Third Beginner Crochet Project: Increase/Decrease Square

Welcome to my next tutorial where you learn how to increase and decrease your stitches (number of "v"s). This is a crucial skill to learn in order to make anything change its form and to do more than straight edges. The difference from the past squares is that you start and end in a corner, instead of straight sides, as shown in picture.

You'll need light-colored worsted weight yarn, scissors, darning/yarn needle, and size G-J crochet hook.

Like before, create a starting chain. This time: 3 chain stitches. (Remember, wrap and pull through loop on hook)

Perform one single crochet stitch in the second chain from the hook ( the middle "v" ). (Remember: insert hook, wrap yarn, pull through one loop, wrap yarn, pull through 2 loops)

Now comes the increase part. Insert your hook into the SAME "v" that you worked your first single crochet. Perform a single crochet stitch in the same "v" that you did your first one. This will feel cramped and annoying until you get used to it. Make sure there is still one remaining "v" on your starting chain.

Single crochet only one stitch in that final "v" in your starting chain. If the increase was executed properly, there will be three "v"s in your row ( the first two from your increase, the third you just created).

Chain one to finish your row, like we did for the single crochet square.

For the second row: Work an increase in the first stitch, then single crochet in the next 2 stitches. In the end, you should have 4 stitches/"v"s. Finish with a chain stitch.

For the third row: Increase in the first stitch, single crochet the next three stitches, chain 1. There should now be 5 stitches. Sensing the pattern yet?? You're going to increase in the first stitch, and single crochet across the rest of the row. Each time, you should have one more stitch than you had in the previous row.

Continue the pattern I just described until you have 12 stitches across. It should be in a triangle shape.

We've reached the widest point of our square, time to shrink back down to a corner again. Insert your hook into the next stitch, wrap yarn, and pull through first stitch. (2 loops on hook)

Again, insert hook into next stitch, wrap yarn, and pull through. This will create three loops on the hook.

This next step might take practice. Wrap yarn and pull through ALL 3 loops on the hook. There should only be one loop on the hook and one "v" in the row.

Next, single crochet across. End with a chain stitch. There should be 11 stitches in your row.

Work one decrease, single crochet across, end with one chain stitch. Sensing the same pattern as before??

Work this pattern until you have two stitches remaining in your row.

Fasten the final loop like you have before.

Sew in your tails and your third square completed! You may have to stretch it a bit to make a perfect square instead of a diamond.
My next tutorial is a granny square, you'll combine the skills you learned in this tutorial with the past two!