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!
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!
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jeri jackson says
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
moogly says
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?
moogly says
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!
Teranja Knitmiss says
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.
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you so much for saying so Teranja! I’m grateful to be able to help!
Donna Willingham says
Where can I find the tutorial on the magic circle.
Tamara Kelly says
You are on the page with the tutorial.
Diane says
Thanks for posting this tutorial it is easy to follow I watched twice to make sure ihad it + I hae thanks again xx
Tara Miller says
What do you do with the tail to make sure it doesn’t come loose?
Tamara Kelly says
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! 🙂
Angel says
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
Tamara Kelly says
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!
Angel says
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.
Tamara Kelly says
To join in the round you’ll sl stitch to the top of the chainless stitch. 🙂
Lynda says
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
Tamara Kelly says
I’d love it if you posted a link on your site! Thank you so much Lynda!
VERNA E says
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!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 You’re very welcome Verna – and thank you!
Michelle says
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.
Tamara Kelly says
😀 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!
Debbie says
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
Shannon says
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
Tamara Kelly says
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?
Shannon says
It is – thanks for writing back and explaining!
Amy Dye says
Thank you so much for the magic circle tutorial. That helped me so much! Happy Crocheting!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 You’re very welcome!
Becky R says
I love this trick and use it all the time now. No more chain circles!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thanks Becky! So glad it worked for you!
Karen says
I was wondering if I could get the pattern for the Easter Lilly?
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Karen! The Easter Lily pattern is at https://www.mooglyblog.com/easter-lily-november-lily/ 🙂
Debbie says
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….
Tamara Kelly says
😀 I’m so glad it worked for you too Debbie!
Sharon Wright says
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 🙂
Tamara Kelly says
😀 I’m so glad to hear it Sharon! Thank you!
leigh says
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.
Tamara Kelly says
😀 I’m so glad, thank you Leigh!
cheryle says
that was great!! I all most gave up til I watched ur video… thanks again
Tamara Kelly says
🙂 Thanks Cheryle!
Ginghun says
All I can say is you are an amazing lady! Thank you for all you help!!
Tamara Kelly says
Wow, thank you so much! 😀
Caroline says
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 🙂
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Wow, thank you so much Caroline! I’m so happy to hear it!
Patricia Cuddeback says
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.
Tamara Kelly says
🙂 Thank you, I’m so glad to hear it!
Tom says
Could you make something like this that would leave the hole in the center when finished?
Tamara Kelly says
Yes! Just don’t pull it all the way closed! Weave in the end securely and it won’t go anywhere. 🙂
Shana says
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!!!
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Shana! You are very welcome – thank you so much!!
Lorna says
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
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you so much Lorna!!
Leicah says
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
Tamara Kelly says
😀 I’m so glad to hear it Leicah, thank you!
Marg says
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.
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you Marg! I’m glad you found it!
stephenie says
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.
Tamara Kelly says
😀 I’m so glad it helped! Thank you Stephenie!
Freeflyer says
Thank you for teaching me more crochet skills the last year or so. You are appreciated!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you so much for saying so!
Freeflyer says
🌈
Mary Haugen says
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!!!
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Mary! I have just the tutorial for that! https://www.mooglyblog.com/how-to-keep-a-magic-circle-closed/
Yolanda says
Just found this video and it is an awesome tutorial! Very easy to follow! Experienced but not consistent crocheter here. Using a super bulky yarn that my toddler picked out to make her a hat. Had a hard time trying to get the ring to close. Any suggestions?
Tamara Kelly says
Some yarns have a lot of texture that can keep the ring from wanting to close smoothly, so in that case I would pull the ring to be smaller before I add more than the first stitch or two, adjusting as needed as you make that first round, so that there’s less pulling needed at the very end. I also find it very helpful to sort of hold the circle between the fingers and thumb of my other hand to stabilize it as I pull. 🙂