Crochet Magic Circle

Crochet beginners (and some of us old-timers too), often have trouble crocheting a perfect circle. Most instructions call for chaining two and then putting a number of stitches in the first stitch. Quite often the circle comes out lopsided or more oval than circle and often leaves a large hole in the center.

The magic ring technique is a sneaky technique to crochet the perfect circle. I can’t lay claim on figuring this out, but I will claim that I explain it better than most. Once you get the basic idea down, you will most likely find a different way to do this. My original instructions proved to require too much wrist twisting for my pattern tester’s arthritic hands. She found this technique more gentle on her hands and easier to follow but quickly began adapting the technique to her own; creating a third possible way to use the magic ring to crochet a perfect circle.

I have little doubt once you understand the basics, you too will come up with a magic circle technique that works best for you.

NOTE: This crochet tutorial is fully-illustrated and may take a moment or two to fully load.

How to Crochet a Perfect Circle

Crochet Circle - Step 1	Magic Crochet Circle - Step 1: Wrap the yarn around your fingers as shown to the left and secure the yarn with your thumb.
Crochet Circle - Step 2	Magic Crochet Circle - Step 2: Slide working end to the base of your pinky, make sure the tail hangs free. Bend pinky finger around working end to maintain tension. Make sure yarn is snug around your middle and ring fingers; you may need to split them slightly to do this.
Crochet Circle - Step 3	Magic Crochet Circle - Step 3: Tilt your hand so that your pinky faces the floor.
Crochet Circle - Step 4	Magic Crochet Circle - Step 4: Insert your crochet hook under the loop on top of your middle finger.
Crochet Circle - Step 5	Magic Crochet Circle - Step 5: Slide crochet hook and yarn looped over your index finger so that the hook is over the loop on your index finger.
Crochet Circle - Step 6	Magic Crochet Circle - Step 6: Twist crochet hook to grab working yarn on your index finger…
Crochet Circle - Step 7	Magic Crochet Circle - Step 7: …and pull under the loop that goes around your middle and ring fingers - this will create a loop on the crochet hook.
Crochet Circle - Step 8	Magic Crochet Circle - Step 8: Make a single crochet using the working yarn and the loop you just put on your crochet hook.
Crochet Circle - Step 9	Magic Crochet Circle - Step 9: You should have a single stitch on the ring and your hook should be outside of the circle at this point.
Crochet Circle - Step 10	Magic Crochet Circle - Step 10: Insert your crochet hook through the loop/circle on your middle finger. Be sure to have your crochet hook positioned under the tail.
Crochet Circle - Step 11	Magic Crochet Circle - Step 11: Grab the working thread from your index finger with your crochet hook and slide the hook through the loop/circle.
Crochet Circle - Step 12	Magic Crochet Circle - Step 12: You should now have two loops on your crochet hook.
Crochet Circle - Step 13	Magic Crochet Circle - Step 13: Wrap working yarn around your crochet hook and pull the yarn through both of the loops on your crochet hook.
Crochet Circle - Step 14	Magic Crochet Circle - Step 14: You now have made the first counted stitch of your circle.
Crochet Circle - Step 15	Magic Crochet Circle - Step 15: Repeat steps 10-13 to create the desired number of stitches for your circle.
Crochet Circle - Step 16	Magic Crochet Circle - Step 16: While holding the stitches in your right hand, gently pull the tail to tighten the circle and bring the stitches together. It will look something like a kidney bean at this point. Slide the crochet hook into the first real stitch you made and bring the working yarn through that stitch and the loop on your crochet hook to finish your circle.

If you are making an Amigurumi or other project that is worked in spiral rings rather than rows, use a regular stitch to join your ring. Check the pattern you are working from as they may require no join, the use of a slip stitch or even turning the piece without joining.

After you have made a few stitches on the second row, pull the tail to make your crochet circle even neater and tighter.

Circle Crochet with Tall Stitches

This technique will also work for a central crochet circle using one of the tall stitches like double, half-double or triple crochet.

Once you complete step 9, you will need to make 2 (for double crochet), 3 (for half-double) or 4 (for treble crochet) chain stitches. This chain will not count in your total stitch count for your circle.

Yarn over hook as you would when making one of these tall stitches and make the stitch normally inserting the hook into the center of the circle. Continue making the tall crochet stitch around the ring for the appropriate number of times called for by the pattern you are following.

Pull the sting to tighten the circle as shown in step 16. Slip stitch into the first tall stitch on your ring to close the circle.