<p>I think you'll enjoy trying what's called the "<a href="http://www.planetjune.com/blog/amigurumi-help/invisible-decrease/" rel="noreferrer">invisible decrease</a>".</p>

<p>By running through two stitches but not actually making the base of both of them, it tightens up the space and only shows a single stitch. It can actually be challenging to see where the decrease is after it's completed.</p>

<p>From the linked article (there are images included for both right and left-handed users to help if you visit the blog):</p>

<blockquote>
  <ol>
  <li>Insert the hook into the front loop of the first stitch (2 loops on hook). DO NOT YARN OVER:</li>
  <li>Insert the hook into the front loop of the next stitch. To do this, you’ll need to swing the hook down first so you can insert the hook under the front loop. (3 loops on hook)</li>
  <li>Yarn over and draw through the first two loops on the hook. (2 loops on hook)</li>
  <li>Yarn over and draw through both loops on the hook. Invisible decrease completed</li>
  </ol>
</blockquote>

<p>As a note, because this is specifically geared towards amigurumi figures, it expects that you're using single crochets. I'm not sure if there's an adjustment that allows this to work with other size stitches.</p>

<p>To compare, here are images that show the three options for decreases. </p>

<p>These first two images are skipping a stitch and the standard single crochet two together (sc2tog). In both cases, the decrease is pretty obvious.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.planetjune.com/blog/how-to-invisible-decrease/" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/kR0C4.jpg" alt="Standard stitch decreases"></a></p>

<p>And here's what the invisible decrease looks like, which is nearly indistinguishable compared to the other two:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/QUFiD.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/QUFiD.jpg" alt="Invisible Decrease"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-16T16:07:48.337Z
2016-08-16T16:07:48.337Z
Catija
<p>A continuation of my Poké Ball woes: I want to improve my decrease technique. Consider the image of the tops of my balls (where the balls are finished and tied off):</p>
<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/j1IPN.jpg" alt="Tops of my balls" /></p>
<p>The <em>very</em> top where the tie-off occurs has already been addressed in <a href="https://crafts.stackexchange.com/questions/2067/how-can-i-finish-the-tops-of-my-balls-so-the-stitches-are-not-so-open-in-appeara">another question</a>, but that does not help the decreases leading up to the end. The picture hides it more than it appears in real life, but you can easily see the Poly-fil between the stitches.</p>
<p>To clarify, this is how I decrease:</p>
<ol>
<li>Insert your hook into the next stitch.</li>
<li>Yarn over and draw the yarn through the stitch.</li>
<li>Insert your hook into the next stitch.</li>
<li>Yarn over and draw the yarn through the stitch.</li>
<li>Yarn over and draw the yarn through all 3 loops on your hook.</li>
</ol>
<p>The issue is exacerbated with a project where multiple decreases - both beside and on top of each other - occur.</p>
<p><strong>How can I do my Poké Ball decreases so they appear tighter?</strong></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-16T12:30:21.490Z
Isn't this the exact same question as the other one? The only difference I see is that someone has answered that one without addressing the main issue you asked about.
user812786
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-16T12:54:16.887Z
@whrrgarbl They would appear similar yes. Perhaps I could clarify the other one. It was asking about tying up the end. This is asking about the last few rows leading up to it. Originally the first question had the intention of getting this answer as well but they are two different questions.
Matt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-16T13:11:21.283Z
Gotcha, that wasn't apparent to me. I hope this gets answered, as I have the same issues! My "solution" is just to increase the tension, but it doesn't always work well and I'm not sure I decrease properly either (I tend to make things up as I go..)
user812786
<crocheting><technique-selection>
How can I do my Poké Ball decreases so they appear tighter?
Matt
# How can I do my Poké Ball decreases so they appear tighter?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-08-16)

A continuation of my Poké Ball woes: I want to improve my decrease technique. Consider the image of the tops of my balls (where the balls are finished and tied off):

![Tops of my balls](https://i.sstatic.net/j1IPN.jpg)

The *very* top where the tie-off occurs has already been addressed in [another question](https://crafts.stackexchange.com/questions/2067/how-can-i-finish-the-tops-of-my-balls-so-the-stitches-are-not-so-open-in-appeara), but that does not help the decreases leading up to the end. The picture hides it more than it appears in real life, but you can easily see the Poly-fil between the stitches.

To clarify, this is how I decrease:

1. Insert your hook into the next stitch.
2. Yarn over and draw the yarn through the stitch.
3. Insert your hook into the next stitch.
4. Yarn over and draw the yarn through the stitch.
5. Yarn over and draw the yarn through all 3 loops on your hook.

The issue is exacerbated with a project where multiple decreases - both beside and on top of each other - occur.

**How can I do my Poké Ball decreases so they appear tighter?**

**Tags:** crocheting, technique-selection

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Isn't this the exact same question as the other one? The only difference I see is that someone has answered that one without addressing the main issue you asked about.  
> **username_0**: @whrrgarbl They would appear similar yes. Perhaps I could clarify the other one. It was asking about tying up the end. This is asking about the last few rows leading up to it. Originally the first question had the intention of getting this answer as well but they are two different questions.  
> **username_1**: Gotcha, that wasn't apparent to me. I hope this gets answered, as I have the same issues! My "solution" is just to increase the tension, but it doesn't always work well and I'm not sure I decrease properly either (I tend to make things up as I go..)  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-08-16. Score: 10 | Accepted answer

I think you'll enjoy trying what's called the "[invisible decrease](http://www.planetjune.com/blog/amigurumi-help/invisible-decrease/)".

By running through two stitches but not actually making the base of both of them, it tightens up the space and only shows a single stitch. It can actually be challenging to see where the decrease is after it's completed.

From the linked article (there are images included for both right and left-handed users to help if you visit the blog):

> 1. Insert the hook into the front loop of the first stitch (2 loops on hook). DO NOT YARN OVER:
> 2. Insert the hook into the front loop of the next stitch. To do this, you’ll need to swing the hook down first so you can insert the hook under the front loop. (3 loops on hook)
> 3. Yarn over and draw through the first two loops on the hook. (2 loops on hook)
> 4. Yarn over and draw through both loops on the hook. Invisible decrease completed

As a note, because this is specifically geared towards amigurumi figures, it expects that you're using single crochets. I'm not sure if there's an adjustment that allows this to work with other size stitches.

To compare, here are images that show the three options for decreases.

These first two images are skipping a stitch and the standard single crochet two together (sc2tog). In both cases, the decrease is pretty obvious.

[![Standard stitch decreases](https://i.sstatic.net/kR0C4.jpg)](http://www.planetjune.com/blog/how-to-invisible-decrease/)

And here's what the invisible decrease looks like, which is nearly indistinguishable compared to the other two:

[![Invisible Decrease](https://i.sstatic.net/QUFiD.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/QUFiD.jpg)


---

