What Does SC Inc Mean in Crochet?
If you’ve come across the instruction “sc inc” in a crochet pattern and weren’t quite sure what it meant, you’re in good company. It’s one of those abbreviations that seems obvious once you know it, but can bring a round or a row to a halt if you don’t.
The short answer: sc inc stands for single crochet increase. It simply means working two single crochet stitches into the same stitch, which adds an extra stitch to your total count and makes your piece wider or rounder at that point.
The longer answer – including how to do it, how to place it accurately, and what all those variations in pattern instructions actually mean – is what this post is for.
A Note on US and UK Crochet Terms
Before we go any further, it’s worth flagging that US and UK crochet terminology are not the same, and sc inc is a US term. If you’re following a UK pattern, the equivalent stitch (double crochet increase, or dc inc) is worked exactly the same way – two stitches into one – but the terminology differs.
Here’s a quick reference for the main stitches:
| US Term | UK Term |
|---|---|
| Single crochet (sc) | Double crochet (dc) |
| Half double crochet (hdc) | Half treble crochet (htr) |
| Double crochet (dc) | Treble crochet (tr) |
| Treble crochet (tr) | Double treble crochet (dtr) |
Always check whether the pattern you’re following is written in US or UK terms before you start – it should say somewhere near the beginning. If it doesn’t, the presence of “sc” is a good indicator that you’re working with US terminology.
If you’d like to understand why the two systems exist and how they differ, I’ve written a full explanation in Why Are UK and US Crochet Terms Different?
What Is a Single Crochet (sc)?
Single crochet (sc) is the shortest of the main crochet stitches and creates a firm, compact fabric. It’s used across a huge range of projects, from washcloths and bags to amigurumi and granny squares, and is usually one of the first stitches a beginner learns.
To work a single crochet:
- Insert your hook into the stitch from front to back.
- Yarn over and pull up a loop – you now have two loops on your hook.
- Yarn over again and pull through both loops. One single crochet complete; one loop remains on your hook.
Once you have that stitch comfortable, working an increase is simply a matter of doing it twice in the same place.
How to Work a Single Crochet Increase (sc inc)
A single crochet increase means working two single crochet stitches into the same stitch. The result is one extra stitch — the piece grows slightly wider at that point.
- Insert your hook into the stitch where the increase will be worked.
- Yarn over and pull up a loop (two loops on hook).
- Yarn over and pull through both loops – first single crochet complete.
- Insert your hook into the same stitch again.
- Yarn over and pull up a loop (two loops on hook).
- Yarn over and pull through both loops – second single crochet complete.
You’ve now worked two stitches where there was previously one. That’s the increase.
Where Increases Are Used
Single crochet increases are most commonly used in projects worked in the round — where adding stitches at regular intervals is what creates a flat circle, a bowl shape, or the rounded form of an amigurumi piece. If you’ve ever worked a simple crochet circle or made a small stuffed animal, you’ll have used sc inc.
My main design work is in blankets rather than amigurumi, but I make the odd small creature or soft toy as a gift, and I’ve helped my daughter learn to crochet amigurumi too – it’s actually one of the nicest ways to learn increases, because you can see immediately how the shape changes as you add stitches. When I explained sc inc to her, the thing that helped most was doing it slowly in a contrasting colour first, so the two stitches into one were clearly visible.
For flat circular pieces, the standard approach is to increase by six stitches per round. Here’s a simple example:
Round 1: 6 sc into a magic loop or starting chain. [6 sts]
Round 2: sc inc in each stitch around. [12 sts]
Round 3: (1 sc, 1 sc inc) around. [18 sts]
Round 4: (2 sc, 1 sc inc) around. [24 sts]
Round 5: (3 sc, 1 sc inc) around. [30 sts]
Round 6: (4 sc, 1 sc inc) around. [36 sts]
Each round adds 6 stitches, and the piece stays flat. If you increase more or fewer than 6 per round, the shape will either ruffle or cup, which is how you make bowls, hats, and three-dimensional shapes.
Placing Increases Accurately
For your piece to sit flat and grow evenly, increases need to be spaced consistently. The general principle: divide the number of increases evenly across the round, spacing them as far apart from each other as possible.
A stitch marker is genuinely useful here. Place one at the start of each round and move it up as you go — it keeps you from losing track of where you are, particularly in continuous rounds where there’s no slip stitch join to act as a landmark.
Common Variations in Pattern Instructions
Patterns don’t always write increases exactly the same way. Here are the most frequent variations and what they mean:
sc inc — work two sc into the same stitch (a single increase)
2 sc inc — work a sc inc into this stitch, then another sc inc into the next stitch (two consecutive increases)
sc inc x3 or sc inc, 3 times — work a sc inc three times, into three consecutive stitches
1 sc, 1 inc — work one regular sc in the first stitch, then a sc inc in the next stitch; this sequence is usually repeated around the round
sc inc x6 — work a sc inc in each of the next six stitches
The pattern should make it clear whether increases are worked consecutively or spaced apart. If it isn’t clear, the stitch count at the end of the round is your check – you should end with the number shown in brackets.
Keeping Track of Your Stitch Count
This is the most common point of frustration with increases. Count your stitches at the end of every round, especially while you’re getting used to a new pattern. A sc inc gives you two stitches where the previous round had one, so if you’re expecting 18 stitches and count 17, it usually means an increase was worked as a regular sc somewhere.
Counting regularly is far easier than frogging (unpicking) several rounds back to find the error. If you’re not sure what frogging means, I have a post on what frogging means in crochet, including how to do it without dropping stitches.
A Note on Terminology: “Inc” Alone
Some patterns, particularly older ones or those written in a compressed style, use “inc” on its own without “sc” in front of it. In most cases, especially in amigurumi patterns, “inc” still means sc inc, i.e. two single crochets into one stitch. However, it’s always worth checking the abbreviations list at the beginning of the pattern, since “inc” can occasionally refer to a different stitch type in specialist patterns.
If You’re New to Crochet
If sc inc is among the first techniques you’re learning, you’re at an exciting point. Increases and decreases are what take crochet from flat rows and squares into three-dimensional shapes. If you’d like to get a sense of what else is possible with crochet stitches, my stitch library covers a wide range of stitches with step-by-step guidance, mostly focused on blanket-making, which is a natural next step once you have the basics in hand.
And if blankets are where you’d like to go, the Crochet Blanket Resource Hub brings together everything on this site related to making blankets, from choosing yarn and understanding sizing to technique guides and pattern recommendations.
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About Catherine
Catherine is a crochet designer and teacher specialising in crochet blankets, with a particular love of tapestry crochet and colourwork. Her patterns have been published in crochet magazines, and her design work is featured in the book 100 Crochet Tiles. She has also designed in collaboration with Sirdar and WeCrochet.
You can find her full pattern collection on Etsy and Ravelry, and her step-by-step video tutorials on YouTube.
