• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
moogly
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Patterns
  • Tutorials
  • MooglyCAL
  • Giveaways
  • Lives
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Patterns
    • Tutorials
    • MooglyCAL
    • Giveaways
    • Lives
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Video Tutorials » Techniques and Tips

    How to Keep a Magic Circle Closed

    Published: Apr 12, 2016 by Tamara Kelly · 16 Comments

    I love starting projects in the round with the magic circle! No weird bumps from knots, and you can pull it as tight - or keep it as loose - as you like! But if you don't finish them off correctly, they can start to come undone! Here's how I make sure my magic circles always stay closed - and how to fix a magic circle that starts opening up later on!

    Magic Circle trouble? This video from Mooglyblog.com shows how to secure your magic circles so they don't come undone - and how to fix the ones that are coming apart!Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links.

    How to Keep a Magic Circle Closed - Right Handed

    How to Keep a Magic Circle Closed - Left Handed

    As Seen in this Video (click for more info!)

    • US - F Furls Heirloom Hook
    • Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton

    If you're not familiar with the Magic Circle already, you can check out my tutorial video for it here: Magic Circle Video Tutorial.

    And if you've made the Magic Circle before, you know how great it feels to grab that first end and pull it all tight and closed - there's a reason they call it "magic!" But what then? Don't trim that yarn off yet!

    Many people make the mistake of cutting the yarn as soon as the magic circle is pulled closed. The problem is that there's nothing keeping it closed...  So you need to put that tail to work again, weaving it in with a yarn needle!

    Usually I start by weaving that first end in the same direction it was going before, all around the circle, to add a little extra strength and make sure it's just as tight as I want it to be. Then, it's important to turn it around and go the opposite direction! Then, finally, a bit of weaving in a third direction, off to one side or another, and it's time to trim that end.

    Going in several directions locks in that magic circle, and will keep it from coming undone. But what if it's too late? What if you finished a project and months or years later, the magic circle is coming undone?

    To fix a magic circle that is coming undone, you want to cut about 12" of new yarn (the same color and weight, if the same yarn is no longer available), and the yarn needle. From the back of your work, go right back into the bottom of the stitches that were worked into the original circle, and sew a new circle in there. Pull it tight, and weave these new ends in as well as you can!

    And that's the secret to a long lasting magic circle! Being able to repair past projects means they can continue to bring us joy for years to come - I hope this tutorial helps you keep your crochet project around for a very very long time!

    If you enjoy Moogly video tutorials, you're going to LOVE my classes on Craftsy!Get Moogly on your favorite social media sites: Facebook, Twitter, G+, Pinterest, Instagram and Tumblr, and sign up for the free Newsletter so you don’t miss a thing! Thank you to Lion Brand yarn and Furls Fiberarts for products used in this tutorial.

    Print Friendly, PDF & Email
    Share1K
    Pin829
    Tweet
    Share35
    Email
    Reddit
    2K Shares

    More Techniques and Tips

    • Foundation Crochet Stitches, Linked Stitches, and Tunisian - It's a Matter of Direction!
      Foundation Crochet Stitches, Linked Stitches, and Tunisian - It's a Matter of Direction! Live
    • Standing Post Stitches - Moogly
      Standing Post Stitches - Live
    • Surface Crochet on 3D Objects - Moogly
      Surface Crochet on 3D Objects - Live
    • Three Great Tips for Better Granny Squares - Moogly
      Three Great Tips for Better Granny Squares
    Share1K
    Pin829
    Tweet
    Share35
    Email
    Reddit
    2K Shares
    Print Friendly, PDF & Email

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. 1

      Valda

      April 14, 2016 at 8:26 am

      Thank you for this. Being able to go back and fix projects from earlier years, when I didn't know that I needed to leave a long tail to weave in the ends, is such a relief. Thank you for the tutorial.

      Reply
      • 2

        Tamara Kelly

        April 15, 2016 at 1:08 am

        I'm so glad I could help, thank you Valda!

        Reply
    2. 3

      debi

      May 12, 2016 at 7:40 am

      I just watched your video. it is so great. I have problems also. do you have a video on how to tie off your yarn, mine still comes undone? ty soooo much

      Reply
      • 4

        Tamara Kelly

        May 12, 2016 at 9:31 am

        Thank you Debi! I strongly recommend weaving in your ends. I do have a tutorial for it! 🙂 Click here

        Reply
    3. 5

      Trijntje

      October 15, 2016 at 5:51 pm

      Hello!

