Expert: Marla - 12/16/2008

Question
I am making a poinsettia coaster.  Instructions say:
BEGINNING DECREASE: Ch2, YO, insert hook in next st.  YO, PULL UP A LOOP, (yo) DRAW THRU 2 LOOPS ON HOOK) TWICE.
Can you rewrite that.  I cannot make it make sense.  That is the entire statement.

Answer
Hi Judith!
Thanks for asking! I can understand your confusion. When I was first exposed to decreasing double crochet it was confusing to me, too. It looks like they didn’t write the instructions very well, either, which is probably why it is confusing. The “beginning decrease” is usually when you are at the beginning of a round or row.  I hope I don’t confuse you, but here goes: First you chain 2 (This counts as the first dc in the beginning decrease). Then you yarn over (put the yarn over the hook) and insert the hook in the next stitch. You then pull up a loop with the hook (you should now have three loops on the hook). Then you yarn over again and draw through two loops on the hook (Now you should have two loops on the hook). Then you need to do this part again: You yarn over and draw through two loops on the hook, leaving one loop on the hook. Now you should have the first ch 2, and then that second stitch joined together by one stitch. I hope this helped you. Let me know if you need anymore help. Good luck with you coaster!

Marla