dc3tog

[crochetstepmom]

I don't know if it is the pain medication I took last night before I started crocheting or if I am just not getting it. I started a new ripple last night and am having trouble. I've only done one other ripple, but it wasn't this pattern. I am not very experienced with increases and decreases.

 

Anyway, I get the increases, but I am having trouble with the decrease stitch. I thought I had it figured out and it looked right, so I finished the first row. When I got to the end, I had the correct number of ripples BUT I had too many foundation chains left AND I ended up working on the peak of the ripple instead of the valley per the pattern instructions. I know my foundation chain was the correct number...I did it three times, with three different balls of yarn...and all of them turned out the same. I don't think that I am counting the decrease correctly.

 

To quote one of my favorite movies of all time: Could someone please explain this to me...like I am a 4 year old? How many foundation chains will this decrease use? I am so confused!

 

Thanks so much!!!

 

dc3tog: Yarn over, insert hook into st and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops. (Yarn over, insert hook into next st and draw up a loop. Yarn over, draw through 2 loops) twice. Yarn over and draw through all loops on hook.

[jleinhauser]

The decreaase will be worked over 3 chs, resulting in one st remaining,

so it will use up 3 chs.

 

Step 1: YO, insert hook in specified ch and draw up a lp to height of a dc;

YO and draw through 2 lps: 2 lps remain on hook.

 

Step 2: YO, insert hook in next ch and draw up a lp to height of a dc;

YO and draw through 2 lps: 3 lps remain on hook.

 

Step 3: YO, insert hook in next ch and draw up a lp to height of a dc;

YO and draw through 2 lps: 4 lps remain on hook.

 

Step 4: YO and draw through all 4 lps on hook.

 

Jean Leinhauser

Website: http://www.creativepartnersllc.com

[crochetstepmom]

OK...so if the pattern says to do that decrease stitch twice...it will be worked over 6 chains, right? If so, that makes sense because the increase was 3 dc in same st twice. So, if I increased 6, I would have to decrease 6 also, right?

 

I will try that when I get home tonight. I thought I did it that way in one of my trials, but I was quite frustrated...so I am not sure what I did.

 

Thank you so much for breaking it down to me.