Working Stitches Together - sc2tog, hdc2tog, dc2tog, etc...

Working stitches together is required for shaping work; the technique is also used for a decorative effect in the fabric.  The concept is simple:  work a single stitch across multiple stitches so that many stitches are reduced to one.

The photos below show 2 stitches worked together.  The same principles that are illustrated below can be used to stitch 3, 4 or even more stitches together, however the more stitches that are worked together, the more attention that needs to be paid to avoid puckering the fabric.

Single Crochet 2 Stitches Together (sc2tog):

	Step 1:  Begin the single crochet stitch as usual - Insert hook into the first stitch, yarn over and draw through a loop.
	Step 2:   Instead of completing the stitch, insert the hook into the next stitch, yarn over then draw through a loop (3 loops on hook).
	Step 3: Yarn over and draw yarn through all 3 loops on the hook.  Two stitches have now become one.

Half Double Crochet 2 Stitches Together (hdc2tog):

	Step 1:  Begin the half double crochet stitch as usual; Yarn over hook (wrap yarn from back to front around the hook) once just below hook opening.
	Step 2:   Instead of closing the stitch, insert the hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull a loop through. (5 loops on hook)
	Step 3:  Yarn over and pull yarn through all loops on hook.  Two hdc stitches have now become one.

Double Crochet 2 Stitches Together (dc2tog):

	NOTE:  Although you can decrease using the technique we illustrate in clusters for dc2tog and taller stitches,  an alternative method of decreasing is shown below for dc2tog where instead of joining the stitches at the top, they are joined at the bottom. Step 1:  Begin the double crochet stitch as usual; Yarn over hook (wrap yarn from back to front around the hook) once just below hook opening.
	Step 2:   Instead of closing the stitch, insert the hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull a loop through. (5 loops on hook)
	Step 3: Yarn over and pull yarn through the first four loops so that 2 loops remain on the hook.
	Step 4: Yarn over and pull yarn through the the remaining loops on hook.  Two double crochet stitches have now become one.