it on your finger, most commonly the pointer finger, and then keeping track by following the motion of your hand when you make a stitch. No. 2...To the jagged cliffs of insanity YOUR EDGES ARE JAGGED INSTEAD OF STRAIGHT. Having edges that don't look right, can drive you to insanity! Sometimes our projects bulge out on one side, and then stick out on the other, instead of having a nice, clean edge. Not the look we're going for. How to fix: Decrease the number in your turning chain. When you reach the end of the row you usually make a turning chain and you chain a certain number according to the stitch you're using. This can be some of the cause for a bulging edge. Use this little trick to help reduce it. When using a half double stitch - chain 1, instead of 2; a double stitch – chain 2, instead of 3; and for a treble stitch – chain 3, instead of 4. Use "Standing Stitches" instead. You may not find the "Standing Stitch" in a written pattern, it is easy to substitute and helps to keep your edges looking nice and neat. When you reach the end of your row, instead of making a turning chain, you simply turn your crochet piece to the other side and draw up a loop big enough for the stitch you are using. If you are using a single crochet, go ahead and make your next stitch in the first stitch of the row. If your using a half or double crochet you will need to follow these instructions to make your first stitch: (video by YarnAndy, posted 2 years ago) No. 3...A fairly common mistake GETTING THE RIGHT YARN WEIGHT. Designers know there is no wrong yarn weight or type since they are the masters of their designs, however, if you are following a pattern, using the right weight and type of yarn will make all the difference in the world. We have talked about yarn weight a couple of times and how to choose correctly especially when following a pattern. Here are the links to the two other blogs that mention yarn weight: Know Your Crochet...How to Start Crocheting, Part 2 Materials Know Your Crochet...How Much Yarn Do I Need? How to fix: Become familiar with the yarn labels. The pattern will tell you the size of yarn they used so you can match it with your yarn when you purchase it. Manually measure your yarn by "wraps per inch" or "WPI". If you recently just bought yarn more than likely it will still have the label on, but if you received a donation of yarn from a good friend or neighbor or it's old yarn you have on hand, there may not be a label on it. If there is no label and you are not familiar with yarn weight by sight and feel...what are you to do? There is actually a nifty little tool that you can use like the one in the picture below: You place your yarn in the cut out starting on the left side and wrap the yarn side by side until you reach the end of the cut out. Once you're done wrapping the yarn, count the number of times you wrapped it and then look your number up on the WPI key. There are also a couple of different ways you can make your own tool. You can make it out of cardboard/cardstock by cutting it into a rectangle or square and making an incision in the top measuring and inch wide. Or you can use a pen/pencil and a ruler. Use the ruler to measure a spot in the middle of the utensil that is an inch wide and then use tape to mark your section. Here is a pdf file of a WPI key you can print and use with your homemade tool: No. 4...On the wrong side of the tracks CROCHETING IN THE WRONG PART OF THE STITCH. This one seems obvious to an advanced crafter, however, if you are a beginner, this is a very common issue. Beginners can easily insert their hook through only one of the loops instead of both of them and learning to identify the stitches makes a big difference. There are several parts to each crochet stitch and crocheting in one part and not the other can completely change the texture of your project. How to fix: Learn the anatomy of a stitch. Each stitch has a front loop (one closest to you) and a back loop (one farthest from you). Unless your pattern calls for working in the front or back loop only, you work into both loops. Working into both loops is the default stitch placement if none is listed. The common abbreviation for back loop only is (blo) The common abbreviation for front loop only is (flo). No. 5...What a mix-up! USING THE WRONG CROCHET TERMS FOR YOUR PATTERN. While you are learning the names of the stitches and reading your crochet patterns, keep in mind the language it is written in. What!?...you say...the pattern already looked as if ancient aliens wrote it...well not to fret. How to fix: Learn the lingo or move to Britain. This happens more now than it did before because of the Internet, which provides access to crochet patterns from around the world. Understanding how the two styles of pattern writing matches-up can save you from future headaches. While chain stitch, is a chain stitch and a slip stitch, is a slip stitch, these are the terms that differ: No. 6...Bobbing and Weaving NOT SECURELY WEAVING IN YOUR TAILS. You finish a project, weave