How to Crochet: the Magic Circle
Using step by step instructions, photos and illustrations,
this tutorial will have you crocheting using the magic circle in no time at all!
Here’s a photo of one of my Northern Lights beanies being crocheted.
I used the magic circle technique while crocheting this hat.
Note how the middle of the circle is so small? There are 11 stitches worked into the magic circle! Then once the magic circle was pulled tight, the space all but disappeared.
Here’s a break down of what the magic circle is and why you would want to use it:
• The magic circle is also referred to as the ‘magic loop’ and ‘magic ring’.
• It is often used to start a crochet project that is worked in the round.
• Basically, you are creating a loop and crocheting your first round into it to start your project.
• When you use the magic circle, you don’t end up with any awkward holes in the middle of your starting round. You pull the loop closed and your stitches magically slide together. (Magically... get it? See what I did there…)
How to Crochet Using the Magic Circle Technique:
Note: This is how I personally crochet using the magic circle. I know that there are other tutorials and other techniques that people use, but for me, this technique is just simple and easy.
Give it a chance, it’s a crochet skill you’ll be glad you have!
Make sure you have your yarn and hook ready, and follow along with each step of the tutorial.
Feel free to Pin this post for future reference! (Simply click on any image and hit “Pinterest Save.”)
Supplies needed:
• Yarn (I recommend a bulky yarn, it’s easier to see your stitches. No fuzzy yarns. They are always difficult to work with.)
• Crochet hook of any size suitable for your yarn. (A 6.5 mm hook should work nicely with a bulky yarn.)
• Yarn needle. (Just like this one.)
Step 1 - How to Hold Your Yarn:
Grab your yarn and your hook. Pick up your yarn using your yarn hand (for me that’s my left hand, since I hold my hook with my right hand). Position the yarn in your yarn hand as shown in the illustration and also the photo below.
By the way, why do hands look so weird in photos? Do all hands look weird? Is it just my hands? Can we agree not to judge me on my weird looking hands…
Step 2 - Starting your Magic Circle:
While pinching your yarn, pick up your crochet hook and insert it into the magic circle as shown below.
Step 3 - Starting to Crochet:
While still holding the yarn the same as the previous step:
Yarn over and pull hook back through the magic circle.
Step 4 - Starting the Round:
Now you are ready to start working stitches into your magic circle.
For this tutorial, you’ll start by crocheting a chain stitch. Insert your hook through the magic circle, yarn over to grab the yarn, pull it back through and complete your chain stitch.
Step 5 - Crocheting Around the Magic Circle:
You’ll now be working all of your stitches around the magic circle.
For this tutorial, work 10 single crochet stitches.
You will work all of your stitches as you normally would, but with one noticeable difference:
You’ll be inserting your hook through the magic circle, not into a stitch.
As I’m working my stitches, I find it easiest to pinch the magic circle just below the last few stitches worked. Doing this makes a smaller loop for me to work into. (Photo below.)
Once you have finished crocheting your stitches, your work should look similar to the photo below.
Step 6 - Closing the Magic Circle.
Now that you’ve finished this round, you’ll need to close the magic circle.
You can put your work down now and remove your hook temporarily if you find it easier. If you do remove your hook, make sure to pull your working loop longer. This will help your stitch not to pull out as easily.
With your hook hand, pinch your work at the very first stitch that you made in this round. Then with your yarn hand, pick up the yarn tail (NOT your working yarn).
Now start slowly but firmly pulling your yarn tail. The yarn will start pulling through the stitches and pulling the magic loop closed. Continue pulling until the loop is completely closed.
You don’t want to pull so hard that you break your yarn, but you do want to make sure you fully close the loop.
Step 7 - Joining the Round:
You’ll still need to join your round to complete it.
For this tutorial, slip stitch to the stitch indicated below to join the round.
The photo below shows what your closed magic circle should now look like. (Although I got a bit ahead of myself and crocheted my chain stitch to start my next round. So we’ll just ignore that little detail…)
Step 8 - Securing the Magic Circle:
Now that you’ve finished crocheting into the magic circle, you’ll need to securely close it to prevent the magic circle from opening.
You can do this now, or you can be a rebel like me and wait until the very end of your project… and constantly keep having to tighten your magic circle as you work.
I want to note, proper text book crochet teaches us that you should never have a knot in your crochet. I firmly disagree on this. I knot every time I start or end with a yarn strand. Why? Because, I really do use, wear and enjoy my crochet projects. I like to be sure that nothing is ever going to unravel on me. I never want my yarn ends to start coming undone over time. So to be safe, I always knot and then weave away my ends. It just makes everything extra secure (in my opinion).
(If you are in the “No knots ever!” camp… please don’t feel the need to debate me on this… let’s just agree to disagree on this and stay friends shall we?)
To securely close the magic circle:
• You’ll need a yarn needle for this part.
• Feed the yarn tail (not your working end) through a yarn needle.
• Pull the yarn tail firmly to ensure the magic loop is fully closed.
• Insert the needle through a nearby stitch.
• Tie a knot to secure the yarn.
• Weave away your loose end.
And that’s it! Your magic circle is now done!
Be sure to check out the other tutorials in my “How to Crochet” series!
If you have some yarny friends that would enjoy this tutorial, please send it their way!
If you enjoyed this tutorial let me know!
I hope it gives you even more confidence in your crochet abilities!
Kindest regards,
Amanda Foster
I’ve linked to certain products within this tutorial. If you click and then purchase one of the products, I will earn a small commission. The awesome thing is, the commission doesn’t come out of your pocket, it’s paid to me by a big company. I would never recommend a product to you unless I think it is valuable. Every item I recommend in this tutorial is something I personally use.
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