People have often asked me how to do the magic circle stitch (which goes by several names – magic loop, magic chain, etc.). The magic circle is a great way to begin most projects that are worked in a round (ie amigurumi, hats, etc.). The purpose of this stitch is to give you a nice tight beginning round, regardless of how many stitches are in the round.
Terms Used:
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
dc: double crochet
sl st: slip stitch
( ): the number of stitches worked in a round
Many patterns will begin with instructions similar to the following:
Round 1: Ch 2, sc 8 times in second chain from hook. (8)
After working 8 sc stitches in a single chain stitch, it may be difficult to tighten that chain so there is not a big hole in the center. Anytime a pattern calls for chaining at the beginning and working several stitches in the chain, you may use the magic circle instead. In a pattern, it would read something like this:
Round 1: Begin with a magic circle, sc 8 times in circle. (8)
NOTE: If the pattern were to call for dc stitches instead of sc stitches, it would read something like this:
Round 1: Begin with a magic circle, ch 2, dc 7 times in circle. (8)
In the case of double crochet, your round will begin with a “ch 2″ (prior to working the 7 dc stitches) which will count as the first dc stitch.
Now that you understand the purpose of the magic circle and how it might be written in a pattern, let’s begin!
PLEASE NOTE: There is more than one way to complete this stitch! If you have been using a method that is different from the one I use and it is working well for you, by all means, continue to use it! This is the method that I find works best for me.
For this tutorial, we will be creating the magic circle and completing it with 10 dc stitches. (I used cotton worsted weight yarn and one of my random dollar store hooks (4.50mm) since I couldn’t find any of my nice ones at the time!)
In a written pattern, this would read something like this:
Round 1: Begin with a magic circle, ch 2, dc 9 times in circle. (10)
Step 1: With your index and middle finger of your left hand extended and your yarn on the left side of your hand, bring the tail of the yarn in front of your hand and wrap it over both fingers from front to back two times.
(To see photos in a larger form, hover your mouse over or click on each photo.)
Step 2: Insert your crochet hook from right to left under the loops on your finger and hook the open strand of yarn (closest to your palm).
Step 3: Pull the strand on your hook under the two loops on your fingers.
Step 4: Carefully slip your fingers out (without disturbing the loops).
Step 5: Yarn over, pull yarn through loop. Tighten stitch. This is your anchor stitch and isn’t counted as the first chain. Some people will leave this anchor stitch out and simply begin with the next step, however I find that the stitches work out to be better sized if the anchor stitch is included.
(Alternatively you may ch 1 prior to sliding the loops off of your fingers. However, I find it easier to yarn over with the loops off of my hand.)
Step 6: Ch 2. (This ch 2 which will count as your first dc stitch in the final stitch count.) (1)
Step 7: (Yarn over) Complete one dc stitch in loop. (2)
Step 8: Continue to dc in the loop for 8 more stitches (a total of 10 dc – counting the first ch 2 as one dc stitch). (10)
Step 9: Look closely at the threads that make up the center loop. If the strands haven’t twisted there should be an inner thread and an outer thread visible.
Step 10: Grasp the inner thread at the “bottom” edge (where the arrow is pointed in the previous photo) and pull to tighten the center of the magic circle.
Step 11: Grasp yarn tail and pull very firmly to tighten the loop left over from the previous step.
You have just completed the magic circle!!
If your pattern instructs you to join your round with a slip stitch, continue on to step 12.
Step 12: Join with a sl st to beginning ch 2.
See how nice that looks?
I hope you have found this tutorial helpful. As always, feel free to leave a comment with any questions or input you may have, or send me an email: Tricia@BusyMomDesigns.com
Tags: busy mom designs, crochet, crochet how to start round, crochet tutorial, crocheting, free tutorial, how to do magic chain, how to do magic circle, how to do magic loop, magic chain, magic circle, magic loop, photo tutorial, pictures
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Could you also show us what you do with the yarn tail once you have tightened the the magic ring and slip stitched to the beginning chain? I always feel like I need to tie it somewhere/how to keep it from working back loose.