in all the tails left behind at the beginning, middle, and end, and throw it in the wash...but, unimaginable tragedy strikes! A tail came out and now there is a giant hole!! All those hours you worked on your project feels lost, but all is not lost. As my husband is fond of saying, "Knowledge gained is worth the money and work." Now that we know, we can prevent it from happening again. How to fix: Get a sharp (not blunt) darning needle with a large eye. Leave at least 6 – 7” tails for weaving in. Weave in first through the baseline of the stitches (where your tail ends) and up through the middle of the stitchs, then pull your needle through a stitch in the row below, and back down the middle of the stitches in the opposite direction (kind of a 'U' shape). No matter how you zig and zag, just avoid weaving in a straight line. No. 7...Reading enhances your life NOT READING YOUR PATTERN ALL THE WAY THROUGH FIRST. We've picked our pattern, got all the materials, and now we just want to start! Most patterns will list the gauge, stitch guide, pattern notes, and abbreviations, but these can change from pattern to pattern. Pattern writing is not governed by any steadfast rules, despite best intentions. Because of this, it's important to read the designer's notes. It is possible that she or he modified a standard stitch or counted the turning chain as a stitch. How to fix: Read the pattern of course! If you take a moment to read through it, you can also look up any information or questions you might have on the internet or with someone who is crochet savvy, beforehand :) You are now filled to the hooks, and even possibly the gills with crochet know-how and raring to go! There are so many possibilities to have fun with, but don't forget to stop by The Crocheted Moon and see I cooked up just for you! #bloggingthemoonCM #knowyourcrochet #crochetmistakes

Check this spot for new updates or changes to The Crocheted Moon or our products. Your comments matter! Customer feedback gives me insights into your satisfaction levels. How happy you are as loyal Crocheted Moon customers is one of my biggest concerns. Your comments allow me to provide better customer service, and develop high quality products you want. Here's a little somethin', somethin' When you help me out by providing feedback, you'll not only help create a great atmosphere, but you'll get a reward for yourself. When you sign up at the Crocheted Moon you get access to our customer loyalty program where you can earn points towards rewards for completing certain actions. One of those actions is filling out the feedback form. Here's how: (1) if you are not signed up as CM member, create an account to gain access to the customer loyalty program (2) select MORE on the menu tab, and click on "Give Feedback" (3) fill out and submit the feedback form (4) earn 15 points every time you submit a form towards great rewards #bloggingthemoonCM #CMupdates #givefeedback Earn your rewards Use the shortcut below to fill out the feedback form and earn your reward. (You will need to sign up as a Crocheted Moon member to earn reward points.)

Ever wonder why certain crochet stitches are better for some patterns and not others? Does using a particular stitch really make a difference in the finished product? Even if you are not a crocheter, having a little bit of stitch knowledge can help you pick the best quality product. This year I want to find new stitches I haven't used yet. Come along with me as I explore new and fancy stitches and what projects they are best used for. What a stunning stitch! The Harlequin stitch is a gorgeous, classic pattern that will easily catch your eye especially when done in contrasting colors. As seen in the picture above, when you switch out your colors it makes for a fantastic border that allows you to keep crocheting without having to start a new stitch. How do you crochet this wonderful stitch you ask....well, just to confound your thinking processes for a second, the Harlequin is what they call a 4-row repeat done in multiples of 8 and is a combination of single and double crochet stitches as well as a cluster stitch created by crocheting 6 stitches together. Now lets unconfound you. You may have to concentrate on what you're doing in the beginning, but once you catch on you'll have no problem. Written Instructions: CHAIN 41 pattern repeat is multiples of 8 plus 1 (this means whatever number you chain, it must be divisible by 8 and then you add 1 extra chain at the end). ROW 1: In the 5th chain from the hook, work [3 DC, 1 CH, 3 DC], skip 3 ch’s, 1 SC in the next ch, *skip 3 ch’s [3 DC, 1 CH, 3 DC] in next ch, skip 3 ch, 1 SC in next ch, repeat from * to the end of the row. ROW 2: CH 3 and turn. Skip first SC, DC3TOG over next 3 DC, *CH 7, skip 1 ch, DC6TOG over next 6 DC (leaving the SC between unworked), repeat from * ending with DC3TOG over last 3 DC, 1 DC in the top of the last ch. ROW 3: CH 3 and turn. 3 DC in the first space (hole that formed between the DC3TOG and DC) from row below, *1 SC