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    Home » Video Tutorials » Basic Stitches

    The Magic Circle

    Published: Mar 28, 2012 · Modified: Nov 20, 2020 by Tamara Kelly · 67 Comments

    Ever wondered how round or circular projects have those centers that are all closed up and tight? It's the Magic Circle! Also known as Magic Ring or Magic Loop, there are several ways to create it. Here's mine!

    Learn how to crochet the Chainless Starting Double Crochet in the Magic Ring, and have the perfect start to all of your circular projects! Great video tutorial on Moogly! #crochet

    How to Crochet The Magic Circle - Right Handed

    How to Crochet The Magic Circle - Left-Handed

    I hope that made it clear! There are other ways to do it - some people even take their yarn in the opposite direction - but this is the way I find easiest. But that doesn't make it the "right" way - there are no crochet police! Do what makes you happy and gives you the results you desire. Do you think you'll give the Magic Circle a try? What's your favorite way to start a circle?

    Oh! And don't forget to close it up tight! If you have trouble with your magic circles coming undone, click here for a tutorial on how to keep them closed up tight! 

    Magic Cicle - Ring - LoopBe sure to like moogly on Facebook for fun links, sneak peeks, and to get all the latest moogly updates! TamaraKelly@mooglyblog.com

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    Comments

    1. 1

      jeri jackson

      April 01, 2012 at 12:52 pm

      I have repeatedly tried to print the chrochet Easter Lilly pattern. every time it gives me a printer error and I have to shut down my computer and reboot because it messes up my printer accesability. I have never had this happen ever. could you send me the pattern to my email so I could print it and the progression pictures ? thank you , Jeri

      Reply
      • 2

        moogly

        April 01, 2012 at 7:31 pm

        Hi Jeri! Ah, I didn't know that had gotten published! I'm sorry it's giving you trouble, have you tried contacting the host website?

        Reply
        • 3

          moogly

          April 04, 2012 at 7:38 am

          Ok, it's up here now - try the print it now button here at moogly - and do let me know if you have any trouble!

          Reply
    2. 4

      Teranja Knitmiss

      July 26, 2013 at 7:27 pm

      Thank you for your tutorial on the magic ring. I watched it a couple of times and I'm ready to try it out. Thanks again for your blog. You are making a difference in my life as a crocheter.

      Reply
      • 5

        Tamara Kelly

        July 26, 2013 at 7:45 pm

        Thank you so much for saying so Teranja! I'm grateful to be able to help!

        Reply
      • 6

        Donna Willingham

        September 13, 2015 at 5:01 pm

        Where can I find the tutorial on the magic circle.

        Reply
        • 7

          Tamara Kelly

          September 14, 2015 at 7:37 am

          You are on the page with the tutorial.

          Reply
    3. 8

      Diane

      July 27, 2013 at 4:43 am

      Thanks for posting this tutorial it is easy to follow I watched twice to make sure ihad it + I hae thanks again xx

      Reply
    4. 9

      Tara Miller

      November 05, 2013 at 10:42 pm

      What do you do with the tail to make sure it doesn't come loose?

      Reply
      • 10

        Tamara Kelly

        November 06, 2013 at 9:38 am

        After I pull it tight, I use a tapestry needle to go around the circle the same direction once more, then go back the other way, piercing the yarn through so that it's completely secure. I've never had one come undone yet! 🙂

        Reply
        • 11

          Bren Stewart

          April 18, 2020 at 6:29 pm

          Neither have I had one come undone. I a lot of weaving it into the circle.

          What I'd like to see, if you have it, is how to start the next and subsequent rows without seeing where the new rows began.

          Reply
          • 12

            Tamara Kelly

            April 20, 2020 at 9:59 am

            Hi Bren! I think what you're looking for are chainless starting stitches! Here's a tutorial: https://www.mooglyblog.com/improved-csdc/

            Reply
    5. 13

      Angel

      January 11, 2014 at 10:59 pm

      Hi Tamara,

      Do you already have a tutorial on how to do a chainless dc into a magic circle, or is that even a possibility?

