How to Increase and Decrease in Crochet Without Holes

Why Holes Happen

Holes usually appear when an increase or decrease is worked too loosely, or when the stitch placement doesn't line up with the row below. The good news: a few small adjustments fix most of these issues.

Increasing Without Gaps

To increase, you simply work two stitches into the same stitch. The trick to avoiding a hole is keeping your tension consistent on both stitches and making sure your hook goes into the full stitch, not just one loop.

• Work the first stitch normally.
• Before starting the second stitch, snug up the yarn slightly so no gap forms between the two stitches.
• Check that both stitches sit fully in the same base stitch, not split between two.

Decreasing Without Gaps

Decreases combine two stitches into one, which can pull fabric tight or leave a small gap if worked unevenly.

• Insert your hook into both stitches as instructed (like an invisible decrease for single crochet).
• Pull up loops evenly before completing the stitch.
• Avoid yanking the yarn too tight, which distorts nearby stitches.

General Tips

Keep consistent tension throughout your project, count stitches every row, and block your finished piece. Blocking alone can smooth out minor irregularities you were worried about. With practice, your shaping will look seamless.