Mandi, I will do a fastening off tutorial one of these days too, but for the magic circle, I usually just use my yarn needle and stitch the tail under a few stitches of the “ring” part, then turning and skipping over one or two strands, stitch back under a few stitches in the opposite direction (the same way I fasten off any of my work). That way it’s basically impossible for it to come loose. However, a lot of people will just cut the tail off at the end without fastening off as it is actually pretty secure in there.
Thanks!
I usually just hold the tail and crochet over it as I go.
Thank you! Your pictures were easy to follow.
Thank you for this! I’ve been wondering how to make a magic ring.
Great tutorial! Good job!
Do you people have a facebook fan page? I looked for one on twitter but could not discover one, I would really like to become a fan!
Yes, thanks for asking! It’s http://www.Facebook.com/BusyMomDesigns
I just added your blog site to my blogroll, I pray you would give some thought to doing the same.
This magic circle idea is the best tip in years. Thank you so much!!
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Génial, merci
Wow! Thank you so much. I literally taught myself how to crochet 2 days ago and I kept seeing this cool magic ring in various places. Your tutorial worked perfectly for me! My starting ring is beautiful. Thanks so much!
,
Easiest way I’ve ever seen it explained! Magic! {lol} Working on a new hat now
I’m glad it was helpful for you.
I do this with just one “ring” instead of two. What do think the advantage of wrapping twice might be?
I find that you end up with a more secure circle this way – less likely to slip and your tail is already well secured. But, like I said, there’s more than one way to do it!
I also do the magic ring with only one wrap around my fingers and therefore only one loop to go over with stitches and one loop to pull closed at the end. More often I see the double loop way done – as demonstrated. However, I’ve never experienced any trouble with my one loop method and I’ve been doing it that way for several years. That said, the photos in this tutorial are very clear. For years I tried to find good pix of doing the magic ring, the ones in this demo are some of the most easy to follow I’ve found.
THANKS A LOT, I was still fighting with the “inner” and the “outer” circle
)))
Glad it helped!
For fastening off the tail- Icrochet around the tail as though it is part of the stitch I’m working on until it is tiny.
Magic circle- many times I break the yarn while tightening the loop. I have been using a different method of magic ring- has this method ever broken your yarn?
If your stitches are too tight or your circles are twisted, or if you’re using a really thin yarn and pulling against a lot of stitches, there’s a possibility the yarn might break, but it’s never been a major problem for me. Just every now and then it happens so I re-do the circle and it will nearly always work fine the second time.
Thanks, nice to learn something new and a different way of doing things. I found you on Pinterest. Debra. xxxxxx
i found it very educational thanks.
I realise is in a silly question but can you just confirm that it is US dc not UK dc as they are different and I’m from the UK so automatically do UK and sometimes that gets mixed up! Xxxx
Not a silly question at all! I’m using US terms. Sorry if I wasn’t clear about that.
Very good, easy to follow. Other way was never even. I have never seen this, this will be a great way for me to teach my beginners. Thanks!
I’m so glad it was helpful for you! Thanks for stopping by my blog!
I have known how to crochet for years, but just picked back up in the last couple of months. I am unclear on something about the tutorial. My pattern says to single crochet into the ring. . . Are you saying it will work better to double crochet into the ring? Or do I chain 2 and then go ahead and single crochet into the ring, still counting the chain 2 as my first one?
Thank you,
Mg
I was just using double crochet as an example for this tutorial. If the pattern calls for single crochet, you would chain 1 (which would not count as your first stitch), then complete as many single crochet in the circle as your pattern instructs you to.
Hi, thank you so much for the step by step teaching.
For sure I’ll try it out soon, I’d attend a one time class for making a flower, but I forgot pretty fast while I wanted to make one more at home. I guess with your step by step photos I can manage to crotch another flower.
Thanks again.