around the ch 1 space of the row below, (enclosing the 7 ch’s), [3 DC, 1 CH, 3 DC] in the center space of the DC6TOG’s, repeat from * ending 3 DC in top of last DC3TOG’s, 1 DC in top of the turning chain. ROW 4: CH 4 and turn. Skip first DC, *DC6TOG over next 6 DC (leaving the SC between unworked), ch 7, skip 1 ch, repeat from * ending with ch 3, 1 SC in top of the turning chain. ROW 5: CH 1 and turn. Skip first SC and the ch 3’s, *[3 DC, 1 CH, 3 DC] in center of the DC6TOG’s, SC in ch space one row below, (enclosing the 7 ch’s), repeat from * ending with 1 SC in the first of the 4 turning chains pulling new color through. REPEAT ROWS 2 – 5 until there are 5 completed diamonds. End work on a row 5. Video Instructions Here is the video for the Harlequin stitch by one of my favorite crocheters and bloggers, Daisy Farms. In this video she shows you how to crochet the harlequin stitch with a hot pad pattern. Give a crocheted hug When you find that stitch that pulls everything together and makes someone's mouth form an over exaggerated letter 'O', you know you just gave one heck of a crocheted hug. It's a special gift that makes that person feel warm and loved. Here are some crocheted hugs you can give with the Harlequin stitch: blankets, hot pads, or even wall hangings! #bloggingthemoonCM #stitchofthemonth #harlequinstitch

Below you will find unique creations and patterns I have designed exclusively for my customers. I go into the "hows" and "whys" you won't find them anywhere else. New Robes! The little green guy got a slight wardrobe adjustment. The main body of the robe is still the nice soft, plush linen yarn but the collar and cuffs have changed. Presenting Yarn Bee Cotton XXL.... I am most pleased with how well the color matches the actual color of Grogu's authentic robes. I feel the texture and new collar design also better visually matches his cuffs and collar. Overall I am pleased with small, but upgraded improvements of our pals wardrobe. #bloggingthemoonCM #CMexclusivedesgin #revisedgrogurobes Be on the lookout Want your own Grogu in his new robes...look for him here. He also makes a great gift for any Star Wars fan or lover of cuteness!

In need of a good DYI project or want to brush up on you crochet knowledge, well my dears, you have come to the right place. Don't be a square! Not all patterns, of course, will just be squares or rectangles. Not to fret...getting a different shape and size is an easy fix, it's called increasing and decreasing. Increasing...going on up! Using an increase stitch INCREASES the number of stitches in your row/round by however many stitches you need. An increase can occur anywhere along the row or round when crocheting two stitches in one and the pattern you choose will indicate where you need to increase as you follow it. There are a couple different ways an increase is indicated in a pattern. It will be shown as (2SC, 2HDC, or 2DC) or as (inc) meaning whatever stitch you're using, increase it. In these pictures it illiterates how to do an increase with single crochet (SC), a half double crochet (HDC), and a double crochet (DC). You crochet up to the stitch you need to make the increase in and as the drawn illustration shows, you crochet your (SC, HDC, DC) as normal except you add a second stitch in the same place. That's it...and you can also add as many increases in row/round that you need. For example, if you have a row/round of 10 stitches and you need to add 2 stitches, you would do an increase 2x and the row/round would now have 12 stitches. Increase with single crochet (SC) Increase with half double crochet (HDC) Increase with double crochet (DC) Decreasing...going down! Everything has an opposite and the opposite of increase is, DECREASE. Using a decrease stitch subtracts the number of stitches in your row/round by however many stitches you need. An decrease can occur anywhere along the row or round as long as you have 2 stitches to work in and just like increasing, your pattern will indicate where you need to decrease. There are a couple different ways a decrease is indicated in a pattern. It will be shown as (2sctog, 2hdctog, or 2dctog) the (tog) means together referring to the act of crocheting 2 stitches together to make one. OR it can be shown as (dec) meaning whatever stitch you're using, decrease it. Decrease is slightly different than increasing, but just slightly. Increasing is the action of putting 2 stitches together in one place and decreasing is using 2 separate stitches to make one. Once you've done this several times, you won't even have to think about what you're doing, it'll just be second nature. Single Crochet (SC) decrease Video was posted in 2016 by HopfullHoney and I like the simple, to the point, way she describes how to do the decrease. Half double crochet (HDC) decrease Video by HopefullyHoney, 2016. Double crochet (DC) decrease Video posted by CreatiKnit in 2016. Now you can confidently make any shape or style your heart desires! #bloggingthemoon #knowyourcrochet #increaseanddecreace