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!
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!)
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!
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Valda says
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.
Tamara Kelly says
I’m so glad I could help, thank you Valda!
debi says
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
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you Debi! I strongly recommend weaving in your ends. I do have a tutorial for it! 🙂 Click here
Trijntje says
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!
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you so much for saying so Trijntje! 😀 I really appreciate it!
Nicola says
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
Tamara Kelly says
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?
Nicola Perrin says
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!
Nicola says
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
Nicola says
Ah, now I see my last reply!! Sorry for bugging you!
Tamara Kelly says
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!
Nicola says
Thank you! I think 2 balls will be the way forward!! Thanks very much 😀
Tamara Kelly says
😀 So glad I could help!