Double Crochet Two Together {dc2tog} Step by Step

What does double crochet two together or dc2tog actually mean? This fairly intimidating tern is actually a lot easier than it sounds. It is simply a decrease stitch that converts two stitches into one, thus reducing the number of stitches in a row and shaping your crochet fabric. This will make your piece narrower. It can be used in any project which uses the double crochet stitch.

How To Double Crochet Two Together (dc2tog) Tutorial

When to Use dc2tog?

Double crochet two together is used when you need to decrease double crochet stitching. As well as being a great way to decrease, it is quick and easy for beginners learning how to crochet! Of course, it does need to be used when working with double crochet stitches.

Abbreviations

The abbreviation for double crochet two together is dc2tog.

The other abbreviations you will need to follow in this tutorial are:

• Yo = Yarn over
• Dc = Double crochet
• St (s) = Stitch (es).
• Ch = Chain stitch crochet

I will be using American crochet terms throughout.

Supplies

While learning and practicing dc2tog, you can use any type of yarn with a crochet hook size suitable for that yarn. It is probably wise to use a smooth yarn so that you can see how the double crochet stitches group together neatly.

Of course, if using this stitch to decrease on a project you are already working on, it goes without saying that you will just continue with that yarn and hook.

What is Double Crochet (dc)?

Just a quick reminder about which stitch is a double crochet. It is probably one of the most commonly used basic stitches in crochet, and certainly one of the stitches you need to learn right at the beginning of your journey into crochet. It is about twice as tall as a single crochet stitch.

Here is a brief reminder of how to work DC:

1. Crochet a foundation chain.
2. Wrap the yarn around your hook, from back to front. Insert hook into 4th chain from hook.
3. YO, and pull wrapped yarn through the stitch (3 loops on hook).
4. YO again, draw yarn through the first 2 loops on the hook (2 loops on hook).
5. YO once more and draw hook through last 2 loops on hook (1 loop left on hook). This is your first double crochet stitch.
6. Continue across the row.

The turning chain for double crochet is 3 chains.

How to do Double Crochet Two Together (DC2Tog)

Crochet normally until you reach the part where you need to decrease.

• Wrap yarn over the hook from back to front.

• Insert hook into the next stitch in the row below.
• YO again.
• Pull hook back through the stitch (3 loops left on hook).

• YO.
• Pull hook back through first 2 loops only (2 loops on hook).

So far, this is exactly the same as working a normal double crochet. But now, before you complete that DC, we will start into the next stitch.

• YO.
•  Insert hook into the next stitch on the row below.

• YO.
• Pull hook back through the stitch (4 loops on hook).

• YO.
• Pull loop back through the first 2 loops only (3 loops on hook).

• YO.
• Pull loop back through the last 3 loops on the hook (1 loop on hook).

Phew, that was a lot of yarn overs! But now your DC2 tog is complete. You should be able to see the 2 stitches combined into one. Here is how it looks once the rest of the row is completed.

How To DC2 Tog On Top Of Another Row:

The instructions given above are, in fact, showing how to work this decrease on top of another row. You will just need to repeat all the steps given above for every decrease you need to make.

How To DC2 Tog On Top Of A Starting Chain.

You will still follow the steps above, but instead of inserting your hook into DC stitches below, you will insert the hook into the next ch st, and the ch st following that. It is, however, fairly unusual to need to decrease immediately after working the foundation chain.

FAQs About Double Crochet 2 Together (dc2tog)

Is DC2tog the same as a decrease?

Yes, it is just a method of decreasing. If it is worked to give the appearance of a cluster stitch, you will have to increase accordingly to get back to the same number of stitches you started with.

What does DC3 tog mean?

Dc3tog means that your decrease is worked over 3 stitches, rather than 2. This one stitch will decrease your number of stitches in the row by 2 each time, instead of just 1 as in DC2 tog.

How to dc3tog

If you understand the working of DC2 tog, you will just need to insert your hook into the 3^rd st on the row below then continue pulling through 2 loops at a time.

Here are brief step-by-step instructions:

•  [YO. Insert hook into the next st in the row below.
• YO, pull up loop.
• YO, draw hook through 2 loops.]
• Repeat steps between [ ] 3 times.
• Then YO, draw yarn through all 4 loops left on the hook.

Here you can see the 3 dc columns all bunched together into 1 stitch on the hook.

What is a dc2tog cluster?

A double crochet cluster stitch is exactly the same thing as dc2tog. Whenever you join stitches together at the top it is called a cluster. You can make clusters with more than 2 stitches, in which case they will be written as DC3 tog cluster, or DC4 tog cluster etc, depending on how many stitches you are joining.

If you are required to work these clusters as a decorative element, you will then have to increase accordingly if your fabric is meant to stay the same width. Your pattern will then give you instructions on where to crochet an increase.

The exception to this is a granny cluster, where the stitches are all worked into one space at the bottom, instead of joined together at the top.

What does it mean to crochet two together?

Sometimes, in patterns, the instructions simply say crochet two together. If you are working in DC, you will then double crochet two togehter. If you are working in any other stitch, you will simply combine two of those stitches together by joining them at the top, using the same principle.

Double Crochet Two Together - In Conclusion

Most modern patterns will be specific about when to do a dc2tog crochet decrease. However, many people enjoy the retro look of vintage patterns or are using patterns from their mom's or their gran’s pattern stash. Those old patterns are often maddeningly vague and may not specify the decrease method! In this case you can also use the double crochet two together technique. 

I hope that this tutorial will have cleared up some of the puzzling matters surrounding decreasing in crochet. Your garment, (or hat, or toy, or whatever you are making) will look all the better and more professional for having neat decreases and being shaped to fit. Enjoy working on whatever your current project may be, and see if you can insert a couple of dc2tog into that item!

Free Crochet Patterns Using Double Crochet