Beginner's Guide: Starting Crocheting in the Round

Disclosure

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Before beginning I do want to make a quick note that I will be using US terminology for this article. Hopefully, this will minimize any confusion. 

How to start crocheting in the round. 

This is going to be a short series on how to crochet in the round for beginners. This will also be great practice for me to see if I like making tutorials and teaching crochet or knit techniques. All you will need to start is some yarn, and a crochet hook. As always I recommend Clover Hooks.

Chain and Slip Stitch or Magic Ring 

The two ways that I start crocheting in the round are by chaining and a slip stitch or by using a magic ring. I prefer to use a magic ring most of the time to start crocheting in the round. However, there are a few instances depending on the pattern when I will start with a chain and slip stitch. Like when starting with a large number of stitches. 

When using a magic ring it allows for a small to almost non existent hole in the middle of your project. If you start with a chain you are going to have a much more noticeable hole in the center of your project. Chaining is easier for a lot of people since it can be difficult to start a magic ring. I have also heard that the magic ring can be hard to do if you have mobility issues. So, there are definitely pro’s and con’s to each technique. Everyone has their preference so we will be going over both techniques.

Chain and Slip Stitch

I will be going over how to start crocheting in the round by chaining. You will start by chaining about 3 or 4 chains. I would follow your pattern, but if you are just experimenting with crocheting in the round I would suggest crocheting 4 stitches to give you a larger hole. 

I chained 3 here but chain the number you would like or according to your pattern.

You will then do a slip stitch in the first chain. This makes a little ring.

A little hard to show the ring, but if you pull it apart you can see the center better.

After this you will then start putting stitches inside of the ring that you made. Make sure that you aren't inserting your stitches inside of an actual stitch. Make sure that you are crocheting inside of the hole you made by connecting your chain. 

Doing the first single crochet in the ring.

For this demonstration we will be doing a single crochet. The most common amount of stitches to start with is 6. Work 6 single crochets inside of the ring that you made

Ring after a few stitches have been inserted.

Then you will do a slip stitch inside of your first single crochet.

Slip stitching into the first single crochet.

After that you are started! If doing a pattern you would then you will follow your pattern for you number of stitches you need and your next steps.

Magic Ring 

Next we will talk about how to start a project in the round by using a magic ring. It can be tricky to learn at first, but I think the results are worth it. Now that I have been doing it for so long I actually find it much easier to do than starting with a chain and slip stitch. 

I have seen a few ways on doing the magic ring, but back when I was learning I found a tutorial on how to do it this way and this is what worked for me. I wish I could find the blog I used, but I cannot remember the website's name. 

Hold your yarn as if you are getting ready to start crocheting. Take the end of your yarn and wrap it around your middle finger twice. Make sure to leave some yarn hanging down for your tail.

This is how it should look like to start your magic ring.

You will then insert your hook under these two loops.

Take your hook and grab the yarn coming from your pointer finger and pull through the two loops.

How it should look like after you pull through the two loops.

Grab your yarn as if to chain and pull through. This does not count as a chain or stitch. This essentially anchors your ring. I have always thought of it like a knot or like your slip stitch of a chain. 

How it should look like after your first “chain”.

At this point you can take the ring off of your finger. However, I like to keep it on my middle finger while I am doing my first set of stitches. I think this is less fiddly than taking it off my finger. You will then insert the number of single crochet stitches that you would like. Again, make sure to go under both loops that are on your finger. 

This is how it should look after your first single crochet.

Ok now that you have your stitches in your circle here comes the magic part. Also, the most tricky part. Now you will want to take the ring off of your finger if you haven't already. Make sure that you know what loop was facing closer to the tip of your finger.

You will want to pull this loop taught and you will see the other loop close towards the bottom end of your stitches. If this doesn’t happen you have pulled the wrong loop.

When you pull this loop make sure to do it taught, but not too tight.

Then you will pull on the tail end of your yarn. This will close up your hole and leave for a seamless start to your project.

How your magic ring should look like after pulling the tail end.

Slip stitch to the first stitch of your round. Then that is it to start crocheting in the round using the magic ring. Just follow your pattern for the number of stitches. 

I hope that my instructions and photos make sense. If anything is unclear let me know!

Conclusion

Now you know the two basic ways on how to start crocheting in the round! Thank you for reading my first “how to” blog post. Any comments or suggestions are appreciated. My goal is to make this mini series. I plan on building on this one by showing how to make a basic crochet circle. Also, check out my Tik Tok I plan on making videos demonstrating this as well! Please stay tuned! Until then I suggest practicing these two different techniques.