      I've recently gotten into crochet and just learnt the magic circle, it was coming undone a little bit and your video was the most concise tutorial, with a very clear voice and the perfect directions as to how to fix stuff I was able to fix my magic circle!

      Thank you so much for your tutorials and keep up the great work! will certainly recommend your mooglyblog to my fellow crocheting friends!

      Reply
      • 6

        Tamara Kelly

        October 17, 2016 at 11:12 am

        Thank you so much for saying so Trijntje! 😀 I really appreciate it!

        Reply
    4. 7

      Nicola

      December 20, 2017 at 9:58 am

      Hi, I have a pattern that says "with two threads held together make a closed magic ring of 6 STS"
      I have the instructions on how to make a closed ring, I'm just not sure on the two threads together bit, could you advise how to get started? Thanks

      Reply
      • 8

        Tamara Kelly

        December 20, 2017 at 10:50 am

        Hi Nicola! Without seeing the pattern, I can only give my best guess, but I would read it as holding two yarns together and working them as if they were one. Sometimes this is called working with the yarn held doubled. Does that make sense?

        Reply
        • 9

          Nicola Perrin

          December 20, 2017 at 1:52 pm

          Thank you, the pattern says you only need one ball of the wool, in my head holding 2 together means 2 balls of wool?!
          It's to make a doll and the head and body are made as a whole piece.
          Maybe I'll just buy another ball of wool and try it!

          Reply
        • 10

          Nicola

          December 21, 2017 at 6:52 am

          Hi, I'm not sure if my reply got sent yesterday...what you're saying does make.semse, but the patterns says you only need 1 ball of wool. I can't work out in my head how to get 2 threads from one ball of wool!!
          Appreciate your help though! Xx

          Reply
          • 11

            Nicola

            December 21, 2017 at 6:54 am

            Ah, now I see my last reply!! Sorry for bugging you!

            Reply
          • 12

            Tamara Kelly

            December 21, 2017 at 9:36 am

            Hi Nicola! Ah, that does make it a little trickier - but you have 2 ends! 🙂 So you can pull both ends of the yarn ball at once, or try to divide the skein in half. Pulling both at once reduces the likelihood of waste yarn, but it is easier to get it tangled up that way, so it's a personal choice which way to go. Alternately, you can buy 2 balls of yarn and make 2 of whatever it is you're making! 😛 Best of luck with it!

            Reply
            • 13

              Nicola

              December 21, 2017 at 10:50 am

              Thank you! I think 2 balls will be the way forward!! Thanks very much 😀

            • 14

              Tamara Kelly

              December 21, 2017 at 11:36 am

              😀 So glad I could help!

    5. 15

      Virginia Renda

      October 12, 2020 at 5:30 pm

      I just looked at your video of how to make a magic circle.
      At the point where you want to tighten the circle that may have opened a but and don't have the same color yarn.
      I buy one small skein of embroidery yarn in the color i need by carrying my item to get a color to match. Embroidery yarn is made in all or almost all colors of the spectrum.
      I use 1 or strands on my needle to sew ittle places in the same color. No matter the yarn if the embroidery yarn is the same color, you never see it.

      Reply
      • 16

        Tamara Kelly

        October 13, 2020 at 11:52 am

        Great tip Virginia, thank you!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Courtesy of The Studio Chicago

    Moogly is world-famous for fresh. modern, and approachable crochet designs - as well as a little knitting and crafting here and there. On Moogly, you'll find several new free patterns every month, top quality video tutorials, giveaways, and more!

    More about Moogly →

    Popular

    • Floral Farmhouse Crochet Coasters - Free Crochet Pattern on Moogly
      Floral Farmhouse Crochet Coasters
    • Heatherstone Shawl - Free Crochet Pattern on Moogly
      Heatherstone Shawl Tutorial
    • Eye Love Knots Designer Showcase on Moogly
      Eye Love Knots: Designer Showcase
    • Crochet Southwest Spirit - Giveaway on Moogly
      Crochet Southwest Spirit by Susan Kennedy Review and Giveaway
    See Moogly's Best Recommendations on Amazon!
    I'm a Craftsy Instructor. Click to see my classes.
    Free Wrap Up Afghans

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Mooglyblog.com