Crochet increases add stitches to your work, allowing your fabric to become wider, form curves, or grow into a flat circle. In this guide, I’ll show you how to increase in crochet with single crochet, half double crochet, and double crochet.

The technique is surprisingly simple: you make more than one stitch in the same stitch. We’ll also look at how increases are written in patterns, where to place them, and how to keep your project flat instead of accidentally creating waves or ruffles.

This tutorial is the companion to Module 3, Lesson 4 of the free Learn to Crochet course. The complete video lesson covers both increases and decreases. When you are ready to learn how to remove stitches and shape your fabric inward, continue to the main lesson page: How to Decrease in Crochet for Beginners.

Materials You Will Need For This Lesson

• Worsted (4/Medium) Weight Yarn
• 5.5 mm Crochet Hook (a size 5.0 mm or 6.0 mm will work, if preferred)
• Scissors
• Yarn Needle
• Stitch Markers

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What Is a Crochet Increase?

A crochet increase is made by adding one or more stitches to your row or round. The most common beginner increase is created by working two stitches into the same stitch.

If you begin with 20 stitches and make one standard increase during the next row, you will finish that row with 21 stitches—as long as you do not skip or decrease anywhere else.

The basic process is:

1. Make one complete stitch in the next stitch.
2. Insert your hook back into that same stitch.
3. Make a second complete stitch in the same place.

You will see two new stitch tops emerging from one stitch below. That is a crochet increase.

Why Do We Increase in Crochet?

Increases make your crochet fabric wider or help it curve outward. They are used to:

• Widen a shawl, sleeve, or garment
• Form flat circles, granny squares, and motifs
• Shape the crown of a top-down hat
• Create the head, body, or limbs of an amigurumi
• Form corners
• Build three-dimensional bags and baskets
• Add decorative fullness or ruffles

Increases are one half of crochet shaping. Decreases do the opposite by combining stitches and reducing your stitch count.

How to Read Crochet Increase Abbreviations

Patterns can write increases in several ways. Always check the abbreviations or special-stitches section when you begin a new pattern.

The abbreviation inc often means two single crochet stitches in the same stitch in an amigurumi pattern. In another pattern, it may mean an increase made with the stitch currently being used. The pattern notes should clarify this.

Some patterns may call for three or more stitches in one stitch. This still increases the stitch count, but it adds more than one stitch and may be used to form a corner, shell, or ruffle.

How to Increase in Single Crochet

A single crochet increase is often written as sc inc or simply inc.

Step-by-step single crochet increase

1. Insert your hook into the next stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull up a loop.
3. Yarn over and pull through both loops to complete one single crochet.
4. Insert your hook back into the same stitch.
5. Yarn over and pull up a loop.
6. Yarn over and pull through both loops to complete the second single crochet.

You now have two single crochet stitches worked into one stitch. Your stitch count has increased by one.

How to Increase in Crochet Video Lesson

How to Increase in Half Double Crochet

A half double crochet increase may be written as hdc inc or 2 hdc in the next stitch.

Step-by-step half double crochet increase

1. Yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull up a loop.
3. Yarn over and pull through all three loops to complete one half double crochet.
4. Yarn over and insert your hook back into the same stitch.
5. Yarn over and pull up a loop.
6. Yarn over and pull through all three loops to complete the second half double crochet.

Two half double crochet stitches now share the same base stitch.

How to Increase in Double Crochet

A double crochet increase may be written as dc inc or 2 dc in the next stitch.

Step-by-step double crochet increase

1. Yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull up a loop.
3. Yarn over and pull through two loops.
4. Yarn over and pull through the final two loops to complete one double crochet.
5. Yarn over and insert your hook back into the same stitch.
6. Complete a second double crochet in that stitch.

The increase creates two double crochet stitches from one stitch below.

How to Increase in Crochet Rows

Increases in rows can be placed at the beginning, middle, or end of the row.

Increasing near both edges

Placing one increase near each edge makes the fabric gradually wider on both sides. For clean edges, a pattern may tell you to work one regular stitch first, make the increase in the next stitch, and mirror that placement near the opposite edge.

Increasing in the middle

A center increase adds width or creates a point at a specific location. Use a stitch marker to identify the increase point when the pattern repeats it across several rows.