      Thank you,
      Angel

      Reply
      • 14

        Tamara Kelly

        January 12, 2014 at 9:07 pm

        It is possible, though not the easiest. I don't have a tutorial specifically for this - sounds like it would be a good one to add!

        Reply
        • 15

          Angel

          January 12, 2014 at 9:48 pm

          I tried it and it looked okay. I wasn't sure if I should do a chain first or not right after the crossover at the beginning. It was hard for me to know where to join the last dc of the round to that beginning stitch when continuing with the same color. I didn't know where to insert the hook for the slip stitch.

          Reply
          • 16

            Tamara Kelly

            January 13, 2014 at 11:26 am

            To join in the round you'll sl stitch to the top of the chainless stitch. 🙂

            Reply
    6. 17

      Lynda

      April 17, 2014 at 2:54 pm

      Thank you so much Tamara for the magic circle tutorial. I'm so glad I found it. I hope it's ok for me to post it on my website to let others know where I learned it and send them to you and your tutorials and great site.

      Lynda

      Reply
      • 18

        Tamara Kelly

        April 17, 2014 at 4:57 pm

        I'd love it if you posted a link on your site! Thank you so much Lynda!

        Reply
    7. 19

      VERNA E

      April 30, 2014 at 11:12 am

      Thanks for the tutorials. I have not crocheted in years and need refreshing. Your site has lots of information on it. Looking forward to making bigger things than I used to do with the help of ur site!

      Reply
      • 20

        Tamara Kelly

        April 30, 2014 at 11:40 am

        😀 You're very welcome Verna - and thank you!

        Reply
    8. 21

      Michelle

      May 12, 2014 at 11:52 am

      I just started crocheting (decided to go big with my first project and do an amigurumi bunny), and wish I had found this tutorial first. I was wondering how to get rid of that darned hole! Thanks so much.

      Reply
      • 22

        Tamara Kelly

        May 12, 2014 at 11:55 am

        😀 So glad you like it Michelle! And congrats on learning to crochet - amigurumi is an ambitious first project for sure, but after that you'll be ready to tackle anything! Love your confidence!

        Reply
    9. 23

      Debbie

      May 26, 2014 at 11:44 am

      i need to find a video i cant read patters because i had a stroke and i can only follow them so do you have videos on dresses and for little boys

      Reply
    10. 24

      Shannon

      May 29, 2014 at 7:54 am

      Hi I have a question about the end of the magic circle. I don't see where to insert my hook to begin the dc. Also does the dc wrap twice around the magic circle? From the directions it sends that I should finish the 12 dc when I return to the first stitch but if my magic circle is only 6 around that doesn't seem possible.

      Thanks

      Reply
      • 25

        Tamara Kelly

        May 29, 2014 at 11:34 am

        Hi Shannon! In the video I'm demonstrating the magic circle with single crochet stitches. If I were to use the magic circle with double crochets, I would start the exact same way, but instead of stopping at the ch-1, I'd ch-2 or maybe ch-3 (if I wanted that to count as the first st of the round). Then I would yo and make a double crochet around both loops of the ring, just as I worked the single crochet stitches. Also, I like to work 6 sts into the ring for single crochets, but for double crochets I would likely work 12, or some similar number (depending on the stitch pattern). I hope that's clearer?

        Reply
        • 26

          Shannon

          June 20, 2014 at 7:51 am

          It is - thanks for writing back and explaining!

          Reply
    11. 27

      Amy Dye

      July 26, 2014 at 8:21 pm

      Thank you so much for the magic circle tutorial. That helped me so much! Happy Crocheting!

      Reply
      • 28

        Tamara Kelly

        July 28, 2014 at 5:08 pm

        😀 You're very welcome!

        Reply
    12. 29

      Becky R

      August 18, 2014 at 8:24 am

      I love this trick and use it all the time now. No more chain circles!

      Reply
      • 30

        Tamara Kelly

        August 18, 2014 at 10:30 am

        😀 Thanks Becky! So glad it worked for you!

        Reply
    13. 31

      Karen

      September 22, 2014 at 3:07 pm

      I was wondering if I could get the pattern for the Easter Lilly?

