Learn to Crochet -- Double Crochet Decrease from 3 stitches down to 1 stitch

Not too long ago I came upon a wonderful knitting forum that I started to read and eventually participate in. It's called KnittingHelp.com Forum and I've found some really nice people there. Some of them, like me, enjoy crocheting as well. I recently found one thread where Merryknitter, a new crocheter, was having difficulty understanding part of an instruction in a pattern she was trying out. So here is a video demonstrating the Double Crochet Decrease from 3 stitches to 1 stitch. The written directions are included after the video, just as Merryknitter provided them in her forum thread.




Here are the directions:

Row 1 ch 115, 2 dc in 4th ch from hook(first 3 chs count as first dc), *dc in each of next 3 chs, I understand up to this point.
[dc dec in next 3 chs] twice, dc in each of next 3 chs**, 3dc in each of next 2 chs, rep from * across, ending last rep at **, 3 dc in last ch, turn.

And this is the explanation of the "dc dec" which Merryknitter provided:

(YO, insert hook, yo, draw loop through, draw through 2 lps on hook) in each of the sts indicated, yo, draw through all lps on hook.

I think there is a missing YO between "draw loop through" and "draw through 2 lps on hook" which could make this explanation confusing for a beginner.

This is how the first row on my sample turned out. I really like it and I'm anxious to see how it comes out in the project that Merryknitter is doing called Noah's Ark Blanket. She says it's the water and the ark sits on it. It sounds so cute.

Merryknitter also provided the instructions for the next row which I found after I had finished the video, so I will include it here in case anyone else is interested in it. I certainly plan to play with this pattern and perhaps put it on my List of Stitches To Use In The Future.

Row 2 : Ch 3, 2 dc in same st, *dc in each of next 3 sts, [dc dec in next 3 sts] twice, dc in each of next 3 sts**, 3 dc in each of next 2 sts, rep from * around, ending last rep at **, 3 dc in last st, turn.

I hope this is helpful to Merryknitter and anyone else who might be having trouble with this instruction. I would love to see how your project turns out.

Happy Stitching!

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