Increasing one single crochet at the beginning of the row is the same as doing it in the middle or at the end of a row, because the turning chain in a single crochet row doesn’t count as a stitch. Wherever you want to increase 1 single crochet, just work 2 single crochet stitches in the designated stitch.
![Diagram of how to increase with single crochet.](https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/108445.image0.jpg)
This completed single crochet increase sure is simple to do!
![Diagram of the completed single crochet increase.](https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/108446.image1.jpg)
In a crochet stitch diagram, you may see a symbol like this one, which represents a single crochet increase.
![The single crochet increase symbol.](https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/108447.image2.jpg)
Increasing stitches (abbreviated inc) in crocheting is just what it sounds like. You add stitches to a crocheted row so that it has more stitches than the previous one. Depending on the type of design that you’re making, you can increase stitches anywhere in the row: at the beginning, end, or middle; in every other stitch; or anyplace where you want the shaping to occur.