      Reply
      • 32

        Tamara Kelly

        September 22, 2014 at 7:45 pm

        Hi Karen! The Easter Lily pattern is at https://www.mooglyblog.com/easter-lily-november-lily/ 🙂

        Reply
    14. 33

      Debbie

      October 19, 2014 at 2:56 pm

      thank you so much! I've tried to do this from a couple other instructions and this is the first one that worked AND that I could remember without the video! keeping it on my finger for the first few stitches is what I needed - I was having a heck of a time trying to keep the yarn stable enough to stitch around....

      Reply
      • 34

        Tamara Kelly

        October 20, 2014 at 8:56 am

        😀 I'm so glad it worked for you too Debbie!

        Reply
    15. 35

      Sharon Wright

      October 28, 2014 at 11:06 pm

      I just wanted to say, thank you for a fantastic tutorial for a magic circle. Most of the patterns I've worked with have you slip stitch a circle and then work a ton of stitches inside that. But, I've recently been seeing newer patterns with these and was completely clueless! Again, thank you sooo much, it was very easy to follow 🙂

      Reply
      • 36

        Tamara Kelly

        October 29, 2014 at 4:17 pm

        😀 I'm so glad to hear it Sharon! Thank you!

        Reply
    16. 37

      leigh

      October 29, 2014 at 11:28 am

      This is by and far the very best tutorial on magic ring/circle I have found to date. After hours of frustration trying to understand and form the ring with various other youtube videos I now understand. I shall go forth and magic ring! And no longer be afraid.

      Many thanks to you Tamara! You are my crochet angel right now.

      Reply
      • 38

        Tamara Kelly

        October 29, 2014 at 4:12 pm

        😀 I'm so glad, thank you Leigh!

        Reply
    17. 39

      cheryle

      November 14, 2014 at 10:50 pm

      that was great!! I all most gave up til I watched ur video... thanks again

      Reply
      • 40

        Tamara Kelly

        November 16, 2014 at 11:31 am

        🙂 Thanks Cheryle!

        Reply
    18. 41

      Ginghun

      February 24, 2015 at 3:32 pm

      All I can say is you are an amazing lady! Thank you for all you help!!

      Reply
      • 42

        Tamara Kelly

        February 24, 2015 at 7:04 pm

        Wow, thank you so much! 😀

        Reply
    19. 43

      Caroline

      March 06, 2015 at 7:54 am

      I have honestly never been able to get the magic ring until now despite years of trying! I usually substitute for a chain two but it never looks as nice. You are one awesome teacher! Just watched a load of your tutorials and I feel like a new crocheter! Thank you 🙂

      Reply
      • 44

        Tamara Kelly

        March 06, 2015 at 8:16 am

        😀 Wow, thank you so much Caroline! I'm so happy to hear it!

        Reply
    20. 45

      Patricia Cuddeback

      May 13, 2015 at 9:00 am

      This video is fabulous. I have been struggling with the magic circle for a while now and you have finally made it perfectly clear. Thanks.

      Reply
      • 46

        Tamara Kelly

        May 13, 2015 at 10:51 am

        🙂 Thank you, I'm so glad to hear it!

        Reply
    21. 47

      Tom

      May 17, 2015 at 2:19 am

      Could you make something like this that would leave the hole in the center when finished?

      Reply
      • 48

        Tamara Kelly

        May 18, 2015 at 9:02 am

        Yes! Just don't pull it all the way closed! Weave in the end securely and it won't go anywhere. 🙂

        Reply
    22. 49

      Shana

      July 18, 2015 at 2:38 am

      I just wanted to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing this tutorial. I am a fairly avid crocheter and relatively intermediate/advanced level. I'm not bragging, just saying I've been doing this for years. Thanks to my mom and my aunt (who taught me so much before she passed away) I have been crocheting since i was a kid..I'm 41 now. . I have always avoided the magic circle like the plauge...lol. I've watched a lot of videos and visited a ton of websites, but I just couldn't get it to work. I always did the chain 4 or 5 and crochet into the circle or chain however many stiches and then crochet into the such and such stitch from the hook. I found a pattern thought that I just have to try and it wasn't gonna look right. So I bit the bullet and decided to give it a try. Well this wonderful lady had a link to your video and here I am. I actually made the magic circle and it looks fairly decent. :). Thanks to you I now at least sort of get it...lol 🙂 You've opened up a lot of new patterns or at least a better way to do a lot of the old ones. So once again THANK YOU!!!