Increasing at only one edge

Adding stitches along one side creates asymmetrical shaping. You may see this in garments, shawls, and decorative pieces.

Follow the pattern’s placement instructions rather than adding increases wherever they fit. Placement controls the direction and shape of the finished fabric.

How to Increase in Crochet Rounds

Increases are used in rounds to make the circumference grow. When the increases are spaced correctly, a circle can remain flat as it becomes larger.

A basic single crochet circle often begins with several stitches worked into a magic circle. The next round places two single crochet stitches in each stitch. Later rounds add regular stitches between the increases so the total number of increases stays consistent while they are spread farther apart.

For example, a pattern might progress like this:

• Round 1: work 6 sc into a magic circle. (6)
• Round 2: inc in each stitch around. (12)
• Round 3: [sc in next stitch, inc in next stitch] around. (18)
• Round 4: [sc in next 2 stitches, inc in next stitch] around. (24)

Each round adds six stitches because it contains six increases.

The exact starting count and rate of increase depend on the stitch, yarn, hook, tension, and desired shape. Use the numbers provided in your pattern rather than assuming every circle will use the same formula.

Common Crochet Increase Mistakes

Working into two different stitches

Both stitches of a standard increase must be worked into the same stitch. If you move to the next stitch for the second one, you have simply worked two regular stitches.

Skipping the stitch after an increase

After making the second stitch of the increase, move to the next unworked stitch. It can hide slightly beneath the fuller increase, so look closely at the stitch tops.

Losing track of the first stitch in a round

Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of every continuous round. Move it up as you work so you always know where the round begins and ends.

Confusing an increase with a cluster

An increase creates multiple completed stitches in the same stitch, and each one normally counts separately. A cluster joins partial stitches at the top so they become one completed stitch.

Adding increases without checking the count

Even one accidental increase can change the shape of a project. Count at the end of each row or round, especially while learning.

How to Keep Crochet Increases From Ruffling

If your fabric begins to ripple or ruffle, you may have too many stitches for the available space. This can happen when:

• You add too many increases in one row or round.
• Your increases are placed too close together.
• You accidentally work into the same stitch more times than instructed.
• Your hook is too large or your tension is too loose for the project.
• The increase rate does not suit the stitch pattern.

First, count your stitches and compare the total with the pattern. If the count is correct, check your gauge and confirm that you are using the intended hook, yarn, and stitch. A slight wave may relax with additional rounds or blocking, but strong ruffling usually means the fabric is gaining stitches too quickly.

If a circle curls into a bowl instead (when it’s not supposed to), it may not have enough increases—or your tension may be tighter than the pattern designer’s.

How to Increase in Crochet FAQs

Practice Challenge: Increase a Simple Swatch

Increasing is a vital component of building amigurumi which often begins with several stitches worked into a magic circle. and then building the circle to create a shape like a head or the bottom of a foot. After the magic circle, the next round places two single crochet stitches in each stitch. Later rounds add regular stitches between the increases so the total number of increases stays consistent while they are spread farther apart.

Practice making a magic circle and creating a small circle as follows:

• Round 1: Work 6 sc into a magic circle. (6)
• Round 2: Inc in each stitch around. (12)
• Round 3: [Sc in next stitch, inc in next stitch] around. (18)
• Round 4: [Sc in next 2 stitches, inc in next stitch] around. (24)

To take it a step further, watch as the small circle begins to curve in preparation to become a ball by working 2 more rounds as follows:

• Round 5-6: sc in each stitch around. (24)

Complete the Lesson: Learn How to Decrease

You now know how to add stitches and shape your fabric outward. To complete Lesson 4 of this Module, learn how to combine stitches and shape your fabric inward in How to Decrease in Crochet for Beginners (if you haven’t already). That main lesson page includes sc2tog and the invisible decrease.

You can then use the small practice swatch you just made and turn it into a ball by decreasing at the same pace you just increased above during Rounds 1-4!

You Can Make an Increase in Crochet!

You now know how to add stitches to make your crochet fabric grow! Along with crochet decreases, you now have the tools to turn flat fabric into intentional shapes.

← Companion Lesson: How to Decrease in Crochet
← Previous Lesson: How to Make a Magic Circle

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