      Reply
      • 50

        Tamara Kelly

        July 27, 2015 at 4:28 pm

        Hi Shana! You are very welcome - thank you so much!!

        Reply
    23. 51

      Lorna

      October 17, 2015 at 4:30 pm

      I love how easy your tutorial is the best one ever I have seen. I can't wait to start my first dragon toy my first ever project but determined to learn to crochet.
      Thanks lorna

      Reply
      • 52

        Tamara Kelly

        October 19, 2015 at 9:26 am

        😀 Thank you so much Lorna!!

        Reply
    24. 53

      Leicah

      November 29, 2015 at 8:18 pm

      Hi! Thank you for this tutorial. I was searching for a Captain America shield and found this easy one. It required a magic ring to start the circle and there was a link for your site. I watched it a couple of times while trying and voila, I finally have a magic ring! I'm a beginner crocheter and this really helped! Thank you so much

      Reply
      • 54

        Tamara Kelly

        November 30, 2015 at 9:14 am

        😀 I'm so glad to hear it Leicah, thank you!

        Reply
    25. 55

      Marg

      January 22, 2016 at 12:26 pm

      Well, thank you very much for that video. I am 70 now and taught my self to
      crochet from a book when I was 30 and stick to the easy projects, still, and I knew there
      was a way to make that magic circle, but had not actually come across it anywhere!!! So,
      going to give it a try. Thank you.

      Reply
      • 56

        Tamara Kelly

        January 25, 2016 at 12:33 pm

        😀 Thank you Marg! I'm glad you found it!

        Reply
    26. 57

      stephenie

      October 31, 2016 at 8:01 am

      Thank you for this excellent tutorial. I made the cabled slippers, and they came out great! A couple of people tried to teach me the magic circle. I didn't understand it until I watched your video.

      Reply
      • 58

        Tamara Kelly

        October 31, 2016 at 9:39 am

        😀 I'm so glad it helped! Thank you Stephenie!

        Reply
    27. 59

      Freeflyer

      June 25, 2018 at 8:54 pm

      Thank you for teaching me more crochet skills the last year or so. You are appreciated!

      Reply
      • 60

        Tamara Kelly

        June 26, 2018 at 9:48 am

        😀 Thank you so much for saying so!

        Reply
        • 61

          Freeflyer

          June 28, 2018 at 12:38 pm

          🌈

          Reply
    28. 62

      Mary Haugen

      December 01, 2018 at 2:16 pm

      I love to use the magic circle! I do have a problem though. I used the magic circle on a beautiful shawl pattern and last night when I went to put the shawl on I noticed that the magic circle was coming apart an I was losing stitches. Is there a special way to secure the ends. I was able to find the dropped stitches but I am not satisfied with the way it looks. I am a very experienced crocheter, having 60 years of experience and have not had any problem like this before. I am concerned about teaching my students this method. Help please!!!

      Reply
      • 63

        Tamara Kelly

        December 03, 2018 at 10:06 am

        Hi Mary! I have just the tutorial for that! https://www.mooglyblog.com/how-to-keep-a-magic-circle-closed/

        Reply
    29. 64

      Lila Gilbert

      October 12, 2019 at 12:13 pm

      I have been crocheting forever and lots of it in the round and never knew this technique-its wonderful

      Reply
      • 65

        Tamara Kelly

        October 14, 2019 at 10:53 am

        I'm so glad you like it, Lila! Thank you!

        Reply
    30. 66

      Karlien

      May 07, 2020 at 1:09 pm

      Hi! Thanks for a wonderful video!
      Does your first chains count as a single crochet? Could you make one chain to stabilize the circle and then start with single or double crochets?
      (I am so excited after watching hour videos not to use chains anymore 😊)

      Reply
      • 67

        Tamara Kelly

        May 07, 2020 at 3:47 pm

        Yes, I like to make a chain and pull it down tight to stabilize the circle, then make whatever turning chain is needed for the first round. 🙂

        Reply

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